Medieval Timeline - Browse by Category

Battle of Frigidius
Date: 405 A.D.
Description:
Radagaesus recruited an army of reportedly 400,000 Germans and planned an invasion of Italy. Stilocho managed to scratch together a force of thirty Western Roman units amounting to only about 20,000 men.

Rather than taking a defensive stance, the Roman Commander instead actually crossed the Danube, and with a swift march, fell upon the German rear and utterly destroyed them.

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Invasion of Roman Empire
Date: December 31st, 406 A.D.
Description:
The River Rhine in Central Europe freezes over, allowing hordes of Vandals, Alans, and Scieri to invade the Roman Empire, ultimately leading to its collapse.

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Saxon Invaders Attack Britain
Date: 408 A.D.
Description:
During this invasion, the Britons defended themselves without the help of the Romans.

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Romans Leave Britain
Date: 410 A.D.
Description:
The Roman legions are withdrawn from Britain after Alaric, king of the Goths, sacks Rome.

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Possible Return of Roman Troops to Britain
Date: 417 A.D.
Description:
It is likely that Roman troops returned briefly to Britain around this year.

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Overthrow of the Tsin
Date: 420 A.D.
Description:
The kingdom of the Tsin that had ruled over southern China since 280 A.D. is overthrown and replaced by the Liu (Sung) dynasty.

The Tsin had originally been one of the three kingdoms that had succeeded the Han dynasty. These were the Wei in the north, the Shu in the west, and the Wu in the east. By 280 A.D. the Wei had defeated the other two kingdoms and came to dominate as the Tsin dynasty. Beginning in 304 A.D. China was ravaged by rampaging Turks, Tibetan, Hsiung-nu, and Mongolian hordes, and by 386 A.D. the Tsin effectively controlled only the southern part of China below the Yangtze River. Northern China fell under the control of the rival Northern Wei, founded by the Turks.

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Angle, Saxon, and Jute Invasions Begin
Date: 449 A.D.
Description:
The first waves of Angle, Saxon and Jute invaders arrive in Britain.

Hengist (probably a Jute) and his brother Horsa are said by Bede to have come to Britain at the invitation of Vorigern, a Romano-British leader to help combat a threat from Pictish and Scottish Raiders. The brothers then revolted and seized Kent. Later, Kentish Kings are said to have claimed descent from Aesc (or Oisc), said to have been Hengist's son.

Hengist is reported to have been killed in battle at Aegelsthrop (probably Aylesford in Kent) circa 488.

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Battle of Campus Mauriacus
Date: 451 A.D.
Description:
Having lost control of much of North Africa to the Vandals the Romans were required to utilize a large number of Barbarian allies in this battle against Attila's Huns.

The allied force drew up for battle with Aetius' Romans on the left flank; A large force of Visigoths on the right; and a mixed force of Franks, Alans, Sarmations, Saxons and Burgundians holding the center. A band of Armorican Britons (who it seems had become an independent kingdom) added additional reinforcement.

The center held a small hill from which they successfully repulsed the initial Hunnic attacks. The Visigoths counter-attacked and broke the opposing wing forcing Attila to break off the battle at nightfall and order a general retreat. The allies did not follow up on this victory.

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The Vandals Sack Rome
Date: 455 A.D.
Description:
The Vandals, under Genseric, sack Rome.

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Britons Largely Take Armorica
Date: c. 460 A.D.
Description:
By the 460s the Britons had largely taken Armorica (a Gaulish province), eventually changing it's name its name to Brittany and its language to Breton.

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Fall of the Western Roman Empire
Date: 476 A.D.
Description:
During this year, the Western half of the Roman Empire collapsed after the fall of Rome to the Germanic tribes. The Eastern half of the Empire, (centered in Constantinople and called Byzantium at this point) would live on until 1453.

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Arrival of the Saxons
Date: 477 A.D.
Description:
Aelle and his Saxon followers settle in the area along the South coast of England that is now known as Sussex (a name which originates from south Saxons).

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Conquest of Sussex
Date: 491 A.D.
Description:
Aelle and his Saxon followers complete their occupation of Sussex.

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Conquest of Kent
Date: 494 A.D.
Description:
The Jutes complete their occupation of Kent in southeastern England.

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Battle of Mount Badon
Date: 518 A.D.
Description:
This victory of the British over the Saxons halted Saxon advances for about fifty years. Mount Badon is believed to be near Wimborne in Dorcetshire.

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Saxon Expansion in England
Date: c. 527 A.D.
Description:
The Saxon kingdoms of Essex and Middlesex are established circa 527. The capital of Essex is thought to have been based at the old Roman city of London.

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Six Garrisons Army Defeated
Date: 528 A.D.
Description:
The invading mutinous Six Garrisons army of a million were defeated by 7000 calvary led by Erhchu chieftain Jung.

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Chen Qingzhi Briefly Captures Luoyang
Date: 529 A.D.
Description:
Liang emperor Wudi sends Chen Qingzhi northward with 7000 men and briefly captures Luoyang.

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Conquest of the Isle of Wight
Date: 530 A.D.
Description:
Cerdic, the Saxon King of Wessex leads a successful invasion acoss the Solent to conquer the Isle of Wight.

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War Begins Between Northern Wei Successors
Date: 534 A.D.
Description:
A war in the north of China begins between the successors of the Northern Wei dynasty.

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Eastern Wei Attack Western Wei
Date: 537 A.D.
Description:
The Eastern Wei attack the Western Wei via Tong Pass but were unsuccessful. Yuwen Tai repulsed the attack.

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Battle of Deorham
Date: 577 A.D.
Description:
The West Saxons under Caewlin invade as far as the River Severn and defeat a British force at the Battle of Deorham, north of Bath, extending the territory of Wessex.

Caewlin's victory effectively seperated the Western Britons from those of the southwest and ensured the capture of Gloucester.

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War Between Northern Wei Successors Ends
Date: 577 A.D.
Description:
The war in the north of China between the successors of the Northern Wei dynasty ends.

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Battle of Faddiley
Date: 583 A.D.
Description:
This victory by a British force effectively stops the West Saxons from advancing into Wales.

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The Bangor Massacre
Date: 615 A.D.
Description:
The barbaric Angles, after having crossed over England, finally reach the Irish Sea and massacre the Christian monks at their monastery in Bangor.

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Edwin Becomes King of Northumbria
Date: 616 A.D.
Description:
After defeating Ethelfrith in battle, the Deiran heir Edwin becomes king of Northumbria. Northumbria had been formed when Ethelfrith, a Bernician, united the kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira. Edwin's victory sent the Bernician royal heirs into exile in Scotland.

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Conquest of the Isle of Man
Date: 620 A.D.
Description:
Edwin, the King of Northumbria, conquers the Isle of Man.

Edwin was the son of Aelle, King of Deira. He succeeded his father in 617. Edwin defeated Aethelric, King of Bernicia to become king of a united Northumbria.

Ultimately, he would be acknowledged as the Bretwalda (overlord) of all of England with the exception of Kent.

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Invasion of Palestine
Date: 633 A.D.
Description:
A Muslim army from Saudi Arabia begins the conquest of Palestine.

During the next seven years, these Muslim soldiers would extend Islamic influence into Syria (bringing them up against the mighty Byzantine Empire) and modern-day Iraq.

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Battle of Heavenfield
Date: 634 A.D.
Description:
A battle between the Mericans and Welsh under Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd and the Northumbrian army of Oswald of Bernicia. Oswald won this battle and was able to reunite Bernicia and Deira and become king of all Northumbria.

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Conquest of Iran
Date: 638 A.D.
Description:
Muslim armies commence with the invasion of Iran. The Sassanian Empire, however, would put up a stiff resistance and so even as late as 650 A.D., the Arabic leaders would still not have control of the Southern Caspian coast.

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Conquest of Egypt
Date: 639 A.D.
Description:
A Muslim army commenced the conquest of Egypt. This would be the first step that would ultimately see the whole of North Africa coming under Islamic control within seventy years.

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Battle of Maserfield
Date: August 5th, 642 A.D.
Description:
King Penda of Mercia defeats King Oswald of Northumbria, and Oswald is killed during the battle.

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Battle of Winwaed
Date: November 15th, 655 A.D.
Description:
Oswiu of Bernicia defeats King Penda of Mercia at this battle. Penda dies during the battle.

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Battle of Nechtansmere
Date: May 20th, 685 A.D.
Description:
In this battle King Bruide and the Picts annihilated King Ecgfrith's Northumbrian army, thus thwarting the Nothumbrians attempt to subjugate them.

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Moors Conquer Spain
Date: July 7th, 711 A.D.
Description:
The Moorish chief Tariq lands in Spain with a small Muslim army at the invitation of the rebel governor of Ceuta. The place where he landed would later become known as Jebel el-Tariq, ('the mountain of Tariq' or later 'Gibraltar'). The Arabs and their Moorish allies quickly defeated Roderick, the last Visigoth king of Spain at the battles of Guadelete and Ecija, and before the end of the year the Visigoth capital, Toledo, would fall without resistance. Within two years all except the northern mountainous regions of Spain would come under Muslim control.

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Battle of Poitiers
Date: October 25th, 732 A.D.
Description:
The real power behind the throne of the Frankish King Thierry IV was Charles Martel (the Hammer), the Mayor of the Palace. A tough soldier, Charles had proved his worth many times in battle against rebellions factions within the Frankish empire. For many years the Moslems of Spain had been threatening Gaul. In 725 an invading army had penetrated as far as Burgundy, but it had been bought off by Duke Eudes, much to Charles' disfavour. In 732 Abd-er-Rahman, the Governor of Spain, crossed the Pyrenees with an immense army, and advanced as far as the River Loire. In October, Charles' Franks engaged Abd-er-Rahman at the Battle of Poitiers outside of the town of Tours. During the battle the Moorish Governor was slain and the remains of his army beat in retreat back to Spain. This battle, perhaps one of the most important in European history, would ensure the survival of Christian civilisation in Western Europe

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Birth of Charlemagne
Date: April 8th, 742 A.D.
Description:
This is the date of the birth of Carolus Magnus (Charles the Great, or Charlemagne). Charlemagne was the son of the Merovingian mayor of the palace, Pepin the Short. Charlemagne would inherit the northern Frankish lands following the death of his father (crowned king by Pope Stephen II in 754) and those of his brother, Carloman, in 771. After assisting the Pope in the defeat of the Lombards in Italy, he was crowned as the King of the Lombards. After subduing and Christianizing the Saxon tribes of northern Germany, Charlemagne would gain control of large areas of Saxony. A campaign in Spain would add further lands between the Pyrenees and the Llobregat. Bavaria was incorporated in the kingdom in 788, and the Avar people were subdued between 791 and 796. With much of Western Europe under his rule, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, thereby founding the Holy Roman Empire.

Although he never learned to read, during Charlemagne's reign a renaissance of learning began in Western Europe. With leading scholars (such as the Northumbrian Alcuin) in his service, the Frankish King revised Frankish Laws. These revisions included the first introduction of jury service within courts. Charlemagne maintained diplomatic relations with Byzantium, Baghdad, Mercia, Northumbria, and others. He introduced a new coinage and reformed the weights and measures. In addition, communications were much improved, Church reforms throughout his dominions began, missionary and monastic reforms were supported, the old heroic sagas and other peoples' laws were written down, and religious instruction in the vernacular was promoted.

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The Abbasid Revolution in Khurasan
Date: 747 A.D.
Description:
For more than a century the Abbasid family, who were descended from Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, had been content with their territories in Khurasan (Eastern Iran) whilst the Umayyad dynasty of Caliphs (661-750) controlled Arabia and the fertile crescent.

However, from the start of the eighth century, the Abbasids would become increasingly involved in a number of disputes with the Umayyads which would ultimately lead to an alliance with the Shiite faction and open revolt. Led by the talented Abu Muslim, the Abbasids having, by 749 AD, united most of the empire in revolt, would commence a series of successful campaigns resulting in the conquest of Iraq and Syria.

Marwan II, the last of the Umayyad caliphs, was finally defeated and killed, leaving the Arabian empire under the control of the Abbasid dynasty. Only in Moslem Spain would the Umayyads continue to hold power. The second Abbasid Caliph, al-Mansur, would commence the building a new city, Baghdad, close to the site of the ancient city of Babylon in 763 (the works were completed by his successor, Harun al Rashid), and it was to here that the empire's capital would be moved from Damascus, thus preserving Persian influence in the Middle East well into the 9th and 10th centuries.

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Battle of Benson
Date: 779 A.D.
Description:
Offa, King of Mercia, defeats the West Saxons at Benson, to become the Bretwalda (overlord) of all England.

Subject kings would owe the Bretwalda tribute, suit at court, and military service. They would also have to seek his permission prior to granting any plots of land.

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Offa's Dyke Completed
Date: c. 783 A.D.
Description:
Offa's dyke is an earthwork constructed during the reign of King Offa of Mercia and Bretwalda of England to separate his kingdom from the Welsh tribes.

The seventy mile long dyke replaced an earlier boundary built during the reign of Offa's predecessor, Aethelbard.

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Sack of Iona
Date: 785 A.D.
Description:
Danish raiders sack the monastery on the island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland. Although it was one of the first of the Viking raids, the monastery buildings were quickly rebuilt by the monks.

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Independent Idrisid Dynasty Established in Morocco
Date: 788 A.D.
Description:
Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Morocco had been conquered by the Vandals in 429 AD and subsequently by the Byzantines in 533 AD. During the seventh century the Arabs would commence a series of campaigns that would bring all of the North African coastline under Moslem rule by 682 AD. Under the Arabs, North Africa would be divided into three provinces: Egypt (with its capital based at Cairo), Ifriquiva (Capital At Qairwan near Tunis) and Maghreb (capital at Fez).

In 788 , the Arab Caliphate of Maghreb rebelled against the Arabian Caliphs and established an independent state ruled over by the Idrisid Dynasty. This independent state would last for 150 years, during which time the Pagan or Christian inhabitants of Morocco (Berbers) would largely convert to the Islamic faith. The Idrisid caliphate would finally end in 974 AD when the dynasty was overthrown by the Egyptian Fatamid Caliphs.

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Danes Raid Lindisfarne
Date: 793 A.D.
Description:
Danish raiders attack the monastery of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) forcing the monks to flee.

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Capture of Barcelona
Date: 801 A.D.
Description:
After a two-year siege the Franks capture Barcelona from the Moors.

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Battle of Ellendun
Date: 825 A.D.
Description:
In this defeat of Beornwulf of Mercia, Egbert, King of Essex, gained power over lesser kingdoms in the south of England.

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Egbert Defeats the Danes
Date: 835 A.D.
Description:
In 830 Wiglaf had re-established Mercian independence, thus leaving Egbert only in effective control of Wessex and his subject territories of Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Essex.

The apparent weakness of his kingdom at this time led to an unsuccessful revolt by Cornish rebels assisted by a large force of Danes. After a short campaign the Danes and Cornishmen were successfully routed.

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Kenneth I, First King of Scotland
Date: 850 A.D.
Description:
Kenneth MacAlpin (King Kenneth I) conquers the Picts to the north of the Forth to become the first King of Scotia.

Originally Scotia meant Ireland but would later come to mean all of Scotland.

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Reign of Constantine I
Date: 862 A.D.
Description:
The son of King Kenneth I MacAlpin, Constantine succeeded Donald I, his uncle, as King of Scotia in 862. During his reign his main concern was combating increasing Viking raids and incursions into his territory. He was killed in a battle in 878 whilst fighting another Viking invasion.

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Reign of Æthelred, King of Wessex
Date: 866 A.D.
Description:
Æthelred, the fourth son of King Æthelwulf, succeeded his brother Æthelbert to the throne of Wessex in 866. In 865 the 'Great Heathen Host', the largest Danish army up until this point, arrived in England under the command of Halfdan, Guthrum, and Ivar bent on conquering lands for settlement. Æthelred and his younger brother Alfred (Alfred the Great) would lead Anglo-Saxon resistance against the Danish invasion into East Anglia throughout his reign.

By 868 the Saxons had forced the Danes to abandon Nottingham, and within two years the Norsemen had been utterly ousted them from Mercia. The Danes meanwhile had established a base in Reading. Æthelred drove them out of their stronghold, and on the (circa) 8th January 871 Alfred would achieve a crushing victory with his West Saxons over the Norsemen at the Battle of Ashdown, which was fought on the Berkshire Downs near Reading. Contemporary chroniclers tended to over exaggerate the importance of this victory. The victory was marred shortly afterwards with the king's defeat at Merton in April 871. Although Æthelred would die from wounds received at the Battle of Merton, he had effectively paved the way for Wessex to unite England in opposition to the heathen Danes.

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Chinese Peasants' Revolt
Date: 874 A.D.
Description:
In 875, following a terrible drought, a peasant rising led by Huang Chao and Wang Xianzhi broke out against the ruling Tang dynasty regime of China. Discontent against the Tang's regime had been growing for some time. This discontent was fuelled by corrupt officials who illegally annexed land and collected taxes, either in cash or grain, even during periods of natural disaster. The Chinese economy fell into decline as a result of an increasing population competing for ever reducing plots of land, which led ultimately to a reduction in the tax revenue that was essential for the maintenance of the regime's military authority. Unrest increased as large numbers of desperate peasants fled from the fields as a consequence of the resulting poverty and famine, and the Emperor's troops, now no longer capable of even defending China's frontiers, became increasing unable to control the period of lawlessness that ensued.

The revolt itself commenced in Henan and Shandong in eastern China. It soon spread throughout a dozen provinces, and up to 1,000,000 rebels were involved. With such a large force at their disposal, the rebel leaders were soon able to seize control of almost a half of China. When Wang Xianzhi died in battle, Huang Chao would become the sole leader of the rebels army which now marched on and captured the Imperial city of Chang'an. Here they established their own regime (the Da Qi) whilst the Tang Emperor Xizong (873-888) fled to Chengdu.

Despite their large numbers, the rebels would never be able to best the trained armies of the Tang Emperor. Xizong gathered together the remaining elements of his loyal troops and combined them with allied contingents (largely Shatuo Turks) from the regional Fanzhen fortress-border-states. With this force, the Emperor was able to force Huang Chao to abandon Chang'an in 884 AD and, pursued by the Turkish allies, forced him back into Henan where the rebellion had commenced ten years earlier. Here, abandoned by most of his followers, Huang Chao committed suicide.

Despite having defeating the rebellion, the authority of the Tang dynasty had been permanently damaged. The landlord class had been effectively broken as a political power, which now devolved onto provincial warlords and thus would ultimately spell the end to the Tang Dynasty.

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Battle of Edington
Date: May 878 A.D.
Description:
King Alfred the Great of England defeats Guthrum and the Danish army, saving Wessex from destruction by the Danes.

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Battle of Tettenhall
Date: 910 A.D.
Description:
Edward the Elder was able to win victory over the Danes in Northumbria with this battle.

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Athelstan Takes York from the Danes
Date: 927 A.D.
Description:
This victory established power in the north of England. After Athelstan's death, gains in the north would soon be lost.

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Battle of Brunanburh
Date: 937 A.D.
Description:
With this battle, King Athelstan and his brother Edmund, leading a combined army from Wessex and Mercia, were able to defeat an invading force of Norse Vikings from Ireland.

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Magyars Defeated at the Battle of the Lechfeld
Date: 955 A.D.
Description:
King Otto the Great's crushing defeat of the Magyars at the battle of Lechfeld brought an end to their raids into the west. Within the next fifty years the Magyars had established their own kingdom and adopted Christianity.

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Battle of Hastings
Date: October 14th, 1066 A.D.
Description:
At the Battle of Hastings, William, duke of Normandy, defeated and killed Harold II, successfully completing the Norman Conquest.

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Battle of Manzikert
Date: August 1071 A.D.
Description:
In one of the worst defeats in the Byzantine Empire's history, Emperor Romanus Diogenes was defeated and captured by the Turks' sultan, Alp Arslan. As a result of this battle, the Eastern Empire lost much of Asia Minor, which included much of its grain and manpower sources.

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Battle of Manzikert
Date: August 1071 A.D.
Description:
In one of the worse defeats in Byzantine's history, Emperor Romanus Diogenes was defeated and captured by the Turks' sultan, Alp Arslan. By May of 1071, Emperor Romanus had amassed 60,000 men on the Armenian border in the hopes of strengthening the eastern borders of Anatolia from the Seljuks by taking the war to them. Romanus' army consisted of native Byzantines as well as mercenaries. He divided his army into two columns and set out to capture the Armenian frontier fortress of Manzikert. The column led by Romanus then set out to meet the Seljuks. His second column, however, led by General Tarchaniotes, did not join him. Romanus was therefore left with about 30,000 men to face the enemy forces led by Alp Arslan. The ensuing battle began in the Byzantines' favor but that soon changed when a trap set by the Seljuks sprang into action. By feigning retreat, the Seljuks were able to draw Romanus' army forward. Romanus did fear a trap but his order to turn back was given too late. Seljuk cavalry raced forward, breaking the ranks of the Byzantines, some of whom managed to escape. Many, including the emperor, ended up surrounded. Romanus' mercenaries attempted to flee but were killed. The Byzantine emperor, Romanus, was captured and later released on conditions of a peace treaty, but he was replaced in a coup at home and killed by his own soldiers. The Seljuks considered the treaty broken and proceeded to invade and occupy Anatolia. As a result of this battle, the Eastern Empire lost much of Asia Minor, which included much of its grain and manpower sources. Its only effective army was also decimated and the ruler who emerged from the coup was forced to appeal to Rome for help against the Seljuks.

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Alfonso VI of Castile Takes Toledo
Date: 1085 A.D.
Description:
Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo from the Abbadides.

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Oath of Salisbury
Date: August 1st, 1086 A.D.
Description:
Twenty years after the conquest King William I, he called upon all the great land-owning lords to pay homage at Old Sarum (a site of an ancient hill fort near Salisbuty, Wiltshire). The lords were commanded to swear an oath of fealty in person and to confirm their obligation to provide military service to the king in return for the lands that they currently held, regardless of who their own overlord might be.

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Pope Urban II's Speech at Clermont
Date: November 27th, 1095 A.D.
Description:
This speech, given by Pope Urban II in central France in 1095, was responsible for releasing a torrent of events which played out on a grand scale over the few hundred years. Since a major announcement was expected, the speech was moved to a field so that it could accommodate more people. Thousands of laymen and clerics gathered to hear him speak. Marked as the starting point of the crusades, Urban II's speech called upon both rich and poor to help their Christian brothers in the East. Originally the goal was just that, to help the Christian Churches in the East, but a very different goal soon developed. The freeing of the Holy Sepulchre of Christ from the non-Christians soon became the most important objective. The success of Urban II's appeal at Clermont was extraordinary and to help spread the word even further, preachers were sent all around Europe.

"Deus lo volt!"

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Jews Massacred by Crusaders
Date: 1096 A.D.
Description:
Jewish communities in towns and cities along the Rhine River were slaughtered by crusaders. Dozens of small settlements and larger towns like Mainz, Speyer, Worms, Trier, Xanten, Metz and Cologne all experienced the crusaders' reign of murder. Some churchmen tried, often in vain, to protect Jewish families from the crusaders. In Speyer, a local bishop was able to save hundreds by hiding them in his church, but a similar strategy by a bishop in Worms failed when crusaders stormed his residence and killed all of the Jewish families he had hiding there. Massacres of Jews at the hands of the crusaders also occurred in Prague, Regensburg and Salzburg.

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Capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders
Date: July 15th, 1099 A.D.
Description:
The crusading army surrounded Jerusalem in June of 1099. They had few supplies and had knowledge of an approaching Egyptian army, so time was a major factor. They either had to take the city quickly or retreat to the coast. On June 13 the crusaders tried to take the city by storm but failed, mainly due to a lack of siege engines and ladders. In a vision, a priest was told that the city would fall to them if they held a fast and then a procession around the city walls. The crusaders held a fast and on July 8, a procession of barefoot crusaders led by bishops and priests walked around the walls of the city. This odd sight (at least for the city's defenders) ended at Mount Olive, where preachers gave speeches. Spiritually rejuvenated, the crusaders finished building some siege equipment that was in progress and began the assault on the night of July 13-14. July 15th was the day that the city of Jerusalem fell to the crusaders. The Fatamid governor and his attendants were the only Muslims to escape with their lives. Bloody mass murder followed the taking of the city. Every Muslim, regardless of gender or age was slaughtered. Any other non-Christians, such as the city's Jews, were also killed. The Sepulchre of Christ was now again in Christian hands, and the city was awash with blood.

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Battle of the Standard
Date: August 22nd, 1138 A.D.
Description:
David I, King of the Scots, intervenes in the civil war raging in England in support of his niece, Matilda. A keen supporter of Norman institutions, which had earlier alienated many of his Celtic subjects, King David's Scottish Army occupied Carlisle and advanced into the vale of York. With King Stephen's forces engaged elsewhere, the defence of the North was entrusted to the aged Archbishop Thurstan of York, who inspired his Yorkshire militia with his own Battle-Standard. This standard was a huge forty foot pole mounted on a cart, topped with a silver pyx containing the Host and flying the banners of York's patron saints—St. Peter of York, St. John of Beverley and St. Wilfred of Ripon.

The two opposing armies met at Cowton Moor, near Northallerton, where the Scots were soundly defeated by the Anglo-Normans under the command of William, Count of Aumale.

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Battle of Lincoln
Date: February 2nd, 1141 A.D.
Description:
King Stephen, having captured Lincoln from the unpopular Ranulf, Earl of Chester, marched his army out of the city to engage a combined rebel force. This force was commanded by Robert of Gloucester, the Empress Matilda's step brother, and the Earl of Chester with his Cheshire tenants and Welsh mercenaries which had arrived to regain the castle and city for the empress.

The battle went badly for the Royalist. Rebel charges resulted in the king's flanking cavalry fleeing the field, leaving his infantry to fight unsupported. The king, fighting with his bodyguard, was eventually struck down and captured. He was briefly imprisoned in the castle before being escorted to Matilda's headquarters in Bristol. In the aftermath of the battle, the city was pillaged by the victorious rebels, with many of its citizens being slaughtered for their support to the Royalists.

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Conquest of Ulster
Date: 1177 A.D.
Description:
A discontented Norman knight, Sir John de Courcy left Dublin with a small force of about 300 men-at-arms to conquer the region of Antrim and Down in Ulster, Northern Ireland. After subduing the local Irish chieftains, de Courcy would commence establishing his own independent kingdom in the region. During the reign of Henry II, he seems to have been left alone to enjoy his independence (particularly as his father-in-law was the Norse King of the Isle of Man), and during this time he established the city of Belfast and established numerous castles and churches. In 1185 he was appointed by Henry to the powerful position of Justiciar of Ireland, but later refused to submit to King John and was ultimately defeated by a Royal force led by Sir Hugh de Lacy. De Lacy was rewarded by King John with the title of Earl of Ulster. De Courcy's later life is shrouded in much myth and legend, and he is thought to have died c. 1219.

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Battle of Mont Gisard
Date: November 25th, 1177 A.D.
Description:
Under the leadership of Baldwin IV and Prince Reynald, the Franks were able to rout Saladin's forces at Mont Gisard. Saladin had been caught off guard, as most of his army was off foraging and pillaging and were not prepared for a battle. The sultan barely escaped with his life and was forced to return to Egypt with only a small fraction of the army he had set out with.

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Rebellion of the Young King
Date: 1183 A.D.
Description:
Henry, the oldest of the quarrelsome sons of King Henry II, together with his brother Geoffrey lead a rebellion in Aquitaine against their brother Richard, the future King Richard I, Couer de Lion. Henry, the young king, would die in 1183, and his brother, Geoffrey of Brittany, died in 1186 whilst plotting another revolt, thus leaving Richard to inherit the crown of England upon their father's death in 1189.

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Battle of Hattin
Date: July 4th, 1187 A.D.
Description:
On July 4, 1187, the forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem were defeated by Saladin. Raymond of Tripoli and a few others evaded capture. Many knights were killed in the battle and out of those taken prisoner, even less were allowed to live. The king of Jerusalem (who was Guy of Lusignan), the Master of the Temple and Reynald of Châtillon were among the notables captured. All of the captured Templars were executed except for their master. Saladin himself killed Reynald of Châtillon. Guy of Lusignan was imprisoned and released about a year later. This was the worst defeat ever faced by the Christians in the crusader states and the consequences of this loss were catastrophic. The kingdom had lost almost all of its fighting men in this disaster.

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Jerusalem surrenders to Saladin
Date: October 2nd, 1187 A.D.
Description:
Saladin's army arrived outside of Jerusalem on September 20, 1187. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Heracleus, took charge of the city's defenses with the help of Balian of Ibelin. Queen Sibyl of Jerusalem was also present in the city. After two weeks of Saladin's assault upon the walls, with a city full of refugees and a severe shortage of trained fighters, it was clear that nothing could prevent the city from falling. Heracleus and Balian decided that the only option left to them was to seek terms with Saladin. On October 2, 1187, Saladin and his army entered the defeated city amidst a relatively peaceful takeover. Many of the inhabitants, including Queen Sibyl and her entourage, were ransomed.

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Marriage of King John
Date: 1200 A.D.
Description:
King John of England, having divorced his first wife Avice of Gloucester, marries Isabella of Angoulême. Isabel was the heiress to the Angoumois province in Aquitaine and descended on her mother's side from Prince Peter, the fifth son of King Lewis le Gros of France. Unfortunately, Isabella was already betrothed to a Poitevin noble, Hugh of Lusignan. Hugh was enraged and, together with many of his neighbours, took up arms against John. John retaliated by accusing the rebel nobles of treason and challenged them to clear their characters by selecting champions to fight an equal number of English and Norman knights.

The Poitevin barons declined this challenge and instead appealed directly to John's over-lord, King Philip II Augustus of France. In 1202 Philip summoned John to appear before him to answer the complaints of his peers, but not only did John fail to appear, he also did not make any excuse for his absence. Consequently Philip condemned the English King to forfeit his French lands, and with Prince Arthur (John's nephew through his older brother Geoffrey), he commenced an invasion of Normandy.

John's aged mother Eleanor now took up the cause against her grandson, Arthur, but was then besieged by the prince at her castle at Mirebeau. John's army arrived and raised the siege, taking Arthur prisoner. Some time in 1203, Arthur mysteriously disappeared (he was probably murdered by John). However, by now many of the Norman Barons had actively ceased to respect John. Castle after Castle fell to Philip until by 1204 only Château Gaillard remained in English hands. When in 1204 this too fell, John was forced to accept the loss of his lands in Normandy, Maine, Anjou, Touraine and part of Poittou, all of these having submitted to Philip.

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The Beginning of the Fourth Crusade
Date: 1202 A.D.
Description:
The Fourth Crusade begins in Venice.

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Constantinople Falls
Date: April 12th, 1204 A.D.
Description:
Instead of reaching Jerusalem, the crusaders of the Fourth Crusade became involved in Venetian and Byzantine intrigues, and they were diverted to Constantinople to help the deposed Byzantine emperor Isaac Angelus to regain his throne. Within a few months the crusaders had stormed and sacked the city, establishing a Latin empire there under Baldwin of Flanders.

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Genghis Khan and the Formation of the Mongol Empire
Date: 1206 A.D.
Description:
Temujin, a Mongol chieftain, having unified the feuding Mongol tribes under his own leadership through political acumen and military flair, is proclaimed as the 'Genghis Khan' by the Kuriltai (chieftains) at the quriltai (Mongol assembly), so founding the Mongol Empire.

The title Genghis (or Chingis) is literally 'Perfect Warrior'.

His organization of the tribes into semi-feudal clans bound together by unquestioning allegiance to the Khan would create a sophisticated military organization. This would be complemented by the Great Yasa or jasagh, which was an imperial code of laws to which he himself was subject.

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The Children's Crusade
Date: 1212 A.D.
Description:
In 1212 a French boy from Coyes claimed he had met Christ and was urged by him to lead a Children's Crusade. Their innocence and faith would convince the Muslims of their cause, and the children attracted to the crusade believed it. This French boy, known as Stephen, went to Paris to gather support for his crusade to the Holy Land. Thousands of other children joined him and the movement even spread into Germany. Nicholas, a German peasant from near Cologne, served as a rallying point for those in Germany. Eventually Stephen and about 9,000 followers escorted by priests reached the port of Marseilles. In the port local merchants offered to transport them all to the Holy Land. In route a storm at sea drowned all of the children aboard two ships, and the remaining five parted ways, each heading for different destinations. One group went to Bougie in North Africa and the other sailed to Alexandria, Egypt. Both groups of children had the same end result in these port cities; all were sold in the slave markets. While those in Stephen's group met horrible ends, the group led by Nicholas had crossed the Swiss Alps and were in northern Italy. They numbered only about 7,000 or less and wandered south through Italy begging for food as they went. Only a few hundred of Nicholas' group remained when they reached the city of Brindisi on the southern Italian coast. A Norwegian trader by the name of Friso took the children who were left under his wing. Most of these children subsequently ended up in Mediterranean brothels or slave markets. Remarkably, a few actually did make it to the Holy Land by tagging along with groups of pilgrims. The handful of child crusaders that did reach the Holy Land failed to make any sort of an impression on the Muslims who occupied Jerusalem.

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Reign of Ferdinand III
Date: September 3rd, 1230 A.D.
Description:
King Alfonso IX of León (in modern day Spain) dies and is succeeded by his son, King Ferdinand III, of Castile.

Alfonso's wife and Ferdinand's mother Berengeria had been the daughter and heiress to the King of Castile (Alfonso III). On her father's death in 1217, there was so much opposition to the King of Leon gaining control over Castile that she renounced (not without some civil strife) her claim to the throne in favour of her eighteen year old son.

Thus when Ferdinand succeeded his father to the throne of Leon, the two Spanish Kingdoms would finally be united under a common monarch. Ferdinand's campaigns against the Saracens would recover much territory from the Arabs. He would capture Cordova in 1236 and Seville in 1248 and ultimately just Granada and Alicante would remain under Islamic control at the time of his death in 1252. With each expansion into Saracen territory Ferdinand would found Christian bishoprics and arrange for the building of numerous churches, monasteries and hospitals. The University of Saville was also established during his reign. Many miracles would later be ascribed to Ferdinand, and these would result in his name being canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671.

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Battle of the Sajo River
Date: April 11th, 1241 A.D.
Description:
Having defeated three separate Hungarian detachments, the Mongols under Subutai came face to face with the main Hungarian Army under King Bela. King Bela had marched out of Pest, which was the Mongol's objective, to drive off Subutai's advance guard. In the resultant battle, the Mongols, although only half as strong as their opponents, attacked with all their strength and, employing every device of smoke, noise, arrows and stones, caused such panic amongst the Hungarians that such a debacle arose and King Bela's army was put to flight.

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Battle at La Forbie
Date: October 17th, 1244 A.D.
Description:
Sultan as-Salih Ayyub demolished the forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem led by Philip of Montfort and Walter, Count of Jaffa, at La Forbie near Gaza. Prior to this, Jerusalem had been lost to an Egyptian army. At La Forbie many knights were killed and the ranks of the military orders were almost wiped out.

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War of St. Sabas
Date: 1256 A.D.
Description:
Beginning in 1256, commercial rivalry between the Genoese and the Venetians turned into a civil war. The conflict began over ownership of some houses in the monastery of St. Sabas in Acre and had been seething in the courts since 1251. In 1256 open fighting began in the streets of Acre between the two factions. The dispute was not just limited to the Genoese and the Venetians; the military orders and the nobility were also drawn into the conflict. The Venetians were supported by the Pisan and Provençal merchants, Templars, Teutonic Knights, and the Order of St. Lazarus and of St. Thomas, as well as the majority of the Ibelins. The Genoese supporters included the Catalan merchants, the Hopitallers, Philip de Montfort and the Lord of Tyre. Several fierce battles ensued and in 1258 the Genoese fleet was defeated and then Philip de Monfert's attempt to take the city failed. In effect the Venetians had won and Acre became a sort of Venetian dependency. In 1261 a temporary peace was initiated, with the Genoese being barred from Acre but allowed to keep a footing in Tyre. In response to this, the Genoese signed the Treaty of Nymphaeum. The treaty was made with the Byzantines and threatened the Venetian control of trade in Byzantium. The main venue for battle now became the Byzantine Empire. Sea battles, however, still continued into 1270. Peace was finally established between the feuding factions in 1270 when St. Louis intervened. The Genoese were now allowed to return to their quarter in Acre—albeit, it now existed as ruins, and the Venetians went back to Tyre in 1277.

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Edward I of England Favors John Baliol in Scotland
Date: 1296 A.D.
Description:
King Edward I of England, approached to adjudicate between the rival claimants (having first obtaining from them an oath of fealty), decided in favor of John Baliol, a man in his early forties, not very intelligent and rather weak-willed, for his choice as King of Scotland. Many thought however that under traditional Scottish custom Robert the Bruce would probably have had a greater claim.

From the start Edward treated Baliol with the utmost contempt, using him solely as a feudal puppet to carry out English policies in Scotland. Eventually, tiring of this constant humiliation, Baliol renounced his oath of allegiance and openly opposed Edward. The English King, already heavily involved in a bitter war with France in Gascony, and once again confronted by yet another Welsh rebellion, was enraged. He stormed north at the head of his army to deal with Baliol and the Scottish King's rebellious followers.

At the end of March 1296 Edward's army arrived outside the town of Berwick to find the citizens and the castle prepared for a long siege. The jeers and insults from the castle's battlements soon turned to alarm as the seasoned English soldiers, wild with rage, captured the town within minutes and there spent the rest of the day massacring its citizens. The castle garrison seeing this brutality decided wisely not to resist the English further and that evening opened the castle gates and surrendered.

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English Victory at Dunbar
Date: 1296 A.D.
Description:
After capturing Berwick, Edward I of England sent his most senior lieutenant, John de Warenne, with a detachment consisting of the best cavalry, numbers of Welsh bowmen, and a force of good infantry raised in the northern levies northwards to seize Dunbar. Upon his arrival at Dunbar, de Warenne found this castle also prepared for a siege, with the main Scottish army under the command of John Comyn, Earl of Buchan deployed outside its walls at a place called Spottsmuir. De Warenne had no choice but to ignore the castle and offer battle to the deployed Scottish army. The Scots, although not lacking courage, were ill disciplined. Breaking ranks, they hurled themselves upon the English army, only to be showered by thousands of arrows from the Welsh longbows. Broken and confused, the survivors were trampled into the ground by the English cavalry, riding amongst the Scots and slaughtering them with sword, lance, axe or mace. This total English victory cost the lives of some 10,000 Scottish soldiers. John Comyn, three other Scottish earls and more than a hundred of Comyn's Nobles being captured.

With Scottish armed resistance broken Edward followed his victory at Dunbar with a triumphant march through Scotland, taking his army further north than any previous ruler of Britain since the Romans. During this march he demanded Baliol's abdication at Strcathro near Brechin. If he thought that now he had resolved the disaffection of the Scots, he would very soon be faced with an even more deadly foe.

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Battle of Stirling Bridge
Date: September 11th, 1297 A.D.
Description:
Charging English knights were cut off when Stirling Bridge collapsed and massacred by the Scots' long pikes.

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Battle of Bannockburn
Date: June 23rd, 1314 A.D.
Description:
Lasting from the 23rd to the 24th, Robert the Bruce of Scotland was able to defeat the English under King Edward II, setting the stage for Scottish independence.

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Battle of Sluys
Date: June 24th, 1340 A.D.
Description:
This was a naval battle during the Hundred Years' War between the English, led by Edward III, and the French in front of the town of Sluys, which is located between West Flanders and Zeeland in the area of the Netherlands. The English were able to almost completely destroy the French.

For more information about this battle, see the Medieval Wiki article.

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Battle of Crecy
Date: August 25th, 1346 A.D.
Description:
Edward III defeated Phillip VI in the Battle of Crecy. French forces suffered heavy losses, while the English forces only suffered few casualties, largely due to the successful use of the longbow.

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Calais Falls to England
Date: October 1347 A.D.
Description:
After an almost year-long siege, French Calais fell to Edward III of England. Calais would remain in English possession for over two hundred years and would remain a point of contention throughout the Hundred Years War.

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Order of the Garter Established
Date: April 23rd, 1348 A.D.
Description:
Edward III establishes the first chivalric order of knighthood.

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Battle of Poitiers
Date: September 19th, 1356 A.D.
Description:
The Black Prince (Prince Edward) of England defeated the French in battle.

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The Peasants' Revolt
Date: May 1381 A.D.
Description:
A poll tax levied by Edward III initiated this revolt in the eastern part of England (Essex and Kent) in late May, although most of the major events occurred in June. The revolt was not just confined to peasants of the lower class, but included artisans and others as well. The rebels made several demands of the king, including the abolition of serfdom. Eventually the revolt was suppressed, and all concessions that had been made were withdrawn.

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Battle of Agincourt
Date: October 25th, 1415 A.D.
Description:
One of the most significant battles of the Hundred Years War, this battle was an English victory (under Henry V) over the French (under Charles VI). The superiority of the English longbow was again demonstrated against France's heavily armored knights.

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Execution of Joan of Arc
Date: May 30th, 1431 A.D.
Description:
Joan of Arc is executed at Rouen. The Maid of Orleans, aged just 19, had been captured by the Burgundians and handed over to the English. After a lengthy trial she was found guilty of being a relapsed heretic and duly burnt at the stake. She was canonised in 1920.

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Birth of Mehmet II
Date: March 30th, 1432 A.D.
Description:
The future conqueror of Constantinople was born in Adrianople as the third son to Sultan Murad II of the Ottoman Turks. Over the next decade his two eldest brothers died, and on February 2, 1451, his father the sultan dies. Mehmet II comes to power as the next Ottoman sultan and to ensure that his claim to the throne is not challenged, he has his father's youngest heir killed. On May 29th, 1453 Mehmet and his army take Constantinople as their own. He was only 21 years old when Constantinople fell to him. On May 3, 1481, the destroyer of two Empires, four kingdoms and eleven principalities died at age 49.

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Fall of Cherbourgh
Date: August 12th, 1450 A.D.
Description:
After 33 years of English rule, the French succeed in recovering all of Normandy. Now only the Channel Islands would remain under English control. Although tthe war would continue for another three years, the ruinous cost of financing garrisons, combined with the ending of the Burgundian-Almanac civil war in France, would spell the end to Plantagenet ambitions in Continental Europe.

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Fall of Constantinople
Date: May 29th, 1453 A.D.
Description:
In 1453, Constantinople fell to Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire. Constantine XI, the Byzantine emperor at the time, was killed in the fighting to take the city. This marked the end of the Eastern Roman Empire.

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Battle of Castillon
Date: July 17th, 1453 A.D.
Description:
The vanguard of the small English army arrived at the French camp in the early hours of the morning, only to witness the whole French army in flight before them. The English commander, John Talbot, charged up to the camp's palisade wall in pursuit of the enemy—only to find the parapets manned by hundreds of cannon, and thousands of archers. The French army had hidden while the servants and valets fled the field as a lure to the Englishmen. Talbot was killed and his army routed, resulting in complete English expulsion from France and the loss of Aquitaine, which had been the pride of England's crown for over three hundred years.

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First Battle of St. Albans
Date: May 22nd, 1455 A.D.
Description:
In the opening battle of the Wars of the Roses, Richard, Duke of York, and his allies the Yorkists attacked King Henry VI's smaller army at the fortified town of St Albans. After fierce street fighting to no avail, the Earl of Warwick took the Yorkist reserve force and found a back-way through the gardens to the town's market place. His unexpected charge broke the shocked Lancastrian army in two and won the day. As the rout started King Henry was taken into the Yorkist lord's custody, to become their puppet.

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The Battle of Blore Heath
Date: September 23rd, 1459 A.D.
Description:
A battle during the Wars of the Roses in which the Earl of Salisbury defeated a larger force of Lancastrians under the command of Lord Audley.

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King James II of Scotland Dies
Date: 1460 A.D.
Description:
While laying siege to Roxburgh Castle, a cannon blew up instantly killing the king.

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Battle of Towton
Date: March 29th, 1461 A.D.
Description:
Towton was the bloodiest battle during the Wars of the Roses. The battle was a serious loss for the Lancastrians.

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Battle of Edgecote Moor
Date: July 26th, 1469 A.D.
Description:
By the late 1460s, the Earl of Warwick, who strove harder than any other man to put Edward IV on the throne, was plotting rebellion. The King was heading north to deal with local risings when Warwick and the Duke of Clarence, the king's brother, declared for the rebels. The rebels managed to avoid Edward's army but were forced to engage the Earls of Pembroke and Devon's men at Edgecote Moor. Warwick joined them later that day and routed the royal army. Edward IV was captured soon after the rebel victory.

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Battle of Barnet
Date: April 14th, 1471 A.D.
Description:
When the Earl of Warwick reinstated the old king Henry VI in 1470, Edward IV was forced into exile in Burgundy, where he was lent money and men to retake his kingdom. He invaded England and the two armies met in battle one extremely foggy morning at Barnet. Due to the bad visibility the two armies were not aligned and were both able to flank each other. The Lancastrian Earl of Oxford used this to his advantage, routing the enemy opposite him. When he rejoined the battle with 500 of his men, the whole line had rotated ninety degrees because of the pressure on the flanks, and instead of charging into the backs of the Yorkist ranks, he attacked his own men, killing Warwick's own brother, John Neville. A quarter of Warwick forces quit the field as a cry of 'treason' went up. As the battle ended Warwick ran towards the horseline, now some distance away, but was cut off and killed. Over three thousand men lay dead on the battlefield besides him.

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Battle of Tewkesbury
Date: May 4th, 1471 A.D.
Description:
A battle during the Wars of the Roses between Edward IV, who led a Yorkist army, and the Duke of Somerset, who led the Lancastrians on behalf of Queen Margaret. This battle was a Yorkist defeat of the Lancastrians. Margaret's young son was killed during the battle, paving the way for Edward IV's continued reign.

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Battle of Bosworth
Date: August 22nd, 1485 A.D.
Description:
This was the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. Henry Tudor defeated and killed Richard III (a Yorkist) in battle. After the battle Henry was crowned king, establishing the Tudor dynasty.

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