Medieval Timeline - Browse by Category

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The Roman legions are withdrawn from Britain after Alaric, king of the Goths, sacks Rome.

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Pelagian Controversy Begins
Date: 411 A.D.
Description:
Lasting until the year 418, Pelagianism was a heresy asserting that man could attain salvation by the exercise of his own free will, without the help of divine grace. Pelagius (c.360-c.420) a Welsh (or Irish) monk started the heresy. His doctrines were attacked by St. Jerome and St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine formulated the doctrine of divine grace partly in opposition to Pelagius' teachings.

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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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St. Germanus of Auxerre Visits Britain
Date: 429 A.D.
Description:
St. Germanus of Auxerre visits Britain to preach against the Pelagian heresy. He would also visit again later in the 430s.

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St. Patrick's Return to Ireland
Date: c. 433 A.D.
Description:
St Patrick (The Patron Saint of Ireland) returned to Ireland with a missionary party circa 433.

As a boy Patrick had been captured by Irish raiders from a Romano-British family and taken to Northern Ireland as a slave. After six years he escaped to the continent where he trained as a priest, and finally as a Bishop. He brought the Roman Church to Ireland.

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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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Ostrogoths Gain Independence
Date: 454 A.D.
Description:
The Ostrogoths regain their independence from Hun overlordship.

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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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Last Roman Emperor in the West
Date: 476 A.D.
Description:
Romulus Augustus (also derogatively referred to as Romulus Augustulus), was the last Roman Emperor in the Western empire. He was deposed by the German King Odoacer.

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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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Founding of the Ch'i Dynasty
Date: 479 A.D.
Description:
The Liu (Sung) dynasty in southern China, below the Yangtze River, is succeeded by the Ch'i dynasty.

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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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Conversion of Clovis I
Date: 496 A.D.
Description:
Clovis I of the Franks becomes a Christian.

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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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Founding of the Kingdom of Wessex
Date: 519 A.D.

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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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Founding of Northumbria
Date: 547 A.D.
Description:
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle the year 547 marks the commencement of the reign of King Ida, the founder of the dynasty of Northumbrian Kings. He established his center of power at Bamburgh, which he fortified with a wall. He seems to have ruled over all of what would become Northumbria (probably 7th century Danish name in origin) until his death in 560.

Ida's son Aeile succeeded him, but is thought to have controlled only the region of Deira (roughly modern day Yorkshire).

The title of 'king', when referring to Anglo-Saxon chieftains, should not be taken too literally. Usually they were elected for life from among the warlords with the best claim to lead the regional community. Often the kings would rule over no more than a few hundred households.

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St. David's Mission to Wales
Date: c. 550 A.D.
Description:
David (or Dewl) was the son of Sant, the ruler of Ceredigion. David was educated at Llanilltud Fawr. He established many monasteries and emerged as the leader of the Christian church in Wales at the Synod of Brevi held at Llanddewi Breli circa 550.

Today, he is recognized as the patron saint of Wales.

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Foundation of Mercia
Date: c. 550 A.D.
Description:
A kingdom established by the Angles (circa 550) who had begun to settle in the Trent valley in central England. The name derives from the Old English merce, meaning ''boundary people', for they were situated between the Anglo-Saxon settlements to the east and south and the Romano-British inhabitants who had been driven westward by the Barbarian invasions.

The leader of the first Angle settlement is thought to have been Icel, the founder of the Mercian dynasty, although the first recorded King was Cearl.

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Founding of East Anglia
Date: c. 550 A.D.
Description:
The foundation of an East Saxon Kingdom in the area of modern-day Norfolk, Suffolk and part of Cambridgeshire was circa 550.

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Foundation of Iona Monastery
Date: 563 A.D.
Description:
St Columba founds a monastery on the island of Iona, which lies west of Scotland. It would become the center of the Celtic church and a source of missionary activity into Northern England during the 7th century.

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Birth of Mohammad
Date: 570 A.D.
Description:
The approximate year that the Prophet Mohammad, founder of the Islamic faith, was born.

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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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Augustine Reaches Canterbury
Date: 597 A.D.
Description:
Within a year after reaching Canterbury (the capital of the kingdom of Kent), Augustine was able to convert Ethelbert, the Kentish king, to Christianity.

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Ethelfrith, Founder of Northumbria Dies
Date: 616 A.D.
Description:
The Bernician warrior-king Ethelfrith, founder of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, dies. Ethelfrith had united the two kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira to form Northumbria.

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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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Sutton Hoo Burial
Date: c. 627 A.D.
Description:
The Sutton Hoo burial took place circa 627.

This important site near Woodbridge in Suffolk was discovered in 1939 and is thought to have been the probable barrow of Raedwald, a 7th century King of East Anglia. The site contained a 24-meter boat and a host of golden artifacts and other treasure.

Rawedwald was the only king of East Anglia to become a Bretwalda. He is said to have once protected Edwin from Aethelfirth of Nothumbria whom he defeated at the battle of the River Idle (616). In later life he may have become partially Christianized.

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Conversion of Edwin
Date: 627 A.D.
Description:
King Edwin of Northumbria married the Christian daughter of Aethelbert of Kent in 625. Edwin was converted to Christianity in 627 by St. Paulinua (a Roman missionary to England who was appointed Bishop in 625). In return King Edwin appointed Paulinua as Archbishop of York.

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Death of Mohammad
Date: June 7th, 632 A.D.
Description:
The year of the death of the prophet Mohammad in Medina, Arabia (aged 62).

He was succeeded by Abu Bakr, who founded the Rashidun (or 'Right Guided') dynasty of Caliphs, which lasted through the rule of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali until 661.

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Founding of Lindisfarne Monastery
Date: 635 A.D.
Description:
St. Aidan arrives on the island of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) from Iona with a group of Celtic monks. The monastery he founded there was to become an important missionary center and later a bishopric.

The monks from Lindisfarne went on to build numerous churches in Scotland and Northern England, but many of the monks withdrew to Iona when Lindisfarne accepted the Roman discipline after the synod of Whitby (664 A.D.).

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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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King Oswy Calls the Synod of Whitby
Date: 664 A.D.
Description:
The decision of this council settled a difference between Celtic and Roman Christianity regarding the proper date for Easter. In siding with the Roman position, the decision of this council meant that Christendom would not be divided in England.

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Theodore Named Archbishop of Canterbury
Date: 669 A.D.
Description:
After the pope named Theodore of Tarsus the Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore set out to organize the English church as one body. He had completed this task by the time of his death.

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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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Beowulf is Composed
Date: c. 715 A.D.
Description:
Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem written between 672 and 782. It tells the story of a fictional hero, Beowulf, the nephew of the king of the Gaetas (a southern Swedish people). Beowulf slays Grendel, a monster that has been ravaging a neighboring Danish kingdom, and also Grendel's mother. Later, when Beowulf is King of the Gaetas, his kingdom is attacked by a dragon, which he kills, although he is fatally wounded during the battle.

The poem sheds some light on aristocratic Anglo-Saxon traditions and some of the characters are historical.

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Bede Writes his History of the English
Date: 731 A.D.
Description:
Bede (673-735) was an Anglo-Saxon scholar who was born in Northumbria and spent most of his life in Jarrow monastery. He was a student of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew and became so renowned a scholar that following his death he was honored with the title 'The Venerable Bede'.

His The Ecclesiastical History of the English People was completed in 731 and is considered to be the most important history record written before the sixteenth century. Bede also popularized the method of dating known as anno domini (or A.D.), and wrote about a number of other subjects including physical science, rhetoric, and astronomy.

King Alfred the Great supervised the translation of Bede's work into Old English.

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Introduction of the Silver Penny
Date: c. 735 A.D.
Description:
King Offa of Mercia (757-796) seized power after the civil war that followed the death of his cousin Aethelbert. Offa consolidated control over the southern English, expanded Mercian territory to the north, and through the marriages of his daughters to the Kings of Wessex and Northumbria established his claim as the Bretwalda of England.

Recognized by Pope Adrian I as 'The King of the English' he agreed to the establishment of an Archbishop at Lichfield which would free the Mercian church from the control of Canterbury. In addition he would negotiate a trade treaty with the future emperor Charlemagne on equal terms.

His most long lasting legacy however would be the creation of a new coinage based on the silver penny which bore his name and title. This would be the standard coin in circulation in England until the introduction of the gold coins during the 14th century.

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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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First Danish Raids in England
Date: 796 A.D.

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Foundation of Dublin
Date: c. 840 A.D.
Description:
The Danes found the towns of Dublin and Limerick in Ireland.

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Colonizing of Iceland
Date: 870 A.D.
Description:
The foster brothers Ingolf and Hjorleif become the first Viking colonists of Iceland. Hjorleif was murdered by his Irish slaves, but Ingolf founded a successful settlement at Reykjavik.

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Spread of the Cult of the Buddha Amida
Date: 873 A.D.
Description:
The cult of the Buddha Amida, or 'the Buddha of Immeasurable Light', begins to spread in Japan. Followers believe that when they die, Amida will take them to paradise in the western heavens. This cult would eventually become extremely popular and spread to China.

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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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West Saxon Chronicle of England
Date: c. 892 A.D.
Description:
Around this year, a West Saxon chronicler wrote a history of England. It covered English history from the birth of Christ until the year 891 and was based upon earlier sources that have been lost.

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Anglo Saxon Chronicle
Date: c. 892 A.D.
Description:
The Anglo Saxon Chronicle is an account of English history that continues from the 892 chronicle. It has many different authors from different monasteries and is actually a series of related chronicles. Some of the surviving manuscripts cover a period of time up until the eleventh century, while one lasts all the way until Henry II's accession to the throne in 1154.

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Edgar Recognized as Supreme
Date: 973 A.D.
Description:
In this year Edgar was acknowledged as supreme ruler on the island of Britain. At Chester, he received the submission of various Welsh and Scottish kings.

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Abbadid Dynasty Begins
Date: c. 1023 A.D.
Description:
An Islamic dynasty that arose in Spain after the fall of the western caliphate.

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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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Birth of Anna Comnena
Date: 1083 A.D.
Description:
She is considered the first female historian in the west and was the daughter of Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus. Her 15 volume history of her family the Comneni, is entitled the Alexiad, and gives a wealth of information about her father and the first crusaders.

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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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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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Philip II Augustus Orders Jews out of France
Date: April 1182 A.D.
Description:
All nonconverting Jews were ordered out of France in 1182, by order of Philip II Augustus. Their property was confiscated by the king. They were, however, allowed a short amount of time to sell any movable possessions or goods.

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Magna Carta Signed
Date: June 15th, 1215 A.D.
Description:
King John's barons forced him to sign this document at Runnymede. It placed both John and future English kings within the rule of law, limiting the power of the king.

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Issue of the Forest Charter
Date: November 6th, 1217 A.D.
Description:
The Norman kings of England just loved hunting, for it provided them with a bit of rest and relief from the constant demands and political maneuvering of the royal court. The Forest Laws date back to the time of King Canute and were meant to preserve the wildlife from being excessively hunted. Over the years, however the foresters, the officials charged with upholding the laws, had become extremely unpopular amongst the residents of those areas of the rural countryside that were being, more and more, designated as royal parks.

The foresters were often very corrupt, levying fines against offenders (not just poachers but also on common folk collecting firewood), sometimes causing them bodily harm, and generally exceeding their authority under the law.

Although the Forest laws would remain in existence for a century or more, after the boy King Henry III issued the Forest Charter in 1217, this event can be seen as the first event (unlike the Great Charter of 1215 which was more of benefit to the ruling classes) which was designed to improve the lot of the common people.

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Pietro D. Abano is Born
Date: 1250 A.D.
Description:
An Italian physician and philosopher who was brought to trial by the Inquisition twice.

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Alexander III of Scotland Killed
Date: 1286 A.D.
Description:
In 1286 Alexander III of Scotland was killed in a hunting accident. His only heir was his 3 year old granddaughter, Margaret the 'Maid of Norway', the daughter of Erik of Norway and Alexander's own daughter Margaret. This event would mark the end of the period of peace and prosperity in Scotland, a period during which Scotland's borders had been defined and the Celtic, Saxon and Norman inhabitants of the kingdom had at last grown into a recognizable nation.

King Edward I of England saw this as an opportunity to unite both the English and Scottish kingdoms through the proposed marriage of the Scottish queen to his son Edward of Caernarvon. This idea floundered when Margaret died prematurely. Immediately almost a dozen claimants appeared willing to claim the vacant Scottish throne.

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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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Pietro D. Abano Dies
Date: 1316 A.D.
Description:
An Italian physician and philosopher who died before the completion of his second trial with the Inquisition.

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Arrival of the Black Death
Date: 1347 A.D.
Description:
A deadly plague, known as the Black Death, arrived from Asia and rapidly spread throughout Europe from the Mediterranean trading Ports. Within two years most of Europe had been affected, and by the late 14th century the total population had been reduced by as much as one third.

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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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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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Execution of John Ball
Date: July 15th, 1381 A.D.
Description:
"From the beginning all were created equal by nature, slavery was introduced through the unjust oppression of worthless men, against the will of God; for, if God had wanted to create slaves, he would surely have decided at the beginning of the world who was to be slave and who master." (Sermon at Blackheath, 1381]

One of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt, John Ball was an English Priest who had already been imprisoned in Maidstone for disagreeing with the Archbishop of Canterbury. John Ball was a stout follower of John Wycliffe and a believer in social equality. At the outbreak of the revolt he was released from prison, and on Blackheath, near London, he incited the rebels by preaching against the ruling classes. When the revolt collapsed he escaped, but was captured near Coventry and ultimately hung at St. Albans.

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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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