Literary Events---Political and Social Events

1066 William the conquerer invades England

Aug 24, 1066

Claiming his right to the English throne, William, duke of Normandy, invades England at Pevensey on Britain's southeast coast. His subsequent defeat of King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings marked the beginning of a new era in British history.

c.1150 paper is first mass-produced in Spain

Aug 24, 1150

First European paper produced; the technique arrives via Italian ports with active commercial relations with the Arab world and also, probably, by the overland route from Spain to France.

1215 Magna Carta

Aug 24, 1215

The Magna Carta is a document that King John of England (1166 - 1216) was forced into signing. King John was forced into signing the charter because it greatly reduced the power he held as the King of England and allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament. The Magna Carta became the basis for English citizen's rights.

1270 end of the crusades

Aug 24, 1270

With Louis' death, the Crusades died out with a whimper and not a bang. Continued military failure was a principal reason for their end. For a chronicle of military and political ineptitude, coupled with sheer hubris, they have no comparison in history. The Crusaders had victory in their grasp four times. They won the First Crusade in battle, had a trade almost in hand in the Fifth and Seventh Crusades, and negotiated a victory in the Sixth Crusade, and in the end they still managed to lose it a

1348 The plague

Aug 24, 1348

The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Thought to have started in China or central Asia, It travelled along the Silk Road and reached the Crimea by 1346 killing millions of people. From there it was probably

c.1378 first appearance of Robin Hood in literature

Aug 24, 1378

The first mention of a quasi-historical Robin Hood is given in Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Chronicle, written in about 1420.

c.1387 Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales

Aug 24, 1387

Its collection of stories in a frame story, between 1387 and 1400. It is the story of a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England). The pilgrims, who come from all layers of society, tell stories to each other to kill time while they travel to Canterbury.

1455-1485 War if the Roses

Aug 24, 1455

The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic wars fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York (whose heraldic symbols were the "red" and the "white" rose, respectively) for the throne of England.

1485 first printing of Le Morte d' Arthur

Aug 24, 1485

Is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of Romance tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table.

1485 First Tudor King, Henry VII, is crowned

Aug 24, 2012

The acts of Richard III brought Henry closer to the throne during the turbulent period from 1483 - 1485. In August 1485 Henry landed in Pembrokeshire and marched north. He defeated the Yorkist army at the battle of Bosworth where Richard III was killed. Later that year he was crowned king. Henry married Elizabeth of York in 1486 to strengthen his claim to the throne and to try to unite the rival houses.