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Oct 14, 1066
The Norman Invasion/ The Battle of Hastings
-William, Duke of Normandy, claimed English throne after Edward the Confessor died in 1066
-Invaded England with an army of roughly 7,000
-Harold Godwinsson returned with his army from the Battle of Stamford Bridge to confront William
-Back and forth fighting, William's cavalry eventually broke through Harold's lines, killing Harold.
William is dubbed the "Conqueror" and is crowned King of England -
Nov 27, 1095
The First Crusade
-Pope Urban II called Council of Clermont in response to Byzantine Emperor's plea for help against invading Seljuk Turks
-Armies from France and southern Italy departed in 1096, first succesfully taking Nicea from the Muslims, then proceeding to Antioch, which they sieged and took in June, 1098
-The Crusaders then mached to Jerusalem, successfully taking it on July 15, 1099, establishing the Kingdom of Jerusalem -
Period: Nov 27, 1095 to May 15, 1272
The Crusades
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Dec 24, 1144
The Second Crusade
-The Muslims captured Odessa in 1144, resulting in outcry, especially by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, for another crusade. Pope Eugene approves in 1145
-Cruaders march to Damascus, but fail miserably when attempting to take it.
-Smaller Crusades are launched which retake Lisbon from Muslims, but are unsuccessful agains pagan Slavs in Eastern Germany -
May 15, 1189
The Third Crusade
-Saladin recaptured Jerusalem for the Muslims in 1187
-As a result Richard Lionheart King of England, Philip II Kng of France, and Frederick Barbarossa King of Germany each led armies with the intention of recapturing Jerusalem
-Frederick died along the way, but Philip and Richard captured many Mediterranean cities on the way
-Richard and Phlip were unsuccessful in recapturing Jerusalem, but Richard made a treaty with Saladin allowing Christian pilgrims to peacfully travel to Jerusalem -
Oct 5, 1202
The Fourth Crusade
-Pope Innocen III called for another crusade to attempt to recapture t Holy Land
-Few respond, force of mainly Italians set sail from Venice in 1202
-Crusaders inexplicably sail to Constantinople, invading and sacking the city in 1204.
-Crusders plundered most of the city's treasure and destroyed many of its monuments. -
Period: May 15, 1337 to Jul 17, 1453
The Hundred Years' War
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Nov 12, 1337
Battle of Cadsand
-King Edward III of England wished to gain an easy victory and provoke a French Attack
-Sir Walter Manny led an invasion of the Island of Cadsand, almost completely wiping out Flemish troops of the island
-Marked the Beginnig of the 100 Year's War -
Jun 24, 1340
Battle of Sluys
-Edward III led an English fleet near the coast of a town called Sluys
-There he met the French fleet. The English successfully captured or destroyed the majority of the French fleet, effectively crushing their navy
-This gave England control of the English Channel and prevented the French from invading England, forcing all fighting to occur on French soil. -
Aug 26, 1346
Battle of Crecy
-The English, led by Edward III and his son Edward the Black Prince invaded Normandy and set up camp around Crecy.
-Philip VI King of France rushed to Crecy with French knights and Genoese mercenaries
-Philip ordered an ill-advised attack immediately upon reaching Crecy
-The English easily deterred the French with archers using the superior Engish Longbow. Roughly 2,000 French were killed and eventually the attack was called off and retreat ordeed by Philip
-The battle was major Englsh victory -
Sep 19, 1356
Battle of Poitiers
-Edward the Black Prince had been leading raids through northern and western France, eventually catching up to main French force, led by King John II, at Poitiers
-Edward set up his army in good defensive position and was able to stop French attacks with his archers
-Edward's army eventually isolated King John and the force he controlled. A cavalry charge was called which was very successful
-English troops captured John leading to a decisive English victory
-France proceeded to fall into chaos -
Oct 25, 1415
Battle of Agincourt
-Henry V became King of England, wished to renew fighting with French
-Marched army into Northern France and faced larger French army led by the Constable of France Charles d'Albret
-Henry's archers opened fire, then French marched, but were impeded by my mud.
-English won decisively killing many French nobles -
May 8, 1429
Siege of Orleans
-English sought to take Orleans and claim French throne for England
-Sieged Orleans for 6 months
-Joan of Arc, believing to be acting on the will of God, led reinforcements to the city
-She helped drive of the English from around the city, causing them to abondon their seige attempts
-Major turning pont in the 100 Years War -
Jul 17, 1453
Battle of Castillon
-French had essentially won the war by this point
-People living in Bordeaux wished to return to English rule, so they asked Henry VI to retake it
-John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury commanded English force
-After brief fighting, Talbot believed French were retreating, ordered an attack
-English attack was met by French reinforcements and were slaughtered. Talbot was killed as well.
-Marked the end of the 100 Years War -
Aug 22, 1485
Battle of Bosworth Field
-Final battle of the War of the Roses
-Henry VII and the House of Lancaster won definitively
-Richard III King of England and member of House of York was killed
-Marked the end of the Plantagenet Dynasty and the start of Tudor Dynasty
