Timeline


WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 1066-1087	A portion of the Bayeux Tapestry	1066 THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS FOLLOWED BY THE CONQUEST OF ENGLAND BY WILLIAM, DUKE OF NORMANDY.			1085 THE DOMESDAY BOOK RECORDS ...	"IN SHOTOVER, WOODSTOCK, CORNBURY AND WYCHWOOD, THE KING'S DEMESNE FORESTS HAVE 9 LEAGUES IN LENGTH AND THE SAME IN BREADTH ... FROM THEM AND EVERYTHING BELONGING TO THE FOREST, RAINALD RENDERS YEARLY TO THE KING £10.
WILLIAM II (RUFUS) 1087-1100	RUFUS WAS KILLED IN A HUNTING ACCIDENT IN THE NEW FOREST	An engraving of William Rufus's death
HENRY I, 1100-1135	Henry mourning for his lost children	HENRY HAD TWO CHILDREN, WILLIAM AND MATHILDA. WILLIAM WAS KILLED WHEN THE WHITE SHIP SANK ON A PERFECTLY CALM DAY IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL IN 1120.			HENRY I HAD A HUNTING LODGE BUILT IN THE ROYAL MANOR OF WOODSTOCK IN THE FOREST OF WYCHWOOD. IN 1129 THE ESTATE WAS ENCLOSED AS A DEER PARK, THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY.	Ancient deciduous forest
STEPHEN 1135-1154	CIVIL WAR WITH THE FORCES LOYAL TO MATHILDA. IT WAS AGREED THAT MATILDA'S SON, HENRY PLANTAGENET, WOULD INHERIT THE CROWN.	Mathilda (from a manuscript)
HENRY II, 1154-1189	Becket murdered by the King's soldiers	THOMAS BECKET MURDERED IN CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL ON 29 DECEMBER 1170.			HENRY II EXPANDS THE LODGE INTO A PALACE AND CREATES A HOUSE FOR HIS MISTRESS, ROSAMUND CLIFFORD. LEGEND SAYS SHE WAS POISONED BY THE JEALOUS QUEEN. THE SPRING ON THE ESTATE KNOWN AS ROSAMUND'S WELL SUPPOSEDLY HAS NEVER DRIED UP.	Fair Rosamund from a later engraving.
RICHARD I, KNOWN AS RICHARD THE LIONHEART, 1189-1199	CRUSADES AGAINST SALADIN	Crusaders fighting a battle				(Left): Rosamund's Well as it is today
KING JOHN, 1199-1216	A later painting of the excommunicated King	1208 THE POPE EXCOMMUNICATES THE WHOLE OF ENGLAND BECAUSE OF A DISPUTE OVER THE POPE'S CHOICE OF ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, STEPHEN LANGTON
KING JOHN, 1199-1216	1215 KING JOHN SIGNS THE MAGNA CARTA	Signing of the Magna Carter
HENRY III, 1216-1272	HENRY III IS CROWNED AT THE AGE OF 9. 1262 CIVIL WAR	Soldiers fighting during the civil war			1227 BROTHER RALPH SENT TO WOODSTOCK TO REPAIR KING'S FISHPOND (HE WAS A LAY BROTHER FROM ST JAMES OF NORTHAMPTON) 1232 REPAIRS ORDERED ON THE WALL	1252 ACORNS TO THE VALUE OF 40S COLLECTED FROM WOODSTOCK PARK TO FEED THE PIGS
HENRY III, 1216-1272	The seal of Simon de Montfort	1264 HENRY III AND HIS SON EDWARD ARE CAPTURED. SIMON DE MONTFORT EFFECTIVELY RULES ENGLAND.			Flemish painting of boy with falcon	FROM 1254 ONWARDS PART OF THE ROYAL STUD WAS HOUSED AT WOODSTOCK. THERE WAS ALSO AN EYRIE OF FALCONS IN THE PARK
EDWARD I, 1272-1307	1284 STATUTE OF RHUDDLAN ENDS INDEPENDENCE OF WALES	Welsh dragon, symbol of Wales for over 1000 years			1298 GEOFFREY DE STEDEMAN IS IMPRISONED IN OXFORD CASTLE FOR POACHING FROM THE KING'S FISHPOND AT WOODSTOCK	An ancient print of Oxford Castle
EDWARD I, 1272-1307	William Wallace depicted in stained glass	1305 WILLIAM WALLACE CAPTURED AND EXECUTED ROBERT THE BRUCE KING OF SCOTLAND
EDWARD II, 1307-1327	1314 ROBERT THE BRUCE CRUSHES THE ENGLISH AT THE BATTLE OF BANNOCK BURN 1327 KING EDWARD IMPRISONED AT BERKELEY CASTLE AND MURDERED ... HORRIBLY	A later depiction of the Battle of Bannock burn
EDWARD III,1327-1377	The Battle of Formigny 1340 THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR	1346 THE BATTLE OF CRECY The Battle of Crecy
EDWARD III,1327-1377	1348 THE BLACK DEATH	1369 WYCLIFF TRANSLATES THE BIBLE INTO ENGLISH A page from Wycliff's bible			1354 A NEW CHAMBER IS BUILT ONTO THE ROYAL PALACE AT WOODSTOCK WITH A WOODEN BALCONY FOR THE PRINCESS ISABELLA, DAUGHTER OF KING EDWARD III	The stone at Blenheim which marks the spot where the Royal Palace stood
RICHARD II, 1377-1399	RICHARD WAS CROWNED KING AT THE AGE OF TEN. HIS UNCLE, JOHN OF GAUNT (below) WAS STEWARD OF ENGLAND.	1381 THE PEASANTS' REVOLT, LED BY WAT TYLER The death of Wat Tyler
RICHARD II, 1377-1399	RICHARD IS IMPRISONED IN PONTEFRACT CASTLE. IN 1400 HE DIES, BUT IT IS RUMOURED THAT HE HAS BEEN MURDERED.	Pontefract Castle where Richard II met his end.
HENRY IV, 1399-1413	HENRY, AFTER A LONG BATTLE AGAINST LEPROSY, COLLAPSES AT WESTMINSTER AND IS CARRIED TO THE JERUSALEM CHAMBER WHERE HE DIES.	An entablature from the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster			Poaching deer	1413 SCHOLARS FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY MAKE A NUISANCE OF THEMSELVES STEALING DEER, HARES AND RABBITS FROM WOODSTOCK PARK. THEREAFTER THEY ARE BANNED FROM THE PARK.
HENRY V, 1413-1422	The Battle of Agincourt	1415 HENRY'S MUCH SMALLER ARMY TRIUMPHS AGAINST THE FRENCH AT THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.
HENRY VI, 1422-1461	HENRY IS ONLY NINE MONTHS OLD WHEN HE BECOMES KING. WAR CONTINUES WITH FRANCE.	1431 JOAN OF ARC IS BURNED AT THE STAKE A miniature of Joan of Arc			The ruins of Abindgon Abbey as they are today	1444 HENRY VI GRANTS ABGINDON ABBEY THE RIGHT TO HAVE ANNUALLY FOUR BUCKS AND TWO DOES FROM WOODSTOCK PARK.
HENRY VI, 1422-1461	1455 WARS OF THE ROSES Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester	THE KING IS KEPT IN THE TOWER AND LATER BEHEADED.
EDWARD IV, 1461-1483
RICHARD III, 1483-1485	WHEN EDWARD DIES, RICHARD DUKE OF GLOUCESTER BECOMES PROTECTOR OF THE REALM AND OF EDWARD'S TWO SONS. THE BOYS LIVED AND DIED IN THE TOWER RICHARD BECOMES KING.	Millais dipiction of the Princes in the Tower
RICHARD III, 1483-1485	An engraving of the Battle of Bosworth	1485 RICHARD IS DEFEATED AT THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH BY HENRY TUDOR.
HENRY VII, 1485-1509	HENRY VII MARRIES ELIZABETH OF YORK. THE END OF THE WAR OF THE ROSES.	Elizabeth of York
HENRY VIII, 1509-1547	Martin Luther	1517 MARTIN LUTHER PINS UP HIS 95 THESIS IN WITTENBURG. HENRY WRITES A BOOK AGAINST LUTHER AND EARNS THE TITLE DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.			HENRY VIII COMES HUNTING IN WOODSTOCK	As a young man, Henry was a keen sportman
	1534 ACT OF SUPREMACY AND DIVORCE FROM CATHERINE OF ARAGON.	Catherine of Aragon as a young woman
		1534 DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES AND THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE. ENGLAND BECOMES A PROTESTANT NATION.
EDWARD VI, 1547-1553						A SURVEY OF 1551 SAID THAT 'THE MANSION ... FOR MANY YEARS PAST HATH BEEN DECAYED.'
LADY JANE GREY, 1553	LADY JANE GREY WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD WHEN SHE BECAME QUEEN BUT HER RULE LASTED FOR ONLY NINE DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS CHARGED WITH TREASON BY MARY AND EXECUTED.	An 18th century painting of the execution of Lady Jane Grey
MARY I, 1553-1558	MARY MARRIES PHILIP II OF SPAIN. RUTHLESSLY PERSECUTES PROTESTANTS WHO WILL NOT REVERT TO CATHOLICISM.	THOMAS WYATT WHO LED WYATT'S REBELLION 1554.			Elizabeth as a young woman	MARY IMPRISONS ELIZABETH IN WOODSTOCK MANOR FOR ALMOST A YEAR FOLLOWING WYATT'S REBELLION.
ELIZABETH I, 1558-1603	1559 THE ELIZABETHAN CHURCH SETTLEMENT CREATES A MAINLY PROTESTANT CHURCH FOR ENGLAND WITH SOME CATHOLIC CONCESSIONS. 1569 THE NORTHERN REBELLION	1586 THE BABINGTON PLOT TO ASSASINATE QUEEN ELIZABETH
	1587 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS IS EXECUTED IN FOTHERINGHAY CASTLE AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE BABINGTON PLOT.	A later painting of Mary bravely facing her executioners
	An 18th Century painting of the defeat	1588 THE SPANISH ARMADA IS CRUSHED BY A FLEET OF ENGLISH FIRESHIPS
JAMES I, 1603-1625	1605 THE GUNPOWDER PLOT IS FOILED AND CONSPIRATORS CATESBY AND GUY FAWKES ARRESTED. CATESBY WAS SHOT RESISTING ARREST, THE OTHER CONSPIRATORS HANGED, DRAWN AND QUARTERED.	Guy Fawkes in the centre of the conspirators			1603 JAMES I STAYED IN WOODSTOCK MANOR DURING HIS PROGRESS THROUGH ENGLAND AFTER ELIZABETH HAD DIED. HE RETURNED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HUNT.	James I in hunting attire
JAMES I, 1603-1625		1611 A NEW TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE IS PRODUCED SO THAT ORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN COULD UNDERSTAND IT. THIS AUTHORISED VERSION IS KNOWN AS THE KING JAMES BIBLE.
CHARLES I, 1625-1649	1642 THE START OF THE CIVIL WAR. CHARLES USED OXFORD AS HIS CAPITAL AND BASE DURING THE CIVIL WAR. HE ALSO MINTED CURRENCY IN OXFORD.	Detail from painting 'Seige of Oxford' by Jan Wyck			A young royalist is questioned by Parliamentarians in Yeam's famous painting.	WOODSTOCK MANOR (PALACE) HELD A ROYALIST GARRISON. IN 1646 IT WAS BOMBARDED BY THE PARLIAMENTARIANS AND SURRENDERED. THE VICTORS DID NOT STAY LONG.. THEY THOUGHT THE MANOR HAUNTED, BUT IT WAS NOT - THE HAUNTINGS WERE ROYALISTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY SCARED THE TROOPS.
CHARLES I, 1625-1649	On the Eve of the Battle of Edgehill 1642 by Landseer	1642 IN SEPTEMBER KING FAILS TO DEFEAT PARLIAMENTARIANS AT NEWBURY. 30 JANUARY 1649 THE KING IS EXECUTED. Charles I on his way to his execution
OLIVER CROMWELL AND THE COMMONWEALTH, 1649-1660	OLIVER CROMWELL EVENTUALLY RULES AS PROTECTOR AFTER THE ENDING OF THE RUMP PARLIAMENT AND BAREBONE'S PARLIAMENT	1653: A page of the manuscript Journal of the House of Commons. The deleted words read "Wednesday 20th April 1653. His Excellency the Lord General dissolved this Parliament."	1650 JOHN CHURCHILL (DESTINED TO BECOME 1ST DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH) IS BORN.	John Churchill's father, the very first Sir Winston Churchill
CHARLES II, 1660-1685	1665 THE GREAT PLAGUE 1666 THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON	Samuel Pepys kept a diary between 1660 and 1669 describing this time in great detail	Barbara Villier, Duchess of Cleveland, mistress to the king and the young John Churchill 1675 CHURCHILL MEETS SARAH JENNINGS AT COURT. THEIR AFFAIR BLOSSOMS AND THEY MARRY IN SECRET.	1667 JOHN CHURCHILL JOINS THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD. BARBARA VILLIERS CULTIVATES THE HANDSOME NEWCOMER WHO IS EIGHT YEARS HER JUNIOR. SHE GIVES HIM £5000, APPARENTLY FOR LEAPING FROM A BEDROOM WINDOW WHEN THE COUPLE HAD ALMOST BEEN CAUGHT BY THE KING. Sarah Jennings, waiting woman to the Duchess of York
CHARLES II, 1660-1685			1677 JOHN CHURCHILLBECOMES COLONEL IN THE ENGLISH ARMY	John Churchill as a young man.
JAMES II, 1685-1688	Duke of Monmouth who led a rebellion against James II.	1685 MONMOUTH'S REBELLION IS CRUSHED AT THE BATTLE OF SEDGEMOOR. 1688 WILLIAM OF ORANGE LANDS IN TORBAY	John Churchill in The Black Armour portrait at Blenheim Palace	1685 JOHN CHURCHILL (ALONG WITH FEVERSHAM) DEFEATS THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH. 1688 JOHN CHURCHILL ABANDONS HIS KING AND DEFECTS TO WILLIAM
WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688-1702	1688 TO PREVENT A CATHOLIC SUCCESSION, WILLIAM OF ORANGE TAKES THE THRONE RULING JOINTLY WITH HIS WIFE MARY, ELDEST DAUGHTER OF JAMES II (THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION).	Battle of the Boyne, 1690, where William crushed Catholic rebels	SARAH BECOMES CLOSE FRIENDS WITH PRINCESS ANNE - HER PET NAME FOR THE FUTURE QUEEN WAS MRS MORLEY; ANNE'S FOR HER WAS MRS FREEMAN.	Sarah (right) playing cards with another lady in waiting
WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688-1702	Savery's steam engine designed to remove water from the mines	1698 THOMAS SAVERY DEVELOPS THE FIRST BRITISH STEAM ENGINE	John Churchill with his wife Sarah and two of their children	1689 WILLIAM MAKES CHURCHILL THE EARL OF MARLBOROUGH FOR HIS SERVICES DURING THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION. HE USES MARLBOROUGH AGAINST CATHOLIC REBELS IN THE SOUTH OF IRELAND, BUT NOT AT THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE BECAUSE WILLIAM DID NOT TOTALLY TRUST HIM.
ANNE, 1702-1714	1702 WILLIAM FALLS FROM HORSE AND DIES. HIS WIFE'S YOUNGER SISTER BECOMES QUEEN. 1702 ENGLAND DECLARES WAR ON FRANCE, THE WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION BEGINS.	Loius XIV was about to form a union with Spain and become a super-power	1702 ANNE GIVES CHURCHILL A DUKEDOM. 1704 THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. 1706 THE BATTLE OF RAMILLIES 1708 THE BATTLE OF OUDENARDE 1709 THE BATTLE OF MALPLAQUET	Duke accepts the surrender of the French at the Battle of Blenheim	ANNE GIFTS MANOR OF WOODSTOCK AND FUNDS TO BUILD BLENHEIM PALACE AS A LASTING MONUMENT TO HIS GREAT VICTORY	Blenheim Palace, a gift from a grateful nation, was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh.
ANNE, 1702-1714			Sarah falls from grace and loses her personal and political influence	1711 SARAH ARGUES WITH THE QUEEN AND SHE AND HER HUSBAND GO INTO EXILE.	The East Wing was the first part of the Palace to be built	1712-1716 BUILDING AT BLENHEIM PALACE IS SUSPENDED.