English history By Mille Dahl 6000 BCE The British Isles are formed as water levels rise separating them from mainland Europe. 2200 BCE The construction of Stonehenge is completed. 600 BCE The Celtic peoples begin to arrive and establish their culture. 55 BCE Roman leader Julius Caesar invades Britain, but withdraws. 43 The Roman Empire invades Britain and makes Britannia a Roman province 50 The Romans found the city of Londinium (which later becomes London) 122 Roman Emperor Hadrian orders the construction of Hadrian's Wall. 410 The last of the Romans leave Britain. 450 The Anglo-Saxons begin to settle in Britain. They rule much of the land until the Vikings arrive. 597 Christianity is introduced by Saint Augustine. 617 The kingdom of Northumbria is established as the dominant kingdom. 793 The Vikings first arrive. 802 The kingdom of Wessex becomes the dominant kingdom. 866 The Vikings invade Britain with a large army. They defeat Northumbria in 867 871 Alfred the Great becomes king of the Wessex. 878 Alfred is nearly defeated by the Vikings. He narrowly escapes. Alfred gathers an army and defeats the Vikings at the Battle of Edington. 926 The Saxons defeat the Vikings and retake the Danelaw 1016 The Danish conquer England and King Canute of Denmark becomes King of England 1066 The Norman Conquest occurs. William of Normandy becomes king 1078 William begins the construction of the Tower of London. 1086 A survey of all England called the Domesday Book is completed. 1154 Henry II becomes king. This is the start of the Plantegenet line of rulers. 1170 Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is put to death by Henry II. 1215 King John is forced to sign the Magna Carta. 1297 William Wallace leads the Scotts in their defeat of the English. He is defeated a year later at the Battle of Falkirk. 1337 The Hundred Years' War with France begins. It will last until 1453. 1349 The Black Death hits England killing a large portion of the English population. 1415 The English defeat the French at the Battle of Agincourt. 1453 The Hundred Years' War comes to an end. 1455 The War of the Roses begins between the families of the Plantagenets and the Lancastrians for the right to rule England. 1485 The War of the Roses ends with the crowning of Henry Tudor as King Henry VII. The House of Tudor begins its reign. 1508 Henry VIII is crowned king. 1534 Henry VIII forms the Church of England. 1536 England and Wales are joined by the Act of Union. 1558 Elizabeth I becomes Queen. The Elizabethan Era begins. 1580 Explorer Sir Francis Drake completes his journey around the globe 1588 The English fleet led by Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada. 1591 William Shakespeare begins writing and performing plays. 1600 The East India Company is established. 1602 James I becomes king and rules over England and Scotland. He is the first of the Stuart family to rule 1605 Guy Fawkes fails in his attempt to blow up Parliament 1620 The Pilgrims set sail for America aboard the Mayflower. 1666 The Great Fire of London destroys much of the city.