Middle ages

William the Conqueror invades England

Sep 28, 1066

William argued that Edward had previously promised the throne to him, and that Harold had sworn to support William's claim. William built a large fleet and invaded England in September 1066, decisively defeating and killing Harold at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.

Paper is first mass-produced in spain

Sep 27, 1150

Both Italy and Spain said to be the first one to make paper in Europe. Muslim conquest of Spain eventually brought paper making to Europe.

The Magna Carta

Sep 28, 1215

England’s King John was facing down a possible rebellion by the country’s powerful barons. This caused him to agree to a charter of liberties known as the Magna Carta (or Great Charter) that would place him and all of England’s future sovereigns within a rule of law. Though it was not initially successful, the document was reissued (with alterations) in 1216, 1217 and 1225, and eventually served as the foundation for the English system of common law.

End of the Crusades

Sep 28, 1270

a medieval military expedition, one of a series made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. start 1095 – 1291 end

The Plague

Sep 28, 1348

a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis that traveled among wild rodents where they live in great numbers.

Appearance of Robin Hood in literature

Sep 28, 1378

Robin was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. Traditionally depicted as being dressed in Lincoln green, he is often portrayed as "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor" alongside his band of Merry Men.

Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales

Sep 28, 1387

the Canterbury tales are a collection of 24 stories in a frame story written by Geoffrey Chaucer. between 1387 and 1400. It's the story of a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England).

War of the roses

Sep 28, 1455

A series of wars for control of the throne of England. They were fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet, those of Lancaster and York. start 1455-1485 end

First printing of Le Morte d’Arthur

Sep 28, 1485

Le Morte d'Arthur tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights at the Round Table. Arthur, who is son of King Uther Pendragon but was raised by another family, takes his rightful place as king when, as a boy, he is able to pull the sword called Excalibur from the stone.

First Tudor king, Henry VII, is crowned

Sep 28, 1485

He was the second Tudor monarch and was well-known for having six wives. His break with the papacy in Rome established the Church of England and began the Reformation.