Middle Ages

1066-William the Conqueror invades England

Sep 25, 1066

Claiming his right to the English throne, William, duke of Normandy, invades England at Pevensey on Britain’s southeast coast. His subsequent defeat of King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings marked the beginning of a new era in British history.

1150 paper is first mass-produced in Spain

Sep 23, 1150

Paper is first mass-produced in Spain

1215-Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

is a charter agreed by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215

1270-end of the Crusades

Sep 25, 1270

The Crusades were military campaigns sanctioned by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages

1348-The Plague

Sep 25, 1348

The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people and peaking in Europe in the years 1346–53

1378 first appearance of Robin Hood in literature

Sep 24, 1378

first appearance of Robin Hood in literature

1387 Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales

Sep 25, 1387

this is the day Chaucer writes the famous Canterbury Tales

1455-1485

Sep 25, 1455

The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic wars for the throne of England

1485 first printing of Le Morte d’ArthurPolitical and Social Events

Sep 25, 1485

is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of traditional tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table.

1485-First Tudor king, Henry VII, is crowned

Sep 25, 1485

Henry VII was King of England, ruled the Principality of Wales and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor.