english history

Britain becomes an Island.

6000 BCE

The land bridge joining Britain to Europe flooded as the sea level rose

the stone age

3000 BCE

farming people arrive from Europe. First stone circles erected.

building of stonehenge

Period: 2800 BCE to 2000 BCE

Bronze age

2100 BCE

First metal workers
People learn to make bronze weapons and tools.
Introduction of cremation of the dead and burials in round barrows. Beaker culture - their name is thought to originate from the distinctive beakers that accompanied their burials. They were farmers and archers. They lived in round huts (similar to the Celts) with a low stone wall for a base. The roof was made of thatch, turf, or hides.

the celts arrive

500 BCE

first invasion

55 BCE

Julius Caesar heads first Roman Invasion but later withdraws

second roman invasion

43

Romans invade and Britain becomes part of the Roman Empire

londinium is founded

50

the city of london is founded

Boadicea leads the Iceni in revolt against the Romans

61

Romans conquer welsh flag Wales and the North

70

Emperor Hadrian builds a wall on the Scottish Border

Period: 122 to 128

Romans conquer Scotland

140

St Alban becomes the 1st Christian martyr

209

Constantine the Great declared Emperor at York

306

The Picts and Scots attack the border

350

The Romans withdraw from Britain

Period: 401 to 410

The Romans withdraw from Britain: Anglo Saxons migrants begin to Settle

angelo-saxon invasion

450

First invasions of the Jutes from Jutland, Angles from South of Denmark and Saxons from Germany.
Britain is divided up into the Seven Kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, Anglia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent.

Saxons Hengist and Horsa settle in Kent.

450

St Patrick returns to convert Ireland

460

The Battle of Mount Badon

516

The Battle of Mount Badon: Britons under an unknown leader defeat the Angles and Saxons

St Augustine brings Christianity to England from Rome

597

King Æthelberht of Kent gave him land in Canterbury to build a church. Æthelberht became the first Anglo-Saxon king to turn his back on paganism and become Christian.

Æthelberht is now one of the most powerful kings in England

600

Northumbria becomes the Supreme Kingdom

617

Edwin of Northumbria

627

Edwin of Northumbria becomes the first Christian king in the north of England

Mercia becomes the Supreme Kingdom

779

King Offa builds a Dyke along the Welsh Border

First recorded Viking attack happens in Dorset

793

Vikings attack the monastery of Lindisfarne, Northumbria

793

Vikings attack the island monastery of Iona, Scotland

795

Vikings attack the island monastery of Iona, Scotland

802

Vikings attack the island monastery of Iona, Scotland

806

Wessex becomes the Supreme Kingdom

829

Wessex becomes the Supreme Kingdom
Egbert, King of the West Saxons, conquers Mercia and forces the Northumbrians to submit as well. From then on, Wessex retained its dominance in England. Egbert's grandson, Alfred, initiated the creation of the single kingdom of England.

Kingdom of Scotland formed

843

Athelstan, son of the king of Wessex, defeats a Viking fleet in battle

851

Egbert, king of Wessex, had made his second son Athelstan king of Kent. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Athelstan fought a sea battle against the Vikings off Sandwich, capturing nine ships and putting the rest to flight.

Invasion of the Great Danish Army.

Period: 866 to 877

The Vikings kill rival kings of Northumbria and capture York

867

Edmund, King of the East Angles, is killed by the Vikings

869

He was beheaded and his head thrown away to prevent proper burial. Much later, his head was finally reunited with the body, and both were buried in the royal residence, which later became known as Bury St Edmunds, a town in East Anglia.

Welsh king Rhodri Mawr is defeated by the Vikings

877

Wessex is overrun by Vikings and King Alfred goes into hiding

878

Wessex is overrun by Vikings and King Alfred goes into hiding in the marshes of Athelney (Somerset). After Easter, he called up his troops and defeated the Viking king Guthrum, who he persuaded to be baptised. He later brought Guthrum to terms and created a settlement that divided England.

England is Divided

886

Alfred, King of Wessex, agrees a treaty with Vikings to divide England
The Saxons retain the west, while the east (between the Thames and Tees rivers) was to be Viking territory - later known as the 'Danelaw' - where English and (Danish) Vikings were equal in law.

The Anglo Saxon Chronicle starts

889

Eastern England (Danelaw) is conquered by the Saxons

926

Athelstan, king of Wessex, takes York (Yorvik) from the Vikings

927

Athelstan, king of Wessex, takes York (Yorvik) from the Vikings, and forces the submission of Constantine of the Scots and of the northern kings.

Athelstan, first king of all England, dies

939

Eric Bloodaxe is forced out of Yorvik (York)

954

Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking king in England, is forced out of Yorvik (York)
Eric Bloodaxe was invited to take over the kingdom of Yorvik (York) around 946 AD. He was welcomed by Athelstan, king of Wessex, who wanted Eric to protect his kingdom from Scots and Irish invaders.

Dunstan becomes archbishop of Canterbury

960

Edgar is crowned king of England at Bath

973

Edgar is crowned king of England at Bath, 14 years after taking power
Edgar ruled England from 959 to 975 AD, but it was not until 973 AD - two years before his death - that he organised a solemn coronation and anointing.

Edward, oldest son of Edgar crowned King of England.

975

He was not popular and was treacherously murdered at Corfe in Dorset three years later.

Edward's half-brother Æthelred becomes the new king.

978

Swein Forkbeard, son of the Danish king Harold Bluetooth,forces Æthelred the Unready into exile England now under Danish control.

1013

King Canute of Denmark captures the English Crown

1016

King Canute of Denmark captures the English Crown

1042

Westminster Abbey is completed

1055

Edward the Confessor dies and is succeed by Harold Godwinson

Jan 6, 1055

Harold, earl of Wessex, was crowned king of England on 6 January 1066. He was immediately faced with powerful threats from William, duke of Normandy, and Harold Hardrada, king of Norway, both of whom laid claim to the English throne.

Saxon victory over invading Vikings

1066

Saxon victory over invading Vikings at the Battle of Stamford Bridge
Harold II defeats and kills Harald Hardrada

The invading Normans defeat the Saxons

1066

The invading Normans defeat the Saxons at the The Battle of Hastings
William of Normandy defeats and kills Harold II with a lucky shot and becomes King of England - Norman Conquest

Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, invades England

Period: 1066 to Sep 20, 1066

William of Normandy lands at Pevensey on the south coast of England

Sep 28, 1066

The invading Normans defeat the Saxons

Oct 14, 1066

The invading Normans defeat the Saxons at the The Battle of Hastings
William of Normandy defeats and kills Harold II with a lucky shot and becomes King of England - Norman Conquest

William of Normandy is crowned king William I of England

Dec 25, 1066

First Norman stone castle is built in Wales

1070

The Normans quickly advanced into Wales, using castles to subdue the surrounding countryside.

Work starts on Canterbury Cathedral

1070

Bayeux Tapestry illustrating the Battle of Hastings is completed

1077