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Jan 1, 771
Charlemagne Becomes King of the Franks
Charlemagne(742-814), alternatively known as Charles the Great, was a Medieval Emperor who, by his death, ruled the majority of Western Europe and had been crowned King of both the Franks and Romans. Charlemagne became king sole in 771, due to the death of his younger brother Carloman, with whom Charlemagne had previously shared power with. -
Jan 1, 1065
Henry IV and Gregory VII Struggle for Power
King Henry IV (1050-1160), Holy Roman Emperor, was the Roman and German King from 1056-1105, by which time he had betrayed and overthrown by his son. Henry was kidnapped Anno, the Archbishop of Cologne, who wrested control of the Kingdom from Henry, as subsequent to his fathers death, the Kingdom was placed under Henrys name, currently age 6. -
Jan 1, 1095
The Crusades Begin
The first Crusades began in 1095, when Western European Armies of Christian soldiers declared war against Islam, the war having started because of Pope Urban II's plea to wage war against Muslims located in the 'Holy Land'. -
Jun 15, 1215
King John Signs the Magna Carta
In 1215, John, King of England, (1166-1216) also known as Bad King John, was ruler of England during the instatement of the Magna Carta, a parchment that clearly outlined specific rights and freedoms that every free man should obtain, the most famous of these being the law that no one is above the law, not even the King. The charter also states that every 'free man' has the right to a trial, and will be deemed innocent until proven guilty by his equals. -
Jan 1, 1291
The Crusades End
The conclusion of the Medieval Period was the result of multiple reasons, the primary one being their lack of reason. After over 200 years of conflict, the Christians and Templars had lost all faith in their petty and unsuccesful cause, with little to no victories being achieved over the years. The Crusades were, in essence, an undignifed attack on a neighbouring religion that, at its core, intimidated the Christians. -
Jan 1, 1348
The Black Death Epidemic Begins
The Black Death, now known simply as the plague, was an incredibly contagious disease that arrived at Europe in 1347 and continued to spread until 1350, resulting in devasting ramifactions for Early Europeans, reducing the continents population by more than 20 million. -
Jan 1, 1492
The Reconquista Ends
The Reconquista (718 - 1492) was a series of battles fought between the Muslim Moors and the Christian Kingdoms over control of the Iberian Peninsula. The Reconquista, spanning over a period of 700 years, was concluded when King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile were married in 1469. Ferdinand and
Isabella turned their bountiful army onto Granada, the main stronghold of the Moors, reclaiming the city in 1492 and hence ending the Reconquista.
