Timeline of England
1066 - Modern day
A work-in-progress!
To be completed soon
Navigate to Period
1066 - 1154
1154 - 1485
1485 - 1603
1603 - 1714
1714 - 1837
1837 - 1901
1901 - Present
Key
⚔️ Battle
📖 Key Works
🏰 Construction
⚖️ Law
🎭 Culture
☠️ Death
👑 Monarchs
💰 Economy
🔍 Discovery
⛪ Religious
🦠Disease
🏛 Politics
👤 Key Personalities
🛡 War
🔬 Science & Technology
How to use the timeline
The timeline of England covers the period from 1066 to the modern day. Each period is split into ruling dynasties and are primarily categorised by the ruling monarch. The size of the row given to each monarch is in proportion to the length of their reign to allow for quick comparison.
The events and people given in the timeline have been chosen carefully to reflect episodes which are typically highlighted as key to that moment in history. Many people and things are omitted and there is little explanation given with for the choice. This is done purpose purposefully to keep the overview concise.
The timeline was created with two primary learning functions in mind: a brief revision page for those who are studying the broad strokes of English History, or a starting point for intrepid learners to discover decisive moments, from which they can explore in greater detail. We hope the timeline will grow and become increasingly useful.
norman period
1066 - 1154
Navigate to Era
1066 - 1135
1135 - 1154
👑 Monarchs
War & Conflict
Political & Social Events
Major Personalities & Works
son of
William I
son of
William I
grandson of
William I
daughter of
Henry I
William I
1066 - 1087
William the Conqueror
⚔️25th Sept 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge
⚔️ 14th Oct 1066 Battle of Hastings
🛡Winter 1069-70 Harrying of the North
🛡1075 Earls' Revolt
🛡1075 Wales Campaign
🏛1066 Coronation of William I.
🏛1066 Beginning of Feudal System.
🏛⛪ Latin becomes language of church and government.
🏰 1067 Oxford University established.
⚖️1072 Peace of Abernethy between England and Malcom I of Scotland.
🏰 1078 Construction of the White Tower, Tower of London.
🏰 Built Motte and Bailey castles through England.
👑 Edward the Confessor Supposedly promised the throne to William, Duke of Normandy.
👤Edgar Aetheling, closest relative to King Edward the Confessor
👑 Harold Godwinson Previous King
👑Harold Hardrada, King of Norway
👤 William Fitz Osbern, cousin of William I, controlled England with 👤 Bishop Odo (0f Bayeux) in 1067.
📖 Bayeux Tapestry Visual record of 1066.
📖 Doomsday Book Audit of property in England.
William II
1087 - 1100
William Rufus
🛡️1088 Rebellion by Odo of Bayeux
🛡1091 Invasion of Normandy
🛡1093 Wales Campaign
🛡1096-99 First Crusade
⚖️Trials by Order outlawed
🏛1093 Children of Malcolm III forced into exile in England.
🏰 1095 Building of Great Hall at the Palace of Westminster.
👤 Anselm of Cantebury
👑Malcolm III, king of Scotland
👑 Robert Curthose, eldest son of William I, become Duke of Normandy in 1087.
☠️1100 William II shot with arrow in hunting accident.
Stephen
1135 - 1154
Henry Beauclerc
Matilda
1141 - 1141
Matilda the Empress
🛡1935-53 The Anarchy Civil War with cousin Matilda
🛡1136 David I invades northern England.
🛡1138 Battle of the Standard
🛡1141 Battle of Lincoln
🛡1147 Henry of Anjou attempts invasion
🛡1149 Henry of Anjou attacks northern England
🛡1147-50 Second Crusade
🛡Henry of Anjou invades England
👤 Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester, illegitimate son of Henry I, arrests and imprisons King Stephen of England for 9 months.
👑 Henry of Anjou (future Henry II of England)
👑 David I of Scotland takes Northumbria
👑 Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I
👑 Queen Matilda, wife of Stephen, captured Robert Fitzroy in 1141.
Henry I
1100 - 1135
Henry Beauclerc
🛡Robert Curthose invades England. Peace is negotiated at an annuity of 3000 marks.
⚔️ 1106 Tinchebrai, leads to annexation of Normandy.
🛡1111-4 War with France
🛡1114 Wales Campaign
🛡1116-9 War with France
⚖️ 1101-2 Treaty of Alton
⛪ 1106 Henry met Anselm and gave up the power to invest bishops.
🏛1109 First recorded meeting of the Exchequer, an accounting body created to monitor the English king's finances and debtors.
🏛Matilda, married Holy Roman Emperor Henry V ☠️ 1125. Matilda remarried in 1128: Count Geoffrey of Anjou, known by the nickname 'Plantagenet' because his family coat of arms included the broom plant (planta genista).
🏛Henry I appointed daughter, Matilda, as heir after White Ship wreck.
👤 Robert Curthose, eldest son of William I, defeated at Battle of Tinchebrai 1106. Imprisoned for life.
👑 Alexander I, of Scotland, assists Henry I in Wales.
☠️ 1120 White Ship wreck. Henry's heirs, William and Richard, are killed.
👑 1128 Henry's daughter Matilda marries Geoffrey of Anjou.
☠️1135 Legend: Henry I died from overeating lampreys (a type of eel).
👤Archbishop Anselm
👑 Queen Matilda. Married to Henry I, daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland.
🏛1135 Stephen, Count of Blois, richest baron in England and nephew of Henry I, appointed king by Barons.
🏛1141 Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester, arrests and imprisons King Stephen of England.
🏛8th April 1141 Empress Matilda is elected queen of England at Winchester.
🏛25th Dec 1141 Stephen's 2nd Coronation
🏛1151 Henry of Anjou inherits his father’s lands in Normandy, Anjou, Touraine and Maine.
🏛1152 Henry of Anjou marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
⚖️1153 Treaty of Wallingford recognises Henry as Stephen's heir.
Plantagenet period
1154 - 1485
1154 - 1216
1216 - 1399
1399 - 1461
1461 - 1485
👑 Monarchs
War & Conflict
Political & Social Events
Major Personalities & Works
son of
Matilda
son of
Henry II
son of
Henry II
son of
John
son of
Henry III
son of
Edward I
son of
Edward II
grandson of
Edward III
son of
Edward the
Black Prince
grandson of
Edward III
son of
John of Gaunt
son of
Henry IV
son of
Henry V
great great grandson of
Edward III
son of
Edward IV
brother of
Edward IV
Henry II
1154 - 1189
Henry Curtmantle
🛡️ 1154-1214 Start of Angevin Empire
🛡1169-71 Conquest of Ireland
🛡️ 1173-4 Revolt of Henry II's sons: Henry the Young King; Richard, Duke of Aquitaine; Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany; William of Scotland
🛡1188-9 Richard I, future King John and Philip II of France rebel against Henry II
🏛1157 Henry II regains Northumbria
⛪️ 1162-70 Thomas Beckett is archbishop of Canterbury, spends 1164-70 in exile in France after being found guilty of being in contempt of royal authority.
⚖️ 1164 Constitutions of Clarendon establishes primacy of common law
⚖️ 1166 Assize of Clarendon developed trial by jury.
🏛1170-4 Eleanor separates from Henry II; holds court at Poitiers, inspires development of courtly love poetry.
⚖️1174 Treaty of Falaise Henry II recognised as overlord of Scotland; 1175 Ireland followed.
⛪️ 1773 Thomas Beckett is canonised to sainthood.
🏛1174-89 Eleanor is imprisoned by Henry II for supporting her sons' revolts.
👑 Eleanor of Aquitaine Wife of Henry II
👑 Henry the Young King titular king 1170-83, crowned during father's reign but didn't gain autonomous power.
☠️ 1183 Henry the Young King dies of dysentery
☠️1186 Geoffrey, Count of Brittany, son of Henry II dies at tournament
👑 Richard, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou, son of Henry II
👤1162 Thomas Beckett becomes Archbishop of Cantebury.
☠️ 1170 Thomas Beckett killed at Canterbury by 4 knights.
👤Richard de Clare (Strongbow) led first conquest of Ireland.
👑 William the Lion of Scotland invades northern England.
👤 William Marshal
Richard I
1189 - 1199
Richard the Lionheart
🛡 1189-1192 Third Crusade, Jerusalem was not captured
⚔️ 1191 Siege of Acre
🛡1194-99 French war against Philip I.
⚖️ 1899 Quitclaim of Canterbury returns Scotland to William I
🛡 1193-1194 Richard imprisoned in Germany.
👑 Saladin first sultan of Egypt and Syria and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
☠️ 1199 Richard I, battle at Chalus in France
John
1199-1216
John Lackland
🛡️1202-04 French invasion of Normandy Normandy is lost to Philippe II
🛡️1211 Welsh Uprising
🛡️1213-4 Anglo-French War
⚔️ 1214 Battle of Bouvines Most of English territory in France is lost
🛡️ 1154-1214 End of Angevin Empire
🛡️1215-17 First Barons' War
⛪️ 1209-13 Pope Innocent III excommunicated king John.
👑 Llyweln the Great of Wales ☠️1240.
👑 Philippe II Augustus of France takes Normandy.
📖 1215 Magna Carta limited the king's power.
Henry III
1216 - 1272
Henry of Winchester
🛡️1215-17 First Barons' War
🛡️1242-43 Saintonge War
🛡️1264-67 Second Barons' War
⚔️1264 Battle of Lewes Henry III is captured.
⚔️1265 Battle of Evesham
🏛1236 creation of 'Parliament'
⚖️ 1237 Treaty of York Alexander II renounces Scottish claims to border counties.
⚖️1258 Provisions of Oxford
⚖️1259 Provisions of Westminster
⚖️1266 Treaty of Perth with Norway secures Western Isles for Scotland.
⚖️1267 Treaty of Montgomery recognises Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Price of Wales.
📖 1217 Revised Magna Carta (signed 1225)
👤 Simon de Montfort led to Barons' war. ☠️ 1265.
👑 Louis of France
👤Hubert de Burgh justiciar. 1232 - dismissed by Henry III.
👑Alexander II of Scotland
Edward I
1272 - 1307
Edward Longshanks
🛡1277 - 1284 Conquest of Wales
🛡1284 Conquest of Wales
🛡️1294 - 1303 Anglo-French War
🛡1296 - 1328 First War of Scottish Independence
⚔️ 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge English defeated by William Wallace.
⚔️ 1298 Falkirk Wallace defeated.
⚖️ 1284 Statute of Wales
⛪️ Edict of Expulsion
🏛1291 Edward I asserts right to decide Scottish succession
🏛 1295 England's First Parliament
Included nobles, bishops and two representatives from each county.
👑 1282-3 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd of Wales defeated.
☠️ Margaret, Maid of Norway, leaves Scottish succession open.
👤William Wallace, leader of the Scots. ☠️ 1305 betrayed, hanged, drawn and quartered in London.
👑Robert the Bruce rebels against Edward I in 1306.
👤Edward of Caernarvon, son of Edward I, made Prince of Wales, a title which is still used to this day.
Edward II
1307 - 1327
Edward of Caernarfon
⚔️ 1314 Bannockburn Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated England.
🛡1315-18 Edward Bruce invades Ireland.
🛡1321-22 Civil War Edward II deposed.
⚖️ 1320 Declaration of Arbroath statement of Scottish Independence.
👑 Robert the Bruce King of Scotland
👑 Edward Bruce, brother of Robert, invades Ireland and is crowned High King of Ireland in 1316.
Edward III
1327 - 1377
🛡1296 - 1328 End of First War of Scottish Independence
🛡1332 - 1357 Second War of Scottish Independence
⚔️1333 Halidon Hill English defeat Scotland
🛡1337 - 1453 Start of Hundred Years' War
⚔️ 1340 Sluys English defeat French
⚔️ 1346 Crécy English defeat French
⚔️ 1346 Neville's Cross English defeat Scots
⚔️ 1356 Poitiers English defeat French
⚖️ 1362 Parliament must approve all taxation.
🦠 1348 - 1350 Black Death plague
Killed as many as 50% of the population.
Plague returned: 1361-64, 1368, 1371, 1373-75
⚖️ 1360 Peace of Brétigny between England and France.
⚖️ 1366 Statues of Kilkenny forbid English settlers to intermarry with native Irish.
☠️ 1328 Edward III claims French throne after death of Charles VI of France.
👤 Edward the Black Prince, son of Edward III ☠️ 1376
👤 John of Gaunt, son of Edward III
👤John Wycliffe Theologian who questioned the supreme authority of the Pope.
Richard II
1377 - 1399
🛡 1381 Peasants' Revolt
🛡1387 Lords Appellant Revolt
🛡1394-5 Expedition to Ireland
⚖️ 1388 Merciless Parliament indicts Richard II's allies.
⚖️ 1389 Richard II declares himself of age; Lord Appellant are dismissed.
🏛1399 Richard II deposed.
👤 1343 - 1400 Geoffrey Chaucer famous author e.g. Canterbury Tales
👤 Lords Appellant: Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, son of Edward III (king's uncle);
Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel and of Surrey; and
Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. These were later joined by
Henry Bolingbroke, Earl of Derby (future 👑) and
Thomas de Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham.
Henry IV
1399 - 1413
Henry Bolingbroke
🛡 1400 Revolt of Owain Glyn Dwr
🛡1402-8 Percy Rebellion
⚔️ 1403 Shrewsbury
⚔️ 1408 Bramham Moor
☠️ 1403 Henry Percy ('Hotspur') at Shrewbury.
Henry V
1413 - 1422
⚔️ 1415 Agincourt English defeated the French.
⚖️ 1420 Treaty of Troyes between England and France.
Henry VI
1422 - 1461
⚔️ 1449-50 England lose Normandy to France
🛡1450 Rebellion of John Cade
⚔️ 1453 England lose Gascony to France
🛡 1337 - 1453 End of Hundred Years' War
🛡1455 - 1487 Start of War of the Roses
⚔️1455 Battle of St. Albans
🏛 1436 Henry VI attains age of maturity.
👤 Joan of Arc Led the French against the English
☠️ 1431 Burnt at the stake
📖 The Book of Margery Kempe
📖 1439 Gutenberg Bible created with first printing press.
Edward IV
1461 - 1470
⚔️1461 Towton Edward VI overthrows Henry VI
⚔️ Barnet Henry VI defeated
Edward IV
1471 - 1483
Edward V
1483
Richard III
1483 - 1485
⚔️ 1485 Bosworth Field Henry VII defeats Richard III
Henry VI
1470 - 1471
Navigate to Era
Tudor period
1485 - 1603
1485 - 1558
1558 - 1603
👑 Monarchs
War & Conflict
Political & Social Events
Major Personalities & Works
Elizabeth I
1558 - 1603
The Virgin Queen
🛡️1494-1559 End of Italian Wars
🛡1569 Rising of the North
🛡️1569-83 Desmond Wars
🛡️1585-1604 Start of Anglo-Spanish War
🛡1585-1648 Start of Eighty Years' War
🛡1588 Spanish Armada Philip II of Spain attempts to overthrow Elizabeth with a fleet of 130 ships. Fewer than one third returned.
⚔️ 1588 Gravelines
🛡1589 English Armada
🛡1589 Support given to Henri IV in French Wars of Religion (1562-1598).
🛡1601 Essex's Rebellion
🛡1594-1603 Nine Years' War (Tyrone's Rebellion)
⚖️1959 Act of Uniformity
⚖️1563 39 Articles
⛪️1570 Pope Pius V declares Elizabeth's reign illegitimate
🏛 1585 Babington Plot against Elizabeth. Mary Queen of Scots is implicated.
⚖️ Nonsuch Treaty promises to help the Dutch Republic resist Spanish occupation.
🦠 1597/8 Harvest failures
💰1600 Formation of the East India Company.
⚖️1601 Poor Relief Schemes
👤 Sir Francis Drake, circumnavigated the world
👤 Sir Walter Raleigh, explorer
📖 William Shakespeare, wrote at least 37 plays, 4 poems and 154 sonnets.
📖 Edmund Spencer, The Faerie Queene
👤 William Cecil, queen's chief advisor ☠️ 1598
👤Robert Cecil, replaced his father
👑 Mary Queen of Scots ☠️ 1587
👤 Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, led failing expedition to Netherlands
👤Hugh Roe O’Donnell led Irish in the Nine Years' War.
👤Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, led rebellion in 1601.
👤Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury
👤Lord Charles Howard, led English ships against the Armada
Henry VII
1485 - 1509
⚔️ 1487 Stoke Field Yorkist Rebellion defeated.
🛡1455 - 1487 End of War of the Roses.
🛡️1497 Cornish Rebellion
🛡️1494-1559 Start of Italian Wars
👑 1486 Elizabeth of York marries Henry VII.
☠️1502 Prince Author dies.
Henry VIII
1509 - 1547
🛡️1513; 1544-51 Anglo-Scottish Wars
⚔️ 1513 Flodden Catherine of Aragon defeats Scotland's James IV.
⚔️1542 Solway Moss James V is defeated and killed. Infant daughter Mary becomes queen.
⛪️ 1521 Pope Leo X awards Henry VIII the title of Fidei Defensor (“Defender of the Faith”) for his writings against Martin Luther and Reformation.
⛪ 1534 Act of Supremacy Formation of the Church of England.
⛪️1536 Dissolution of the monasteries begins
⚖️ 1542 Witchcraft Act repealed 1547
⛪️1545 Latin mass is replaced by mass in English
👤Martin Luther
👤 Thomas Wolsey
👤Thomas Cramner
👤 Thomas Moore
👑 6 wives of Henry VIII: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr.
📖 Hans Holbein
📖1525 William Tyndale translates the New Testament into English ☠️ 1536 executed.
Edward VI
1547 - 1553
🛡️1549 Third Cornish Uprising, led by Robert Kett
🛡️ 1544-51 Anglo-Scottish Wars
📖 1549 Anglican Book of Common Prayer prepared by Thomas Cranmer.
👤 Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset
👤John Dudley, Earl of Warwick
Mary I
1553 - 1558
Bloody Mary
🛡 1585 -1604 Start of Anglo-Spanish War
⚔️ 1558 Siege of Calais
👑1553 Lady Jane Grey is nominated as queen. Overthrown by Mary after 9 days.
👑 Philip II of Spain Husband of Mary I.
⚖️ Act of Uniformity
☠️ Burnt almost 300 protestants at the stake, led by Reginald Pole, Archbishop of Cantebury
🏛Planation of Ireland began
Navigate to Era
Stuart period
1603 - 1714
1603 - 1625
1625 - 1649
1649-1660
1660 - 1714
👑 Monarchs
War & Conflict
Political & Social Events
Major Personalities & Works
🛡1865 Monmouth Rebellion
James II
1685 - 1688
Last Catholic King
James I
1603 - 1625
🛡 1585 -1604 End of Anglo-Spanish War
🏛1603 Main Plot
🏛 1605 Gun Powder Plot Catholic group attempt to detonate gun powder under parliament and kill James I.
🛡1609-13