-
1066
The Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest
King Harold the II of England was defeated by William the Conqueror's Norman soldiers in the Battle of Hastings in England on October 14, 1066. Harold was dead and his forces were destroyed by the end of the terrible, all day struggle. -
1085
The Doomsday Book is Complete
The Doomsday book was commissioned by William the Conqueror in December 1085, following the Norman invasion and conquest of England in 1066. William needed to raise taxes to pay for his army, so he ordered a census of his subjects' income and holdings throughout the country. -
1096
The First Crusade is Decreed
Members of the upper nobles embarked on the Princes' Crusade in late summer 1096 and arrived at the Constantinople between November and April the following year. -
1170
Thomas Becket is Murdered
Four knights of King Henry II of England assassinate Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, ostensibly on the king's orders. Becket was named chancellor by Henry II in 1155, a prestigious position in the English government. -
1215
Magna Carta is signed
The Magna Carta ("Great Charter") is a contract that guarantees English political liberties. It was drafted in Runnymede, a meadow near the Thames, and signed by King John on June 15, 1215, under duress from his rebellious barons. -
1314
The Battle of Bannockburn
The Conflict of Bannockburn (June 23–24, 1314) was a pivotal battle in Scottish history, in which the Scots led by Robert I (the Bruce) beat the English led by Edward II, allowing Robert to increase his territory and power. -
1348
The Black Death Comes to Britain
In June 1348, the Black Death, a bubonic plague outbreak, struck England. It was the earliest and most severe symptom of the second pandemic, which was caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. It wasn't until the late 17th century that the phrase "Black Death" was coined. -
1381
The Peasants' Revolt
The Peasants' Revolt, also known as Wat Tyler's Rebellion, was the first major popular uprising in English history, taking place in 1381. The implementation of the unpopular poll tax in 1380 was the primary reason, bringing to a head economic discontent that had been rising since the middle of the century. -
1415
Henry v Defeats the French at Agincourt
The Fight of Agincourt (October 25, 1415) was a pivotal battle in the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), in which the English triumphed over the French. Despite the numerical dominance of its opponent, the English army headed by King Henry V famously won. -
1485
Richard III is Defeated at the Battle of Bosworth
Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) defeated and killed Richard III at Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485, bringing the Wars of the Roses to a close.
