Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Timeline of English history

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This is a timeline of English history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in England and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of England.

Contents

2nd century

  • c. 120
  • Car Dyke constructed over newly drained East Anglian Fens.
  • Governor Quintus Pompeius Falco suppresses a revolt by the Brigantes.
  • Stationed for several years in Eboracum – present-day York, in northern England – Rome's Ninth Legion suddenly vanished from the records in AD 120.
  • 122
  • Emperor Hadrian visits Britain and appoints Aulus Platorius Nepos as governor.
  • Construction of Hadrian's Wall begins.
  • Construction of London forum completed.
  • 130
  • Town centre of Wroxeter redeveloped.
  • 139
  • Newly appointed Governor Quintus Lollius Urbicus advances to the Clyde-Forth line, reconstructing Corstopitum as a base.
  • 142
  • Emperor Antoninus Pius orders the construction of the Antonine Wall.
  • 154
  • Governor Gnaeus Julius Verus suppresses a revolt by the Brigantes.
  • Antonine Wall overrun.
  • 155
  • Fire destroys much of central St Albans.
  • 158
  • Refortification of Hadrian's Wall begins.
  • 160
  • Antonine Wall reoccupied.
  • 163
  • Antonine Wall abandoned. Governor Sextus Calpurnius Agricola rebuilds forts along Hadrian's Wall.
  • 175
  • 5,500 conscripted Sarmatian cavalry stationed in northern Britain.
  • 180
  • Northern tribes breach Hadrian's Wall and ravage the countryside.
  • Governor Ulpius Marcellus launches punitive campaigns to the north.
  • 185
  • Marcellus forced to retreat to Hadrian's Wall.
  • Roman army in Britain mutinies. Helvius Pertinax appointed as governor, and suppresses mutiny.
  • 187
  • Pertinax resigns, after becoming unpopular with the army.
  • 192
  • Clodius Albinus, Governor of Britain, briefly proclaimed Emperor, but instead acquiesces to the rival claim of Septimius Severus.
  • 196
  • Albinus proclaims himself "Augustus" and invades Gaul, seeking to overthrow Severus.
  • 197
  • 19 February - Albinus defeated at the Battle of Lugdunum in Gaul; Severus appoints Virius Lupus as governor.
  • Maeatae launch raids against Hadrian's Wall.

    • 3rd century

  • 206
  • Governor Lucius Alfenus Senecio repairs Hadrian's Wall and appeals for help from the Emperor against the northern tribes.
  • 208
  • Emperor Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla take personal command of the army in Britain.
  • 209
  • Severus and Caracalla lead an expedition against the Caledonii, and build forts at Cramond and the Tay estuary.
  • 210
  • Caracalla leads an expedition against the rebellious Maeatae tribe.
  • 211
  • 4 February - Severus dies at York, while preparing another expedition against the northern rebels.
  • Caracalla, now Emperor, abandons territory north of Hadrian's Wall, and returns to Rome.
  • c. 214
  • Britain divided into two provinces, Britannia Superior and Britannia Inferior, with administrative centres at London and York respectively.
  • c. 220
  • Saxons raid south-east coast; forts built at Reculver and Branodunum (Brancaster).
  • 255
  • Work begins on a riverside wall in London.
  • 259
  • Rebel leader Latinus Postumus proclaims Britain as part of his "Empire of the Gauls".
  • 270
  • Construction of forts along the Saxon Shore begins in response to increased raiding.
  • 273
  • Stone walls built around St Albans.
  • 274
  • Postumus' Gallic Empire is reabsorbed into the Roman Empire under Aurelian.
  • 277
  • Imperial edict lifts restrictions on British wine production.
  • General Victorinus puts down revolt, and settles Burgundian and Vandal prisoners in Britain.
  • Britannic Empire 286-296
  • 287
  • Mausaeus Carausius takes power in Britain and proclaims himself Emperor.
  • 289
  • Carausius defeats Emperor Maximian in a naval battle.
  • 293
  • Finance minister Allectus murders Carausius and seizes power; employs Frankish mercenaries.
  • 296
  • Julius Constantius defeats Britons near Silchester, killing Allectus; prevents retreating Franks from sacking London.
  • 297
  • Re-building of forts near Hadrian's Wall begins.
  • Constantius returns to Gaul.
  • First mention on record of the Picts attacking from the north in Eumenius' Panegyrici Latini.

    • References

    Timeline of English history Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA