The Old English Period Summary 449-1100 / The English Period 1100-1500.

By Paola Monney
  • 55 BCE

    Julius Caesar’s invasion of the island.

    Julius Caesar’s invasion of the island.
  • 43

    Emperor Claudius made Britain part of the Roman Empire.

    Emperor Claudius made Britain part of the Roman Empire.
  • 400

    Christianity had been introduced to the British Isles, and particularly to Ireland, much earlier, before the year 400.

    Christianity had been introduced to the British Isles, and particularly to Ireland, much earlier, before the year 400.
  • 410

    Picts from the north and Scots from the west savagely attacked the unprotected British Celts.

    Picts from the north and Scots from the west savagely attacked the unprotected British Celts.
  • 449

    Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians began to occupy Great Britain.

    Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians began to occupy Great Britain.
  • 449

    The first landing of the Saxons.

    The first landing of the Saxons.
  • Period: 449 to 1500

    The origins and development of the English Language

  • 597

    Saint Augustine of Cantenbury arrived in England to begin the conversion of the English.

    Saint Augustine of Cantenbury arrived in England to begin the conversion of the English.
  • 597

    Pope Gregory I dis- patched a band of missionaries to the Angles.

    Pope Gregory I dis- patched a band of missionaries to the Angles.
  • 601

    Augustine was consecrated first archbishop of Canterbury.

    Augustine was consecrated first archbishop of Canterbury.
  • 664

    The Synod of Whitby aligned the English with Roman rather than Celtic Christianity.

    The Synod of Whitby aligned the English with Roman rather than Celtic Christianity.
  • 664

    England went with Rome

    England went with Rome
  • 730

    The Venerable Bede produce his " Ecclesiastical History of the English people"

    The Venerable Bede produce his " Ecclesiastical History of the English people"
  • 730

    Venerable Bede’s account in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People was completed.

    Venerable Bede’s account in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People was completed.
  • 787

    The Scandinavian invasion began with Raids along the northeast, seacoast

    The Scandinavian invasion began with Raids along the northeast, seacoast
  • 825

    Wessex, first king Ecgberht, who overthrew the Mercian king.

    Wessex, first king Ecgberht, who overthrew the Mercian king.
  • 865

    The Scandinavians occupied northeastern Britain and began a campaign to conquer all of England.

    The Scandinavians occupied northeastern Britain and began a campaign to conquer all of England.
  • 865

    In 865 a great and expertly organized army landed in East Anglia, led by Ivar the Boneless and his brother Halfdan, sons of Ragnar Lothbrok.

    In 865 a great and expertly organized army landed in East Anglia, led by Ivar the Boneless and his brother Halfdan, sons of Ragnar Lothbrok.
  • 870

    The Vikings attacked Wessex.

    The Vikings attacked Wessex.
  • 871

    Alfred became king of Wessex and reigned until his death in 899

    Alfred became king of Wessex and reigned until his death in 899
  • 878

    Alfred won a signal victory at Edington. He defeated Guthrum, the Danish king of East Anglia.

    Alfred won a signal victory at Edington. He defeated Guthrum, the Danish king of East Anglia.
  • 899

    The Great Alfred died.

    The Great Alfred died.
  • 987

    Ælfric, the homilist and grammarian, went to the abbey of Cerne, where he became the major prose writer of the Old English period.

    Ælfric, the homilist and grammarian, went to the abbey of Cerne, where he became the major prose writer of the Old English period.
  • 991

    Valiant Byrhtnoth

    Valiant Byrhtnoth
  • 991

    Olaf Tryggvason invaded England.

    Olaf Tryggvason invaded England.
  • 1000

    Ælfric, the most representative writer of the late tenth and early eleventh centuries, was flourishing.

    Ælfric, the most representative writer of the late tenth and early eleventh centuries, was flourishing.
  • 1000

    The manuscript of the Old English epic Beowulf was written.

    The manuscript of the Old English epic Beowulf was written.
  • 1016

    Canute became king of England.

    Canute became king of England.
  • 1016

    Ethelred and his son Edmund Ironside died.

    Ethelred and his son Edmund Ironside died.
  • 1042

    The Danish dynasty ended with the death of King Hardicanute,

    The Danish dynasty ended with the death of King Hardicanute,
  • 1042

    Accession of Edward the Confessor.

    Accession of Edward the Confessor.
  • 1066

    Edward the Confessor died and was succeeded by Harold.

    Edward the Confessor died and was succeeded by Harold.
  • 1066

    The battle of Hastings

    The battle of Hastings
  • 1066

    King Harold was killed in the battle of Hastings.

    King Harold was killed in the battle of Hastings.
  • 1066

    The Normans conquered England.

    The Normans conquered England.
  • 1204

    King John lost Normandy to the French.

    King John lost Normandy to the French.
  • 1204

    The loss of Normandy by King John.

    The loss of Normandy by King John.
  • 1258

    King Henry III issued the first English-language royal proclamation since the Conquest.

    King Henry III issued the first English-language royal proclamation since the Conquest.
  • 1337

    The Hundred Years’ War began and lasted until 1453.

    The Hundred Years’ War began and lasted until 1453.
  • 1337

    The Hundred Years´ War

    The Hundred Years´ War
  • 1348

    The Black Death killed an estimated one-third of England’s popula- tion and continued to plague the country.

    The Black Death killed an estimated one-third of England’s popula- tion and continued to plague the country.
  • 1362

    The Statute of Pleadings was enacted.

    The Statute of Pleadings was enacted.
  • 1381

    The peasants´ revolt

    The peasants´ revolt
  • 1381

    The Peasants’ Revolt led by Wat Tyler was the first rebellion of working-class people against their exploitation.

    The Peasants’ Revolt led by Wat Tyler was the first rebellion of working-class people against their exploitation.
  • 1384

    John Wycliffe died.

    John Wycliffe died.
  • 1399

    Henry IV used English to claim the throne.

    Henry IV used English to claim the throne.
  • 1400

    Geoffrey Chaucer died.

    Geoffrey Chaucer died.
  • 1400

    Geoffrey Chaucer died.

    Geoffrey Chaucer died.
  • 1430

    The Chancery office (where legal records were deposited) began record- keeping in a form of East Midland English.

    The Chancery office (where legal records were deposited) began record- keeping in a form of East Midland English.
  • 1476

    William Caxton brought printing to England.

    William Caxton brought printing to England.
  • 1484

    Le morte Darthur

    Le morte Darthur
  • 1485

    Henry Tudor became king of England.

    Henry Tudor became king of England.
  • 1497

    John Cabot sailed to Nova Scotia.

    John Cabot sailed to Nova Scotia.

  • The Idylls of the king

    The Idylls of the king

  • Camelot

    Camelot

  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail (The movie)

    Monty Python and the Holy Grail (The movie)

  • Spamalot

    Spamalot