The Pilgrimage of Grace 1536

The Pilgrimage of Grace (October 1536 -- February 1537) was the most serious challenge to Henry VIII's authority during his reign. It was a massive popular uprising in the north of England, involving up to 40,000 people, triggered by Henry's religious reforms and the dissolution of the monasteries.

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Background: The English Reformation

In the 1530s, Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church in Rome and established himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England. This had far-reaching consequences.

Event	Date	Detail
Act of Supremacy	1534	Made Henry VIII Supreme Head of the Church of England
Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries	1536	All monasteries with an income of less than £200 per year were closed; their lands and wealth were seized by the Crown
Thomas Cromwell	Chief Minister	Organised the dissolution and the religious reforms on Henry's behalf

Key Term: Dissolution of the Monasteries --- the closing of all Catholic monasteries, priories, convents, and friaries in England and Wales between 1536 and 1541. Their lands, buildings, and wealth were confiscated by the Crown.

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