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1457 – Henry Tudor is born on January 28 at Pembroke Castle in Wales. He is the son of Edmund Tudor, a Welsh nobleman, and Margaret Beaufort, a descendant of Edward III.
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1471 – After the defeat of his father during the Wars of the Roses, Henry is forced into exile in Brittany (modern-day France) for safety.
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1483 – Upon the death of his uncle, King Edward IV, the throne is claimed by Edward's son, Edward V, though his reign is interrupted by the rise of Richard III. Henry becomes a prominent figure in the opposition to Richard's rule.
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1485 – Henry VII assembles a force to invade England. He lands in Pembrokeshire in August with the aim of overthrowing Richard III, who is defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. Richard III is killed in the battle, and Henry VII is crowned king.
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1485 – Henry VII is crowned king on October 30, 1485, marking the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. He marries Elizabeth of York, uniting the warring factions of the Wars of the Roses (the Houses of Lancaster and York), and solidifying his claim to the throne. 1486 – Birth of Prince Arthur, the first son of Henry and Elizabeth, who would later be the heir to the throne.
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1487 – The Battle of Stoke Field occurs. Henry VII defeats the forces of Lambert Simnel, a claimant to the throne. This battle effectively ends the major challenges to Henry’s reign. 1491 – Birth of Prince Henry (later Henry VIII), the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.
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1496 – Henry concludes a commercial treaty with the Netherlands (Intercursus Magnus) and later signs a treaty with Scotland (the Treaty of Perpetual Peace), attempting to secure peace and trade relations with neighboring countries. 1500 – Henry’s son, Prince Arthur, is betrothed to Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, as part of an alliance between England and Spain.
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1502 – Prince Arthur dies unexpectedly on April 2, 1502, causing a significant blow to the Tudor dynasty. Henry VII’s second son, Prince Henry, becomes the new heir to the throne. 1503 – Death of Elizabeth of York on February 11, 1503. Henry VII mourns her death deeply, and this leaves him without the political power that her Yorkist heritage provided.
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1504 – Henry VII’s reign faces increasing financial pressure. He begins to raise revenue through more efficient taxes and fines, though his policies are often seen as heavy-handed. 1509 – Henry VII dies on April 21, 1509, and is succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.