Explore Late Medieval Britain (1307–1485) through the events, people and decisions that shaped life across Britain and its nations. This timeline places each milestone in context, showing how political change, conflict, reform, culture, technology and everyday experience influenced the direction of society. It is designed as a clear guide for following the development of Late Medieval Britain (1307–1485) from major turning points to lasting consequences.
Following the death of his father, Edward I , on 8 July 1307, Edward II ascended to the throne of England. His accession marked the beginning of a tumultuous reign that would be defined by significant military failures a...
View itemThe Battle of Bannockburn , fought on 23 June 1314, stands as a pivotal moment in the history of the British Isles. In this decisive engagement, Robert the Bruce secured a major victory against the forces of Edward II ....
View itemOn 6 April 1320 , a group of Scottish nobles dispatched a formal letter to Pope John XXII , now famously known as the Declaration of Arbroath . This historic document served as a robust assertion of Scotland's independen...
View itemIn January 1327 , the reign of Edward II reached a turbulent conclusion when he was formally deposed from the throne. This unprecedented removal of a monarch was orchestrated by his wife, Queen Isabella , and her ally Ro...
View itemOn 25 January 1327 , Edward III ascended to the throne of England , marking the beginning of a transformative reign that would define the late medieval period. His accession followed the deposition of his father, Edward...
View itemThe Hundred Years' War began in approximately 1337 , marking the start of a protracted and transformative conflict between England and France . At its core, the war was driven by competing claims to the French throne and...
View itemOn 26 August 1346 , the Battle of Crécy took place, marking a decisive moment in the Hundred Years' War . King Edward III led the English forces to a significant victory over the French army, a triumph that fundamentally...
View itemIn approximately 1348 , the Black Death arrived in England , precipitating a demographic catastrophe that fundamentally altered the course of late medieval society. As the plague swept across the country, it caused unpre...
View itemIn approximately 1348, King Edward III established the Order of the Garter , which remains the highest order of chivalry in England today. The foundation of this prestigious fellowship occurred against the backdrop of th...
View itemFollowing the devastating outbreak of the Black Death , which drastically reduced the population and decimated the workforce, the English government introduced the Statute of Labourers in approximately 1351. This legisla...
View itemOn 19 September 1356 , the Battle of Poitiers took place, marking a decisive moment in the Hundred Years' War . This significant engagement saw the forces of Edward, the Black Prince , achieve a resounding victory over t...
View itemThe Good Parliament , which convened in 1376 , stands as a pivotal moment in the history of Late Medieval Britain . During this session, members of the House of Commons took the unprecedented step of criticising the king...
View itemFollowing the death of his grandfather Edward III , the ten-year-old Richard II ascended to the throne of England on 22 June 1377. His succession marked a period of significant transition for the English monarchy, as the...
View itemIn June 1381 , a significant popular uprising erupted across England, driven by widespread discontent over heavy taxation and intense social pressures. As the movement gained momentum, thousands of rebels marched on Lond...
View itemOn 15 June 1381, Wat Tyler , a prominent leader of the Peasants' Revolt , was killed during a tense negotiation meeting in London . His death marked a pivotal moment in the uprising, which had been fuelled by widespread...
View itemAround 1387, Geoffrey Chaucer commenced work on The Canterbury Tales , a seminal achievement in the history of medieval English literature. By choosing to write in the vernacular rather than Latin or French, Chaucer help...
View itemOn 30 September 1399 , Henry Bolingbroke formally deposed Richard II , seizing the English throne to become Henry IV . This pivotal transition marked the beginning of the Lancastrian dynasty and represented a dramatic sh...
View itemIn approximately 1400, Owain Glyndwr initiated a significant uprising against English rule in Wales, marking the commencement of the last major attempt to secure Welsh independence. This insurrection emerged during a per...
View itemOn 21 March 1413 , Henry V ascended the throne of England following the death of his father, Henry IV . His accession marked a significant turning point in the Late Medieval period, as the new monarch quickly moved to co...
View itemOn 25 October 1415 , the Battle of Agincourt took place, marking a pivotal moment in the Hundred Years' War . Led by King Henry V , the English army achieved a decisive and unexpected victory against the French forces. T...
View itemSigned on 21 May 1420, the Treaty of Troyes represented a pivotal moment in the Hundred Years' War , fundamentally altering the dynastic landscape of Western Europe. Under the terms of this agreement, Henry V of England...
View itemOn 31 August 1422 , the infant Henry VI ascended to the throne of England following the premature death of his father, Henry V . This transition marked a precarious moment in Late Medieval Britain , as the young king inh...
View itemIn May 1429 , the course of the Hundred Years' War shifted dramatically when Joan of Arc successfully led the French forces to lift the siege of Orléans . This pivotal military engagement marked a significant turning poi...
View itemIn 1453 , the loss of Bordeaux marked a decisive turning point in the Hundred Years' War , effectively ending centuries of English rule in Aquitaine . With the surrender of this vital stronghold, the English Crown saw it...
View itemOn 22 May 1455 , the First Battle of St Albans marked the opening military engagement of the Wars of the Roses . This violent confrontation saw the forces of the Yorkist faction, led by Richard, Duke of York , clash with...
View itemOn 4 March 1461, Edward IV ascended the throne of England, marking a pivotal shift in the Wars of the Roses . His accession followed the effective collapse of Henry VI 's authority, a decline brought about by political i...
View itemIn approximately 1470, the political landscape of Late Medieval Britain underwent a dramatic transformation when Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick , orchestrated the restoration of Henry VI to the throne. Having previousl...
View itemIn 1471, the political landscape of Late Medieval Britain shifted decisively as Edward IV successfully reclaimed the throne. This pivotal moment marked the end of the brief and unstable restoration of Henry VI , whose sh...
View itemOn 26 June 1483 , Richard III ascended the throne of England , a pivotal moment that occurred in the wake of the death of his brother, Edward IV . His rise to power was marked by the controversial exclusion of his nephew...
View itemThe Battle of Bosworth Field , fought on 22 August 1485 , serves as a definitive moment in Late Medieval Britain . This decisive engagement brought the long-standing Wars of the Roses to a close, fundamentally altering t...
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