From Norman Conquest to Tudor Dynasty
The period from the Norman Conquest to the rise of the Tudor dynasty saw significant political and social changes in England, shaping the nation's future.
The Battle of Hastings
In 1066, Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king, faced a two-front war. After defeating Viking invaders in the north, he was forced to confront a Norman invasion on the south coast led by William, Duke of Normandy.
Highlight: On October 14, 1066, William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, killing Harold and ending Anglo-Saxon rule in England.
Magna Carta
In 1215, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede near London, following a rebellion by the barons.
Definition: The Magna Carta was a crucial document that limited the monarch's power and established that the king was subject to the law, not above it.
This charter set out how power and decisions would be shared between the monarch and the nobility, reducing the absolute power of future kings and queens.
The Black Death
The Black Death, a devastating plague, reached England in 1348.
Highlight: This was the worst plague in English history, killing nearly half of the population.
The Peasants' Revolt
In 1381, the Peasants' Revolt broke out. Serfs, who were peasants bound to the soil, rebelled for:
- More rights
- Better living conditions
- Higher wages
The revolt was partly a consequence of the labor shortage caused by the Black Death.
Vocabulary: Serfs were peasants in feudal society who were tied to the land they worked on and subject to the will of their lord.
The War of the Roses
From 1455 to 1485, England was embroiled in a civil war known as the War of the Roses. This conflict was a dynastic struggle between two branches of the Plantagenet royal family:
- The House of York (symbolized by a white rose)
- The House of Lancaster (symbolized by a red rose)
Example: The conflict culminated in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, where Henry Tudor defeated Richard III of York.
This victory marked the end of the War of the Roses and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty, with Henry VII becoming the first Tudor king.