Anglo Saxon & Medieval Timeline

Anglo Saxon Period

400

By Chris Hanson

Migration to England

410

Jutes, Saxons, and Angles begin to migrate and settle in England

England Divided

Sep 28, 600

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 is born

"An Ecclesiastical History of the English People"

Sep 28, 731

Saint Bede finishes his most famous work documenting the history of the English people

Saint Bede's legacy

Sep 28, 735

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

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

Christiantiy by this time is the dominant faith spread across the country and various kingdoms

England united

Sep 28, 959

Under King Edgar of Wessex, England is unified as one country

The History of the Kings of Britain

Jan 1, 1000

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

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

Medieval: 1100 A.D.

Jan 1, 1100

By Morgan Farlander

Henry I Becomes King of England

Jan 1, 1100

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

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

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

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

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

Laws are set that govern the trial of members of the Church of England.

Death of Henry II

Jan 1, 1189

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 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

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

Medieval: 1200 A.D.

Jan 1, 1200

By Kaysie Obrecht

Magna Carta

Jan 1, 1215

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Medieval: 1400 A.D.

Jan 1, 1400

By Alexys Carroll

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Jan 1, 1401

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'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 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, 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

Edward IV is proclaimed king

Mar 29, 1461

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 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, 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

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.