England in the Middle Ages

Beowulf was Written

Mar 14, 750

Beowulf is considered one of the most important epic poems of English literature. Ironically, most of the story takes place in Scandinavia, not England. It remained unnamed for several centuries, and it was almost completely forgotten after it suffered fire damage in 1731. It did not become popular again until it was reprinted in 1815 under the title Beowulf. It was popular because the book itself contained many Christian themes and rooted itself in Old Testimate Law.

The Battle of Hastings

Oct 14, 1066

William the Conquorer invaded England from Normandy and defeated King Harold II. The invasion ended in a new king of England, and French nobility. Old English melded with French, creating Middle English, a language that used Old English syntax and grammar, but French vocabulary. William also introduced the feudal system to England. The Battle of Hastings is particularly important because it is the last foreign invasion of England that is successful.

The Founding of the the Cistercians

Feb 21, 1135

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux established three-hundred forty-three Cistercian monestaries before his death. The monestaries focused on contemplation and self-examination, and the Virgin Mary was herolded as a saint. This marks the first time in history that a female was given a high position within the Christian faith.

Richard the Lionhearted Assumes the Throne

Jul 6, 1189

King Richard ruled for ten years, and only spent six months actually in England. Most of his time was spent in the Crusades, which were unsuccessful... but he did manage to gain permission from Saladin, the victor of the Crusades, to allow Christian pilgrims access to Jerusalem. In his absence, England was run by his ministers, a government system created by Richard's father, Henry II.

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

The Barons of King John wrote the Magna Carta to control the power of the thrown and they forced King John to sign it. The Barons were prompted to do so by King John's unruly behavior; he would demand money of his barons without their concent and he judged people privately without a jury or due process. The Magna Carta became the inspiration for future laws, and the Declaration of Independence.

Robin Hood

Apr 22, 1228

The references to Robin Hood start as early as 1228, but it is difficult to decipher if Robin Hood was a real person around which the story was based, or if the myth came about and people assumed the name. Most of the reason for this is because the story came about through song and cryptic references in contemporary literature. It was not until the 14th and 15th centuries that any stories that made direct reference to Robin Hood were recorded on paper.

King Edward invaded Scotland

Apr 20, 1296

The Scotish refused to support the English in a battle against France, and instead supported France. King Edward of England was enraged and attacked Scotland. The Scots were defeated at the Battle of Dunbar, and Edward took the Scotish coronation stone and placed it in Westminster Abbey where it remained until 1996. The attack was only temporarily successful, and the Scots eventually regained their freedom.

Battle of Falkirk

Jul 22, 1298

Falkirk was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence. The English were lead by Edward Longshanks and the Scottish were lead by William Walace (Braveheart). The Scottish lost the battle, and Walace spent seven years in hiding until he was captured and killed by the English.

Robert the Bruce Crowned King

Mar 27, 1306

Rober the Bruce rebelled again soon after the death of William Walace. He was crowned King of Scotland, which quieted the Scottish rebellion. Edward Longshanks was enraged and launched another campaign to control Scotland, but he died along the way. No one took authority over the campaign so it disolved.

The Start of the Hundred Years War

Mar 14, 1337

The Hundred Years War started because the kings of England still spoke French, and wanted to rule France as well. The French king died with no heirs, and King Edward III of England's mother, Eleanor, was the aunt of the expired king, giving him rites to the thrown. Many French nobles were split between wanting a weaker foreign leader, or a strong ruler in Paris. Flanders, Brittany, and Normandy sided with England for the most part, and the rest sided with the Parisian ruler, cousin of the king.

The Black Death Hits England

Mar 14, 1348

The Black Death most likely spread to England from merchant ships. The plague killed somewhere between one third to one half of England. It returned again in 1361 and killed one fifth of the population. Unlike on the mainland, England did not experience religious fanaticism such as the flagellants or anti-Semitism.The plague also put a pause on the Hundred Years War.

Battle of Agincourt

Oct 25, 1415

At the Battle of Agincourt, the English won an unlikely victory. They were vastly outnumbered, and they were mostly peasants facing trained French soldiers. The English won because they were able to disorganize the opposing forces by taunting them into attacking in a haphazard manner, and they used longbows which were able to pierce the metal armour of the French soldiers. It has become immortalized by the English, and is the centerpiece of such works as Shakespeare's Henry V and Monty Python.

Joan of Arc is Captured

Mar 14, 1430

Joan of Arc was imprisoned by the French once she became a liability and sold to the English. The English put her on trial for heracy because she heard voices, and it was assumed that it was the devil speaking to her. She was convicted of being a witch and she was burned at the stake. Many onlookers believed that she was wrongly convicted and that she died a true Christian.

The War of the Roses

Mar 14, 1455

The War of the Roses was a civil war over succession of the English throne between the House of York (white rose) and the House of Lancaster (red rose). Its end came when Henry Tudor (of the Lancaster house) defeated King Richard III (of the York house), and married Elizabeth of York. He disbanded every one's armies, and he lowered taxes to keep the people content.

The Canterbury Tales

Mar 14, 1478

The Canterbury tales were written in sections by Geoffrey Chaucer and they were first published together by William Caxton. The tales depict a group of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The story exemplifies the ironic position of the church in English society at the time.