A CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS OF RELIGIOUS
SIGNIFICANCE
1045
1046
1057
1066
1067
1073
1074
1075
1077
1084
1085
1095
1108
1115
1121
1122
1150
1162
1170
1173
1176
1179
1184
1198
1209
1213
Three rival popes in Rome – Benedict IX, Gregory VI,
Sylvester III
Hildebrand appointed Papal Advisor – power behind pope
Malcolm III King of Scotland introduces changes
Harold II becomes last Saxon king of England
On Sep 28, William the Conqueror lands at Pevensey
Oct 14 the Battle of Hastings – Harold defeated & killed
William installs Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury
Malcolm III of Scotland marries Margaret – staunch Catholic
Hildebrand elected as Pope Gregory VII
Gregory VII emphasises papal authority – bans clerical marriage
Gregory VII decrees only church can install bishops
St. Margaret’s Chapel built in Edinburgh to Norman design and
Margaret reforms Church of Scotland bringing in Sunday worship
January - Henry IV of Germany (Holy Roman Empire) waits 3 days in
snow at Canossa to see Gregory VII
Henry IV enters Rome through Porta Assarinia and besieges Gregory
VII in Castle St. Angelo. Gregory escapes southwards to hills
Pope Gregory dies and is buried in Cathedral of Salerno
On Nov 27, Pope Urban proclaimed the First Crusade – showing his
leadership in western Christendom
Peter Aberlard of Paris becomes known through Europe as great
teacher & thinker
Bernard of Clairvaux founds monastery and popularises mystical piety
(“To know Jesus and Him crucified”)
Aberlard publishes treatise on Trinity – it is condemned and burned –
he founds chapel (The Paraclete) at Nogent-sur-Seine
Concordat of Worms – Henry V and Callistus agree that investiture of
bishops and abbots is reserved to papacy
Around this time the Albigenses emerge in southern France as distinct
group
Thomas à Becket installed as Archbishop of Canterbury
Returning from France (he fled for his life in 1164)
Thomas à Becket returns to Canterbury and is murdered in the
Cathedral Dec 29
Peter Waldo a wealth merchant sells his goods and preaches
Peter Waldo’s followers called the Poor Men of Lyons
Waldo requests permission of Pope to preach – is denied
Waldo and followers excommunicated
Pope Innocent III elected – first pope to use consistently the term
‘Vicar of Christ’
Pope Innocent declares Crusade against Albigenses (till 1229)
King John of England surrenders England and Ireland to pope
1215
1218
1229
1231
1250
1252
1272
1305
1329-1330
1350
1367
1369
1371-1373
1372
1377
1378
1380
1381
1384
1388
1402
1403
1407
1409
English barons rebel – are excommunicated – Stephen Langton the
Archbishop refuses to publish the ban and is suspended and then King
John forced to sign Magna Carta at Runneymede
Stephen Langton reinstated as Archbishop – he divides Scripture into
chapters in use today
Albingenses killed and subdued. Louis VIII places Bible on index of
Forbidden Books
Pope Gregory commences Inquisition
Thomas Aquinas ordained a Dominican priest
Pope Innocent publishes Ad Exstirpanda requiring civil authorities to
torture and burn heretics on pain of excommunication
Edward 1 of England makes son Prince of Wales and becomes the
‘Hammer of the Scots’
Pope Clement V elected at Avignon – beginning of Papal ‘Babylonian
Captivity’
Birth of John Wycliffe
John Milicz is ordained a priest in Bohemia
Milicz of Prague travels to Rome appeals for reformation. Posts a sign
the Coming of the Antichrist – is arrested and imprisoned
Released the previous year, Milicz begins preaching in Prague
Birth of John Huss at Husinec in Bohemia
Wycliffe receives his doctorate from Oxford. Milicz excommunicated
by Pope Gregory XI
Wycliffe appointed rector of Lutterworth. Milicz goes to be
‘examined’ in Avignon. On May 21 preaches to the assembled
cardinals there and then dies before judgment on him made
Jan 17 – Pope Gregory arrives in Rome – ends ‘Babylonian Captivity’.
Feb 19 Wycliffe answers charges of heresy by Bishop Courtenay of
London. On May 22 Wycliffe writes against the Eucharist
Pope Clement flees to Avignon commencing the Great Schism – a
divided papacy
Lollards – followers of Wycliffe commence roving preaching
Wycliffe at Oxford posts 12 propositions denying transubstantiation
In May the Synod of London condemns Wycliffe as heretic. Later he is
banished from Oxford – continues translating Bible into English.
Richard II of England marries Anne of Prague
Wycliffe dies at Mass – December 31
Wycliffe’s Bible widely distributed by Lollards
John Huss commences preaching in Bethlehem Chapel
About this year Jerome commences study at Oxford
Jerome returns to Prague and is associate with Huss in denouncing the
papacy
At Council of Pisa – called to resolve the Great Schism – elects Pope
Alexander V – but other two refuse to resign – now three popes
reigning at once
1414
1415
1417
1419
1420
1428
1450
1452
1456
1478
1479
1483
1488
1494
1498
1499
1505
1507
1508
1508 – 1512
1510
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
Sir John Oldcastle (leader of Lollards) escapes from Tower of London
– leads abortive revolt against the throne. Council of Constance called
by Pope John XXIII at request of Emperor Sigismund. 1500 prostitutes
move to Constance. Thomas a Kempis writes ‘The Imitation of Christ’.
In October Huss travels to Constance with safe conduct
John Huss burnt at Constance on July 6, ashes into Rhine. On May 30
Jerome of Prague burnt at Constance
Council of Constance which had deposed John XXIII elects Martin V
and ends the Great Schism
Beginning of Hussite Wars – Pope instigates Crusade led by Sigismund
against Ziska. Defenestration of councillors in Prague occurs
Hussites gain victories at Vitkov and Vyhsehhrad
Wycliffe’s bones exhumed – burnt and ashes thrown into Swift
Invention of movable type in Mainz by Gutenberg and others
Birth of Girolamo Savanarola – also Leonardo da Vinci
Gutenberg Bible first printed
Spanish Inquisition established
Burning of witches commences at Edinburgh (over 300 burnt between
179 and 1722)
Martin Luther born
Massacre of 3000 Waldensians at Ailefroide – by burning
Birth of William Tyndale
Luther attends Eisenach school
May 24, Savanarola and 2 companions hanged and burnt in Florence.
Erasmus visits Oxford and brings humanism to England
July 2 Martin Luther in thunderstorm at Stotterheim vows to become a
monk. Leaves his law course at Erfurt and enters Augustinian Black
Monastery at Erfurt July 17
Commencement of building of St. Peters – Rome
Luther ordained a priest in Erfurt Cathedral (Apr 3) and on May 2
celebrates his first mass
Luther commences teaching at Wittenberg
Michaelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel
Birth of John Calvin
Luther travels on foot to Rome (1300 kms)
Greek NewTestament published by Erasmus in Basel
Martin Luther posts his 95 theses at Wittenberg – Oct 31
Martin Luther debates with Johannes Eck at Augsburg
Ulrich Zwingli becomes priest at Gross Münster in Zurich
He begins to read Luther’s writings
Charles V becomes Emperor
Luther challenged by Eck’s attitude and writings moves from being a
critic to a reformer
Luther burns the Bull of his excommunication - Dec 10
Diet of Worms commences Jan 27
Luther summoned to attend Mar 6.
1522
1523
1524-1526
1524
1525
1526
1527-1528
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1534-1535
1535
1536
1541
1545
Apr 2 Luther sets out.
April 17/18 – famous stand “Here I stand…”
May 4 Luther kidnapped on his return and kept as Jonkers Jorg at
Wartburg Castle.
Pope Leo X makes Henry VIII ‘Defender of the Faith’
Sep 29 Melanchthon celebrates communion with all receiving both
emblems
Dec 25 Von Karstadt celebrates first ‘Protestant’ communion in
Wittenberg
Luther completes translation of Bible in German
Luther leaves Wartburg Castle on Mar 1 for Wittenberg
Zwingli leads out in reform in Zurich
Luther’s New Testament published
Calvin commences studying theology – University of Paris
Revolt in Germany led by Thomas Muntzer
William Tyndale completes New Testament in English
Anabaptists emerge in Switzerland
Zurich
Martin Luther marries Katherina von Bora – June 13
Patrick Hamilton of Scotland meets with Luther at Wittenberg
William Farel commences preaching in Switzerland
Reformation in Sweden and Denmark
Patrick Hamilton martyred at St. Andrews, Scotland
Diet of Speyer on April 25 German States take the name ‘Protestant’.
Luther debates with Zwingli at Marburg.
Charles V defeats Turks outside Vienna
Diet of Augsburg. Augsburg Lutheran Confession of faith
Tyndale’s New Testament burnt outside St. Pauls
Henry VIII recognised as supreme head of English Church
Zwingli killed at battle of Kappel. German Protestant Princes form
League of Schmalkalden
Synod of Chanforan (Waldenses) convenes near Serre and William
Farel meets with the Waldenses
Thomas Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
Ignatius Loyola founds the Society of Jesus
Separation of English Church from Rome
Anabaptists rule in Munster
Thomas More executed
John Calvin publishes “Institutes of Christian Religion”
May 21 Geneva accepts Protestant faith – Farel preaches
Dissolution of monasteries begins in England
Death of William Tyndale
John Calvin becomes chief pastor in Geneva
John Knox begins reformation in Scotland
Council of Trent commences (1545-1547; 1551-1552;
and 1562-1563)
1546
1547
1549
1553
1555
1556
1559
1560
1562-1594
1564
1566
1572
1588
1593
1598
1600
1606
1611
1618
1620
1621
1628
1633
1638
1641
1642
1647
1648
1649
1655
Martin Luther dies at Eisleben on Feb 17/18
George Wishart martyred at St. Andrews – Mar 1
Cardinal Beaton assassinated – May 29
Knox commences preaching – exposes papal authority – in Holy
Trinity Church on June 11
Knox taken prisoner by the French July 31 – sent to galleys
Swiss adopt Calvinism
Michael Servetus burned for heresy at Geneva
Queen Mary commences reign in England
Peace of Augsburg. Lutheranism recognised
William Hunter burnt at Brentwood Mar 26
Martyrdom of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley – Oct 16
Martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer - Mar 21
First National Synod of French Protestants
Foxe publishes ‘Book of Martyrs’
Inquisition has Index Librorum Prohititorum published
Scotland rejects Papal supremacy and becomes Calvinistic
Geneva Bible published – first with separate verses
French Wars of Religion
Death of John Calvin
Phillip of Spain orders suppression of Calvinists in Low Countries
Massacre of St. Bartholomew – Aug 24
Death of John Knox – Nov 24
Spanish Armada attacks England and is defeated
Henry IV of France becomes a Catholic
On Apr 13 the Edict of Nantes guarantees freedom of French
Huguenots
Feb 17, Giordano Bruno martyred in Rome
William Brewster forms a ‘separatist’ group in Scrooby
King James Version of Bible (Authorised) published
The Thirty Years War commences
Puritans sail for America in ‘Mayflower’
Battle of White Mountain – Hussites defeated
27 Hussite leaders martyred in Prague
Birth of John Bunyan
Inquisition finds Galileo a heretic and forced to recant Copernician
ideas and is imprisoned
Covenanters in Scotland sign covenant
Henri Arnaud born Grenoble, France becomes Waldensian leader
Civil War in England begins
George Fox begins preaching – founding of Quakers
Treaty of Westphalia – end of Thirty Years War
Execution of King Charles1.on Jan 30
Cromnwell becomes Head of Commonwealth – later Lord Protector
Cromwell forbids Anglican services
Easter Massacre at Piedmont of thousands of Waldenses
1660
1661-1666
1666
1678
1679
1680–1685
1685
1723
1724
1725-1758
1726-1768
1738
1739
1742
1773
1789
1791
1793
1794
1798
1799
1801
1804
1807
1810-1811
1814
1865
1870
1929
Restoration of CharlesII and of Church of England
John Bunyan imprisoned in Bedford Jail
Clarendon Code. Ministers who refuse to accept Anglican
liturgy deprived. Rise of English Nonconformity
Schism in Russian Church following reform of Patriarch Nikon.
Movement of Old Believers results
John Bunyan publishes ‘Pilgrims Progress’
Battle of Bothwell Bridge – Covenanters defeated
The ‘Killing Time’ of Covenanters of Scotland
Louis XIV revokes Edict of Nantes
Zinzendorf founds Moravian colony in Saxony
Voltaire’s ‘Lettres Philosophiques’ published
Jonathan Edwards preaches in America
Remarus in Hamburg teaches beginnings of Higher Criticism
John Wesley’s conversion experience - May 24
George Whitfield preaches in America
Wesley commences open air preaching in Bristol – Apr 2
G.F. Handel’s “Messiah” first performed in Dublin
Jesuit order dissolved by pope
French Estates-General decrees sale of Church property
Death of John Wesley on Mar 2
Festival of Goddess of Reason in Paris (Notre Dame)
London Missionary Society founded
General Berthier enters Rome Feb 14 and next day takes Pope Pius VI
prisoner
Pope Pius VI dies in Valence Aug 29
Concordat between Napoleon and Pope
British and Foreign Bible Society founded
Britain bans slave trade
Primitive Methodist church founded
Society of Jesus reconstituted
William Booth commences work in London
On 20 September 1870 Italian troops entered Rome, ending the papal
domination of Rome and Rome became the Italian capital
Feb 11 – Lateran Treaty signed by Mussolini and Vatican