Edward VI of England reigned as king from 1547 to 1553 CE. Succeeding his father Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-1547 CE), Edward was only nine years old at the time and so the kingdom was ruled by a council of nobles, foremost among whom was Edward's maternal uncle, Edward Seymour (l. c. 1500-1552 CE) until he was replaced by John Dudley, the Earl of Northumberland (l. 1504-1553 CE). During Edward's reign, Protestant religious reforms continued as the Church of England broke further away from the traditions of the established Catholic Church directed by the Pope. There were also popular uprisings as the economy faltered and inflation was rampant. Edward's reign was short as he died of tuberculosis aged just 15. He was succeeded by his cousin Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554 CE) until what the majority of the people and nobility regarded as the rightful heir, his elder half-sister, was installed nine days later as Mary I of England (r. 1553-1558 CE).
More about: Edward VI of EnglandDefinition
Timeline
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12 Oct 1537Birth of Edward, son and heir of Henry VIII of England and future Edward VI of England.
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1544 - 1545English forces ravage the Scottish Lowlands, the so-called ‘Rough Wooing’.
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1547 - 1553Reign of Edward VI of England.
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1547Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, makes himself the Duke of Somerset and effectively the sole regent or Lord Protector for Edward VI of England.
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20 Feb 1547Coronation of Edward VI of England in Westminster Abbey.
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10 Sep 1547An English army led by Edward Seymour defeats a Scottish army at the Battle of Pinkie.
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1548William Cecil, Lord Burghley is appointed the Secretary of State.
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1549The Kett Rebellion breaks out in Norfolk led by Robert Kett.
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1549A new Book of Common Prayer is issued in England.
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1549The Act of Uniformity makes the new Book of Common Prayer compulsory in England.
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26 Aug 1549The massacre at Dussindale in Norfolk ends the Kett Rebellion.
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Oct 1549Edward Seymour, Lord Protector to Edward VI of England, is removed from office.
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1550A peace treaty is signed between England, France, and Scotland, the Treaty of Boulogne.
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1550Willam Cecil, Lord Burghley joins the Privy Council of Edward VI of England.
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1551John Dudley, Earl of Warwick makes himself the Earl of Northumberland and effectively regent for Edward VI of England.
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1552Edward VI of England contracts smallpox and measles.
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1552A new, even more radical Book of Common Prayer is issued in England, removing many of the Catholic elements of religious worship.
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22 Jan 1552Edward Seymour, former Lord Protector for Edward VI of England, is executed for treason. n
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6 Jul 1553Death of Edward VI of England from pulmonary tuberculosis.
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10 Jul 1553John Dudley, Earl of Northumberland, declares Lady Jane Grey Queen of England following the death of her cousin, Edward VI of England.
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1 Oct 1553Coronation of Mary I of England in Westminster Abbey.
