Anglo Saxon & Medieval Timeline

  • 400

    Anglo Saxon Period

    By Chris Hanson
  • Migration to England
    410

    Migration to England

    Jutes, Saxons, and Angles begin to migrate and settle in England
  • England Divided
    Sep 28, 600

    England Divided

    England split into 7 kingdoms: Northumbria, Kent, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, East Anglia, and Mercia
  • Saint Bede the Venerable
    Sep 28, 672

    Saint Bede the Venerable

    Saint Bede the Venerable is born
  • "An Ecclesiastical History of the English People"
    Sep 28, 731

    "An Ecclesiastical History of the English People"

    Saint Bede finishes his most famous work documenting the history of the English people
  • Saint Bede's legacy
    Sep 28, 735

    Saint Bede's legacy

    Saint Bede dies but has various completed writings that help shape the understanding of the people in this time
  • History of the Britons
    Sep 28, 830

    History of the Britons

    The "History of the Britons" was penned in 830 and was the first mention of King Arthur in British literature. King Arthur was said to have been a "fifth century British general who fought against Anglo-Saxon tribes and ensured that Britain remained a paradise of the West".
  • The Beliefs
    Sep 28, 900

    The Beliefs

    Christiantiy by this time is the dominant faith spread across the country and various kingdoms
  • England united
    Sep 28, 959

    England united

    Under King Edgar of Wessex, England is unified as one country
  • The History of the Kings of Britain
    Jan 1, 1000

    The History of the Kings of Britain

    Geoffrey of Monmouth published "The History of the Kings of Britain" in the 11th century that outlined King Arthur entire life from when he was born to his death. The story also introduces the legendary figures of Guinevere and Merlin.
  • Beowulf
    Sep 28, 1099

    Beowulf

    The epic poem of Beowulf was passed down generations orally but was finally recorded on paper around the end of the Anglo-Saxon era
  • Jan 1, 1100

    Medieval: 1100 A.D.

    By Morgan Farlander
  • Henry I Becomes King of England
    Jan 1, 1100

    Henry I Becomes King of England

    The youngest son of William the Conqueror, Henry I, becomes King of England and marries the Saxon princess, Edith.
  • Battle of Tinchebray
    Jan 1, 1106

    Battle of Tinchebray

    After his attempt to steal his brother's crown, Robert, Duke of Normandy, was captured at the Battle of Tinchebrai. Henry becomes both King of England and Duke of Normandy.
  • Death of Henry 1
    Dec 1, 1135

    Death of Henry 1

    Henry 1 dies of food posioning from eating 'surfeit of Lamprey's,' a type a fish.
  • "Civil War" Over Succession to English Throne
    Jan 1, 1137

    "Civil War" Over Succession to English Throne

    King Stephen and Empress Matilda fight over succession to the English throne. King Stephen dies in 1154.
  • Henry II Marries Eleanor of Aquitaine
    Jan 1, 1152

    Henry II Marries Eleanor of Aquitaine

    When Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine, the stories​ of King Arthur spread to France and gain popularity there as well.
  • Constitutions of Clarendon
    Jan 1, 1164

    Constitutions of Clarendon

    Laws are set that govern the trial of members of the Church of England.
  • Death of Henry II
    Jan 1, 1189

    Death of Henry II

    Henry II dies and Richard I succeeds him. Richard's rule began the nation's first step towards democracy.
  • The Owl and the Nightingale
    Jan 1, 1190

    The Owl and the Nightingale

    The Owl and the Nightingale is written. It is the story of an owl and a nightingale arguing about their songs and merits. Author: NIcholas of Guildford.
  • Death of Richard Lionheart
    Jan 1, 1199

    Death of Richard Lionheart

    Youngest son of Henry II, John Lackland, becomes ruler of England. His reigning period was one of corruption and diminishing British power.
  • Jan 1, 1200

    Medieval: 1200 A.D.

    By Kaysie Obrecht
  • Magna Carta
    Jan 1, 1215

    Magna Carta

    The Magna Carta, latin for "Great Charter", was first written in order to apply limits to the power of an English monarch and is one of the most celebrated documents in Western History.
  • England Conquers Wales
    Dec 11, 1282

    England Conquers Wales

    After years of fighting and passing the ownership of Wales back and forth between the English and the Normans, those of England finally prevailed in the end, winning the land after the death of the Norman Leader, Llewelyn.
  • Banishment of Jews from England
    Nov 1, 1290

    Banishment of Jews from England

    After numerous false accusations were made against the Jews by the Christians, the Jews were expelled from England In 1290 by Edward I. Not only did this rid the country of many riots and outbursts, but it also made all possessions property of the crown. The Jews weren't allowed back into Britain until the 1800's.
  • Hundred Years' War Begins
    Jan 1, 1337

    Hundred Years' War Begins

    Although it is called the Hundred Years' War, this battle of England against France actually spanned a period of more than a hundred years (116 years to be exact). This extended battle was caused by numerous disputes, one of which dealt with the succesion of the French crown.
  • The Canterbury Tales
    Jan 1, 1387

    The Canterbury Tales

    This tale, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, tells the story of a company of individuals, all with varying classes and cultural backgrounds, who are embarking on a pilgrimage to receive the blessings of St. Thomas. To keep each member of the company occupied, they tell stories in order to pass the time of the long journey more pleasantly.
  • Henry IV is proclaimed king of England
    Sep 30, 1399

    Henry IV is proclaimed king of England

    When Henry's cousin, Richard II became king, Henry joined a group of opposition leaders.Richard then banished Henry after fighting with another one of the council men. When Henry's father died, Richard took the family estates and deprived Henry of his inheritance. In retaliation, Henry invaded England and Richard surrendered power in October 1399.
  • Jan 1, 1400

    Medieval: 1400 A.D.

    By Alexys Carroll
  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
    Jan 1, 1401

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a medieval romance written by The Gawain Poet during the second half of the 14th century.
  • Henry IV dies and is succeeded by his son, Henry V
    Mar 20, 1413

    Henry IV dies and is succeeded by his son, Henry V

    Henry's IV reign was very short and was filled with many problems with many different people. His son, Henry V, discharged his father over political differences and became the King of England in 1413.
  • Henry VI becomes king of England and France
    Aug 31, 1422

    Henry VI becomes king of England and France

    Henry VI became the king of England and France before his first birthday due to the fact that his father died unexpectedly. However, England was ruled by a Regency Council and France was ruled by the king's uncle, John, Duke of Bedford, until Henry VI was old enough.
  • Le Morte d'Arthur
    Jan 1, 1451

    Le Morte d'Arthur

    Le Morte d'Arthur, written by Sir Thomas Malory, consists of a number of interwoven stories that chronicle​ the rise and fall of King Arthur and his court.
  • End of Hundred Years' War
    Oct 19, 1453

    End of Hundred Years' War

  • Edward IV is proclaimed king
    Mar 29, 1461

    Edward IV is proclaimed king

    Edward IV was crowned King of England when Henry VI and his wife Margaret fled to Scotland during the War of the Roses.
  • Henry VI is briefly restored to the throne
    Oct 30, 1470

    Henry VI is briefly restored to the throne

    Henry VI is restored to the throne after forming an alliance with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, who is an ally of Edward IV. However, Warwick is the one who truly has all of the power.
  • William Caxton publishes the first printed book in England
    Jan 1, 1477

    William Caxton publishes the first printed book in England

    William Caxton publishes the first printed book in England, titled, "Dictes of Sayengs of the Philosophres". He also printed some works of the 14th-century​ poets Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower, and Sir Thomas Malory's 'Morte d'Arthur'.
  • Henry VIII Comes to the Throne
    Jan 1, 1509

    Henry VIII Comes to the Throne

    The tales of King Arthur became so embedded in the minds of the British people that by the time Henry VIII came to the throne in 1509, he commissioned the Winchester Round Table of Edward III to be repainted, with himself depicted at the top as a latter-day Arthur, a Christian emperor and head of the British Empire.