Kings & queens
221 stories through the year, in calendar order. Tap one to visit its day.
January
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1 Jan
1651 Charles II is crowned King of Scotland at SconeCharles II was crowned King of Scotland at Scone Palace, near Perth. He had arrived in Scotland in June 1650, where there was support for his rule. S…
Photo: John Michael Wright, Public domain
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1 Jan
1877 Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of IndiaQueen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India. The British Parliament had voted in 1876 to give her this extra title, to show that she ruled over th…
Photo: Alexander Bassano, Public domain
- 2 Jan 1492 Granada surrenders, ending Muslim rule in SpainThe Emirate of Granada, the last part of Spain under Muslim rule, surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. This ended the Reconquista, a series…
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3 Jan
1868 The Meiji Restoration returns power to Japan's emperorThe Tokugawa shogunate, the military government that had ruled Japan since 1603, was abolished. This was part of the Meiji Restoration, which gave re…
Photo: Takahashi Yuichi (1828-1894), Public domain
- 4 Jan AD 871 Vikings defeat Æthelred and Alfred at the Battle of ReadingA Danish Viking army defeated the West Saxons at the Battle of Reading, in Berkshire. The West Saxons were led by King Æthelred of Wessex and his you…
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4 Jan
1642 Charles I tries to arrest five MPs in ParliamentKing Charles I entered the House of Commons with about 400 soldiers to arrest five Members of Parliament for treason. But the five MPs had been warne…
Photo: Workshop of Anthony van Dyck, Public domain
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4 Jan
1698 Fire destroys most of London's Palace of WhitehallA fire destroyed most of the Palace of Whitehall in London. It had been the main home of English kings and queens since 1530, when Henry VIII moved t…
Photo: Hendrick Danckerts, Public domain
- 4 Jan 1912 The Boy Scouts Association is given a royal charterThe Boy Scouts Association was given a royal charter, an official document from the monarch, covering the whole British Empire. Scouting had grown fa…
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6 Jan
1066 Harold Godwinson is crowned King of EnglandHarold Godwinson was crowned King of England, becoming King Harold II. He was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England. His reign lasted just ove…
Photo: ~, Public domain
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6 Jan
1367 Born: Richard IIRichard II was King of England from 1377 until 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince and the grandson of King Edward III. His father died i…
Photo: anonymous / Possibly André Beauneveu, Public domain
- 6 Jan 1540 Henry VIII marries his fourth wife, Anne of ClevesKing Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves, a German princess, who became his fourth wife and Queen of England. The marriage did not last long. On 12 Jul…
- 7 Jan 1327 The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne beginsA Parliament began meeting at the Palace of Westminster that would help remove King Edward II from the throne. Edward had become very unpopular with …
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7 Jan
1558 France captures Calais, England's last town in mainland EuropeFrench troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise, captured the port of Calais from England. The area around Calais, called the Pale of Calais, had been ru…
Photo: Workshop of François Clouet, Public domain
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8 Jan
AD 871 Æthelred and Alfred defeat the Vikings at the Battle of AshdownAt the Battle of Ashdown, a West Saxon army beat a Danish Viking army. It was led by King Æthelred of Wessex and his younger brother Alfred. Nobody k…
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
- 8 Jan 1297 Disguised as a monk, François Grimaldi captures MonacoFrançois Grimaldi, a nobleman from Genoa, led his men to capture the fortress on the Rock of Monaco during the night. Grimaldi was disguised as a mon…
- 8 Jan 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army takes StirlingDuring the Jacobite rising of 1745, Charles Edward Stuart and his army occupied the town of Stirling in Scotland. Charles, known as Bonnie Prince Cha…
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8 Jan
2004 The Queen names the ocean liner Queen Mary 2Queen Elizabeth II christened, or officially named, the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary 2. The ship was named after Queen Mary, the Queen's grandmother. A…
Photo: Oceanhistory46, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 9 Jan 1982 Born: Catherine, Princess of WalesCatherine, Princess of Wales, is a member of the British royal family. She was born in Reading and studied art history at the University of St Andrew…
- 11 Jan 1569 England's first official lottery is drawnThe first recorded official lottery in England was drawn, three years after Queen Elizabeth I approved it. The money was meant for public works such …
- 13 Jan 27 BC Octavian hands power back to the Roman SenateOctavian, Julius Caesar's adopted heir, made a show of giving his powers, provinces and armies back to the Roman Senate. Three days later the Senate …
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14 Jan
1236 King Henry III marries Eleanor of ProvenceKing Henry III of England married Eleanor of Provence, a noblewoman from the south of France, at Canterbury Cathedral. She had never seen Henry befor…
Photo: Anonymous, Public domain
- 14 Jan 1972 Margrethe II becomes Queen of DenmarkMargrethe II became Queen of Denmark, the first Danish queen to reign since 1412. Exactly 52 years later, on 14 January 2024, she abdicated, which me…
- 15 Jan 1535 Henry VIII adds 'Supreme Head of the Church' to his titleKing Henry VIII issued an official order adding 'Supreme Head of the Church of England' to his royal title. The Pope had refused to end Henry's marri…
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15 Jan
1559 Elizabeth I is crowned at Westminster AbbeyElizabeth I was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey in London. The day before, crowds had cheered her as she passed through the city in a g…
Photo: Unidentified painter, Public domain
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16 Jan
27 BC Octavian is given the title Augustus by the Roman SenateThe Roman Senate gave Octavian the new title Augustus, meaning 'the revered'. This marks the moment he became the first Roman emperor. Augustus was c…
- 16 Jan 1547 Ivan IV is crowned the first Tsar of all RussiaIvan IV, Grand Prince of Moscow, was crowned Tsar of all Russia at the age of 16. He was the first ruler to take this title, and Russian monarchs use…
- 16 Jan 1707 Scotland's Parliament votes for union with EnglandThe Parliament of Scotland voted by 110 votes to 69 to approve the Treaty of Union with England. England's Parliament passed its own act soon afterwa…
- 17 Jan 1648 Parliament passes the Vote of No Addresses against Charles IDuring the English Civil War, Parliament voted to stop all talks with King Charles I. MPs had heard that the king was making a deal with the Scots. O…
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18 Jan
1486 Henry VII marries Elizabeth of York, uniting two royal housesKing Henry VII, the first Tudor king, married Elizabeth of York, daughter of King Edward IV. Henry came from the House of Lancaster and Elizabeth fro…
Photo: anonymous, Public domain
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18 Jan
1871 The German Empire is proclaimedThe German Empire was proclaimed, uniting many separate German states into one country. It was led by the Kingdom of Prussia, whose king, Wilhelm I, …
Photo: Deutsches_Reich1.png: kgberger derivative work: Wiggy! (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
- 20 Jan 1356 Edward Balliol gives up his claim to the Scottish throneEdward Balliol gave up his claim to be King of Scots in return for a pension from England. Balliol's father, John Balliol, had been King of Scots fro…
- 20 Jan 1649 The trial of King Charles I beginsAfter years of civil war between the king's supporters and Parliament, a special court began the trial of King Charles I in London. He was accused of…
- 21 Jan 1326 Edward II confirms the founding of Oriel College, OxfordKing Edward II of England issued a royal charter confirming the founding of Oriel College, part of the University of Oxford. A charter is an official…
- 22 Jan AD 871 Vikings defeat the West Saxons at the Battle of BasingA Viking army defeated the West Saxons, from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, at Basing, a royal estate in Hampshire. The West Saxons were led by K…
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22 Jan
1689 The Convention Parliament meets to decide who will rule EnglandA special Parliament, known as the Convention, met to decide what should happen to the throne. King James II, the last Catholic monarch of England, h…
Photo: School of Peter Lely, Public domain
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22 Jan
1901 Queen Victoria dies and her son becomes King Edward VIIQueen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, aged 81, and her eldest son became King Edward VII. Victoria had reigned for more than 63 …
Photo: W. & D. Downey, Public domain
- 23 Jan 1264 France's King Louis IX sides with Henry III against the baronsKing Louis IX of France gave a ruling known as the Mise of Amiens. It was meant to settle a quarrel between King Henry III of England and his rebelli…
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23 Jan
1368 The Hongwu Emperor founds China's Ming dynastyZhu Yuanzhang took the throne as the Hongwu Emperor and started the Ming dynasty in China. A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family. The …
Photo: Albert Herrmann & Georg Westermann, Public domain
- 23 Jan 1571 Elizabeth I opens the Royal Exchange in LondonQueen Elizabeth I officially opened the Royal Exchange in the City of London and gave it its royal title. It was founded by the merchant Sir Thomas G…
- 24 Jan 1536 Henry VIII is badly hurt in a jousting accidentKing Henry VIII had a serious accident while jousting, a sport in which two riders charge at each other with blunted lances. He fell heavily from his…
- 24 Jan 1679 Charles II ends the long-running Cavalier ParliamentKing Charles II dissolved, or officially closed, the Cavalier Parliament. It had sat since 1661, for almost 18 years, which is longer than any Britis…
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25 Jan
1327 Fourteen-year-old Edward III becomes King of EnglandFourteen-year-old Edward III became King of England after his father, Edward II, was forced to give up the throne. The plot against Edward II was led…
Photo: William Bruges, Public domain
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25 Jan
1533 Anne Boleyn secretly marries Henry VIIIAnne Boleyn secretly married King Henry VIII, becoming the second of his six wives. Their daughter, born later that year, grew up to be Queen Elizabe…
Photo: English school, Public domain
- 25 Jan 1585 Walter Raleigh is knighted after naming VirginiaWalter Raleigh was knighted, becoming Sir Walter Raleigh. Shortly before, he had named a region of North America 'Virginia' in honour of Queen Elizab…
- 25 Jan 1858 Mendelssohn's Wedding March is played at a royal weddingFelix Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played at the wedding of Queen Victoria's daughter, also called Victoria, to Prince Friedrich of Prussia. After…
- 26 Jan 1905 The Cullinan Diamond, the biggest gem diamond ever, is foundThe Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, was discovered at a mine in South Africa. It weighed 3,106 carats, which is a…
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27 Jan
AD 98 Trajan becomes emperor of RomeTrajan became Roman emperor after the death of Nerva, who had adopted him as his son. He was a successful soldier and is remembered as one of the 'Fi…
Photo: Unknown artistUnknown artist, Public domain
- 28 Jan 1457 Born: Henry VIIHenry VII, also known as Henry Tudor, was born at Pembroke Castle in Wales. He became King of England in 1485 when his forces defeated Richard III at…
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28 Jan
1547 Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of EnglandNine-year-old Edward VI became King of England and Ireland after the death of his father, Henry VIII. He was the only surviving son of Henry and his …
Photo: Circle of William Scrots, Public domain
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29 Jan
1856 Queen Victoria creates the Victoria Cross for braveryQueen Victoria created the Victoria Cross, a medal to honour acts of bravery during the Crimean War. It is the highest award for courage 'in the pres…
Photo: Turner_VC_f&b.JPG: The original uploader was Rcdarchive at English Wikipedia. derivative work: EyeSerene (talk), Public domain
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29 Jan
1891 Liliʻuokalani becomes Queen of HawaiiLiliʻuokalani became queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom, in the Pacific Ocean. She was the only woman to rule Hawaii in her own right, and its last monarc…
Photo: James J. Williams / Adam Cuerden, Public domain
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31 Jan
1978 The Holy Crown of Hungary goes back on display at homeThe Holy Crown of Hungary, also called the Crown of Saint Stephen, went on public display after being returned to Hungary. It had been kept in the Un…
Photo: granada_turnier, CC BY 2.0
February
- 1 Feb 1327 Fourteen-year-old Edward III is crowned King of EnglandEdward III was crowned King of England when he was only fourteen years old. At first, the country was really run by his mother, Queen Isabella, and R…
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2 Feb
1141 King Stephen is captured at the Battle of LincolnAt the Battle of Lincoln, King Stephen of England was defeated and captured by forces loyal to his cousin and rival, Empress Matilda. Stephen was imp…
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
- 2 Feb 1901 The funeral of Queen Victoria takes placeThe funeral of Queen Victoria took place. She had reigned since 1837, for 63 years and 216 days, longer than any British monarch before her. Her time…
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4 Feb
AD 960 Emperor Taizu comes to power and starts China's Song dynastyA Chinese general named Zhao Kuangyin took the throne and became Emperor Taizu. He was the first emperor of the Song dynasty, a family of rulers who …
Photo: Anonymous, Public domain
- 5 Feb 2 BC Augustus is named 'Father of the Fatherland' by the Roman SenateThe Roman Senate gave Emperor Augustus the title Pater Patriae, which means 'Father of the Fatherland'. Augustus, also known as Octavian, was the fir…
- 6 Feb 1665 Born: Queen AnneAnne became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1702. In 1707 the Acts of Union joined England and Scotland together, making her the first mona…
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6 Feb
1952 Elizabeth II becomes Queen of the United KingdomPrincess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II when her father, King George VI, died. At that moment she was far from home, staying in a tree house at …
Photo: Donald McKague, Public domain
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7 Feb
1301 Edward of Caernarfon becomes the first English Prince of WalesKing Edward I gave his son, Edward of Caernarfon, the title Prince of Wales. The title had first been used by the Welsh rulers of Gwynedd. Edward I g…
Photo: AJ Marshall, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 8 Feb 1575 Leiden University is founded in the NetherlandsWilliam, Prince of Orange, founded Leiden University in the Dutch city of Leiden. It is the oldest surviving university in the Netherlands. William l…
- 8 Feb 1601 The Earl of Essex leads a failed rebellion against Elizabeth IRobert Devereux, Earl of Essex, led a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I, but it failed. Essex had once been one of the queen's favourites. He lost …
- 8 Feb 1693 William and Mary found a college in VirginiaKing William III and Queen Mary II gave a royal charter to set up the College of William & Mary in Virginia. It is now the second-oldest university i…
- 8 Feb 1960 Elizabeth II names her descendants Mountbatten-WindsorQueen Elizabeth II issued an order proclaiming that the royal family would remain the House of Windsor. She also declared that her descendants would …
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10 Feb
1840 Queen Victoria marries Prince AlbertQueen Victoria married her German-born cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, London. Victoria wor…
Photo: George Hayter, Public domain
- 12 Feb 1689 Parliament declares that James II has given up the throneThe Convention Parliament declared that King James II had abdicated, or given up the throne, by fleeing to France in 1688. It handed the crowns of En…
- 12 Feb 1912 Puyi, China's last emperor, gives up the throne aged sixPuyi, the last emperor of China, gave up the throne. He had become emperor of the Qing dynasty in 1908, when he was just two years old. After the Xin…
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13 Feb
1689 William III and Mary II are proclaimed joint rulers of EnglandWilliam III and Mary II were proclaimed joint rulers of England. Parliament had given them the crown after King James II fled to France. William was …
Photo: Godfrey Kneller, Public domain
- 14 Feb 1556 Thirteen-year-old Akbar is crowned Mughal emperorAkbar was crowned emperor of the Mughal Empire in India, succeeding his father, Humayun. He was only 13, so a regent called Bairam Khan helped him to…
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14 Feb
1613 Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, marries Frederick VPrincess Elizabeth, daughter of King James VI and I, married Frederick V, a German prince, at Whitehall Palace in London. The celebrations included f…
Photo: Unidentified painter, Public domain
- 15 Feb 1214 King John lands in France to win back his lost landsKing John of England landed at La Rochelle in France with an English army. He wanted to win back lands in France that he had lost to King Philip II o…
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15 Feb
1952 King George VI is buried at St George's Chapel, WindsorKing George VI was buried in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, nine days after his death. As a second son, he had not expected to be king, but hi…
Photo: Matson Photo Service, Public domain
- 18 Feb 1229 Frederick II wins back Jerusalem with a treaty, not a battleDuring the Sixth Crusade, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II signed a ten-year truce with al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt. Under the deal, Christians rega…
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18 Feb
1516 Born: Mary IMary I was the daughter of King Henry VIII and became Queen of England and Ireland in 1553. She was also Queen of Spain as the wife of King Philip II…
Photo: Antonis Mor, Public domain
- 19 Feb 1594 Born: Henry Frederick, Prince of WalesHenry Frederick was the eldest son of King James VI and I, and heir to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland. Many people saw him as a bright …
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19 Feb
1836 William IV signs the papers creating the Province of South AustraliaKing William IV signed Letters Patent, an official royal document, establishing the Province of South Australia. It was planned as a new British colo…
Photo: Martin Archer Shee, Public domain
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20 Feb
1472 Orkney and Shetland become part of ScotlandThe Scottish Parliament confirmed that Orkney and Shetland, which had belonged to Norway, were now part of Scotland. In 1468–69, the King of Denmark …
Photo: Hugo van der Goes, Public domain
- 20 Feb 1547 Nine-year-old Edward VI is crowned King of EnglandEdward VI was crowned King of England and Ireland at Westminster Abbey, aged just nine. He was the only surviving son of Henry VIII and his third wif…
- 21 Feb 1746 Jacobites win the siege of InvernessDuring the Jacobite rising of 1745, supporters of Prince Charles Edward Stuart surrounded Old Fort George, a castle in Inverness held by government s…
- 22 Feb 1371 Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of ScotsRobert Stewart became King of Scots as Robert II after the death of his uncle, King David II. Robert's mother, Marjorie, was the daughter of the famo…
- 25 Feb Every year Feast day of Saint Æthelberht of KentSome churches remember Saint Æthelberht, King of Kent, on this day. He was the first Anglo-Saxon king to become a Christian, soon after the missionar…
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25 Feb
AD 138 Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after himRoman emperor Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius as his son and chose him as the next emperor. Antoninus took over later that year, and his reign was a p…
Photo: Djehouty, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 25 Feb 1912 Marie-Adélaïde becomes Luxembourg's first reigning Grand DuchessMarie-Adélaïde, the eldest of Grand Duke William IV's six daughters, became ruler of Luxembourg. She was the first woman to reign as Grand Duchess of…
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26 Feb
1815 Napoleon escapes from the island of ElbaNapoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of the French, escaped from Elba, the Italian island where he had been sent into exile. With about 1,000 men i…
Photo: Jacques-Louis David, Public domain
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27 Feb
AD 272 Born: Constantine the GreatConstantine the Great was a Roman emperor and the first to become a Christian. He was in York, then called Eboracum, when his father, Emperor Constan…
Photo: Apaleutos25, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 27 Feb 1560 England and Scottish lords sign the Treaty of BerwickRepresentatives of Queen Elizabeth I of England and a group of Scottish nobles called the Lords of the Congregation made an agreement at Berwick-upon…
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28 Feb
202 BC Liu Bang becomes the first emperor of China's Han dynastyRebel leader Liu Bang declared himself Emperor Gaozu, founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty. He had overthrown the Qin dynasty, the first impe…
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
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28 Feb
1638 Scots adopt the National Covenant against Charles I's church changesThe National Covenant was formally adopted in Scotland. It was an agreement, signed by many Scottish people, opposing changes that King Charles I was…
Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0
September
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28 Sep
1066 William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade EnglandWilliam, Duke of Normandy, landed at Pevensey in Sussex with a fleet of around 600 ships. His arrival was the start of the Norman Conquest of England…
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 28 Sep 1106 Henry I captures his brother Robert at the Battle of TinchebrayKing Henry I of England invaded Normandy and fought the army of his older brother, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. Henry's knights won a clear vic…
- 29 Sep 1267 Henry III recognises Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of WalesIn the Treaty of Montgomery, King Henry III of England accepted Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales. In return, Llywelyn had to accept Henry as h…
- 30 Sep 1399 Henry Bolingbroke is proclaimed King Henry IV of EnglandHenry Bolingbroke was proclaimed King Henry IV of England. He had taken the throne from his cousin, King Richard II, whom he imprisoned and removed f…
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30 Sep
1520 Suleiman the Magnificent becomes sultan of the Ottoman EmpireSuleiman I became sultan, or ruler, of the Ottoman Empire. He is better known as Suleiman the Magnificent. He ruled until 1566, longer than any other…
Photo: Circle of Titian, Public domain
October
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1 Oct
AD 959 Edgar the Peaceful becomes King of EnglandEdgar became king of all England after the death of his older brother, King Eadwig. Both brothers were sons of King Edmund I. Edgar is often called E…
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
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1 Oct
1207 Born: Henry III of EnglandHenry III, also known as Henry of Winchester, was King of England from 1216 until his death in 1272. He became king as a young boy, and his reign las…
Photo: Anonymous, Public domain
- 1 Oct 1386 The Wonderful Parliament meets at Westminster AbbeyKing Richard II called Parliament to meet at Westminster Abbey because he needed money. Many people were unhappy with him: he gave too many favours t…
- 1 Oct 1553 Mary I is crowned as England's first queen to rule in her own rightMary I, daughter of King Henry VIII, was crowned Queen of England and Ireland at Westminster Abbey. She was the first queen in England to be crowned …
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2 Oct
1187 Saladin takes Jerusalem after the city surrendersAfter a siege of nearly two weeks, the city of Jerusalem surrendered to the army of Saladin, the sultan of Egypt and Syria. The city's defender, Bali…
- 2 Oct 1263 Scotland and Norway clash at the Battle of LargsThe armies of Scotland and Norway fought the Battle of Largs, on the Firth of Clyde. King Haakon of Norway had sailed with a fleet to win back contro…
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2 Oct
1452 Born: Richard III of EnglandRichard III was King of England from 1483 to 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet family, which had ruled England since 1154, and belonged t…
Photo: Barthel ii, Public domain
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2 Oct
1470 Edward IV flees England and Henry VI returns to the throneKing Edward IV of England was forced to flee to the Burgundian Netherlands after a rebellion led by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Warwick, nickna…
Photo: Lucas Horenbout, Public domain
- 3 Oct 1390 Born: Humphrey, Duke of GloucesterHumphrey, Duke of Gloucester, was an English prince who called himself the 'son, brother and uncle of kings'. His father was Henry IV, his brother wa…
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5 Oct
1658 Born: Mary of ModenaMary of Modena married the future King James II, who was also James VII of Scotland. At the time, he was the younger brother of King Charles II and n…
Photo: Godfrey Kneller and workshop, Public domain
- 5 Oct 1910 Portugal ends its monarchy and becomes a republicA revolution in Portugal overthrew the country's monarchy, which had lasted for centuries. The uprising was organised by the Portuguese Republican Pa…
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6 Oct
1789 King Louis XVI is forced to leave the Palace of VersaillesThe day after the Women's March on Versailles, King Louis XVI was forced to leave his palace at Versailles. He had to move to the Tuileries Palace in…
Photo: Antoine-François Callet, Public domain
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7 Oct
1763 George III issues the Royal Proclamation of 1763King George III issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Britain had just gained large areas of French land in North America at the end of the Seven Ye…
Photo: Allan Ramsay, Public domain
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8 Oct
1200 Isabella of Angoulême is crowned Queen of EnglandIsabella of Angoulême was crowned queen of England as the second wife of King John. She remained queen until 1216. In 1202 Isabella also became Count…
Photo: UAltmann, Public domain
- 8 Oct 1480 The Great Stand on the Ugra River ends Tatar rule over MoscowThe army of the Great Horde, led by Akhmat Khan, faced the army of Moscow across the Ugra River. Moscow's forces were led by Grand Prince Ivan III. R…
- 10 Oct 1911 The Wuchang Uprising begins the revolution that ends China's emperorsAn armed uprising against the ruling Qing dynasty broke out in Wuchang, in the Chinese province of Hubei. It began the 1911 Revolution, which ended m…
- 11 Oct 1311 English nobles publish the Ordinances of 1311 to limit Edward IIPowerful nobles and churchmen in England published the Ordinances of 1311, rules to limit the power of King Edward II. The 21 men who signed them wer…
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12 Oct
539 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the city of BabylonThe army of Cyrus the Great of Persia captured Babylon, bringing the Babylonian empire to an end. This date is given in the old Julian calendar. Cyru…
Photo: Surenae, CC BY-SA 4.0
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12 Oct
1537 Born: Edward VIEdward VI was the only surviving son of King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. He became King of England and Ireland in 1547 and was crown…
Photo: Circle of William Scrots, Public domain
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13 Oct
1269 The new church at Westminster Abbey is consecratedThe church building that still stands at Westminster Abbey in London was consecrated, which means it was officially blessed for worship. The abbey ha…
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13 Oct
1399 Henry IV is crowned King of England at Westminster AbbeyHenry IV, also known as Henry Bolingbroke, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London. His father was John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaste…
Photo: The National Archives UK, Public domain
- 13 Oct 1911 Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur becomes Governor General of CanadaPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, became Governor General of Canada. He was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He w…
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14 Oct
1066 William of Normandy wins the Battle of HastingsAt the Battle of Hastings, the army of William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the English army of King Harold Godwinson. Harold, the last crowned Anglo-…
Photo: Myrabella, Public domain
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14 Oct
1322 Robert the Bruce defeats Edward II at the Battle of Old BylandRobert the Bruce, King of Scots, defeated King Edward II of England at the Battle of Old Byland. The defeat pushed Edward towards accepting that Scot…
Photo: National Museums Liverpool, Heather Beeton, CC BY-SA 4.0
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14 Oct
1586 Mary, Queen of Scots, goes on trial in EnglandMary, Queen of Scots, went on trial accused of conspiracy, which means secretly plotting, against Queen Elizabeth I of England. Mary had been Queen o…
Photo: François Clouet, Public domain
- 14 Oct 1633 Born: James IIJames II became King of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1685; in Scotland he was known as James VII. He was the last Catholic monarch of the three k…
- 15 Oct 1066 Edgar Ætheling is proclaimed King of England after HastingsAfter King Harold died at the Battle of Hastings, England's leaders, including the Archbishop of York, proclaimed Edgar Ætheling King of England. Edg…
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15 Oct
1815 Napoleon begins his exile on the island of Saint HelenaNapoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of the French, began his exile on Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The British gover…
Photo: Jacques-Louis David, Public domain
- 16 Oct 1384 Jadwiga is crowned 'King' of PolandJadwiga was crowned ruler of Poland with the title 'King' rather than 'Queen'. The title showed that she ruled in her own right. Jadwiga, also known …
- 17 Oct 1346 King David II of Scotland is captured at Neville's CrossKing David II of Scotland invaded England to help his ally, France, but he was captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross. Scotland and France had an …
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17 Oct
1662 Charles II sells Dunkirk to King Louis XIV of FranceKing Charles II of England sold Dunkirk, a town on the French coast, and the nearby Fort-Mardyck to his cousin, King Louis XIV of France. The date wa…
Photo: John Michael Wright, Public domain
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17 Oct
1956 The Queen opens the first commercial nuclear power stationQueen Elizabeth II officially opened the first commercial nuclear power station, at the site now called Sellafield on the coast of Cumbria in England…
Photo: Simon Ledingham, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 18 Oct 1016 King Cnut's Danish army wins the Battle of AssandunAt the Battle of Assandun in Essex, a Danish army led by King Cnut defeated the English army of King Edmund Ironside. Afterwards, the two kings agree…
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18 Oct
1597 Spain's third armada sails against England but failsKing Philip II of Spain sent a third armada, or war fleet, against England. Its aim was to support rebels in Ireland who were fighting the English. L…
Photo: Sofonisba Anguissola, Public domain
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19 Oct
1579 Thirteen-year-old James VI begins his adult rule in EdinburghKing James VI of Scotland made a grand royal entry into Edinburgh to mark his coming of age. He was only 13 years old, and had spent his childhood at…
Photo: Public domain, Public domain
- 20 Oct 1740 Maria Theresa becomes ruler of the Habsburg landsMaria Theresa became ruler of the Habsburg monarchy, which included Austria, Hungary, Bohemia and many other lands. This was possible because of a sp…
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20 Oct
1973 Queen Elizabeth II opens the Sydney Opera HouseThe Sydney Opera House in Australia was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, after 14 years of building work. It stands on the edge of Sydney Harbour and ha…
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
- 22 Oct 1721 Peter the Great proclaims the Russian EmpireTsar Peter I, known as Peter the Great, proclaimed the Russian Empire after Sweden was defeated in the Great Northern War. He became the first empero…
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22 Oct
1727 George II and Queen Caroline are crowned at Westminster AbbeyGeorge II and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach, were crowned King and Queen of Great Britain in Westminster Abbey. George had become king that June. As …
Photo: Thomas Hudson, Public domain
- 23 Oct 1868 Japan's Meiji era beginsEmperor Mutsuhito proclaimed the start of the Meiji era in Japan. He had taken over Edo, the shoguns' seat of power, and made it his new capital, cal…
- 24 Oct 1596 Storms wreck the second Spanish Armada sent against EnglandKing Philip II of Spain sent a second Spanish Armada to strike against England. He wanted revenge for an English attack on the Spanish port of Cádiz …
- 25 Oct 1415 Henry V's archers win the Battle of AgincourtIn the Hundred Years' War, Henry V's English army surprisingly beat a much larger French force at the Battle of Agincourt. Henry's army was made up m…
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25 Oct
1760 George III becomes kingGeorge III became King of Great Britain and Ireland, taking over from his grandfather, George II. He was the first king from the House of Hanover to …
Photo: Allan Ramsay, Public domain
- 25 Oct 1809 Britain celebrates the Golden Jubilee of George IIICelebrations were held to mark King George III beginning the 50th year of his reign. The event was also called the Grand National Jubilee. It was the…
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26 Oct
1640 Treaty of Ripon brings peace between Charles I and the ScotsKing Charles I of England signed the Treaty of Ripon with the Covenanters, a political movement in Scotland. The treaty was a truce, which is an agre…
Photo: Richard Collier, CC BY-SA 4.0
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27 Oct
1401 Born: Catherine of ValoisCatherine of Valois was a French princess, the daughter of King Charles VI of France. She married King Henry V of England and was Queen of England fr…
Photo: Caxton Master, "The Beauchamp Pageants", Public domain
- 27 Oct 1644 The Second Battle of Newbury is fought in the English Civil WarThe Second Battle of Newbury was fought at Speen, next to the town of Newbury in Berkshire. It took place close to the site of the First Battle of Ne…
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27 Oct
1775 George III speaks to Parliament about the rebellion in AmericaKing George III gave a speech at the opening of Parliament about trouble in Britain's Thirteen Colonies in America. He built on his Proclamation of R…
Photo: Allan Ramsay, Public domain
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27 Oct
1936 Wallis Simpson's divorce sets the Abdication Crisis in motionWallis Simpson, an American, was granted a divorce from her second husband. This would eventually allow her to marry King Edward VIII, who had become…
Photo: Edward VIII, Public domain
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28 Oct
1420 Beijing becomes the Ming capital as the Forbidden City is finishedBeijing officially became the capital of China's Ming dynasty when the Forbidden City was completed. The Forbidden City is a vast palace complex in t…
Photo: Albert Herrmann & Georg Westermann, Public domain
- 28 Oct 1664 The regiment that became the Royal Marines is formed in LondonThe Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot was set up at the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company in London. The Royal Marines tr…
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28 Oct
1925 Tutankhamun's golden mask is uncoveredThe gold mask of Tutankhamun was uncovered, seen for the first time in about 3,250 years. Tutankhamun was a pharaoh who ruled ancient Egypt from 1332…
Photo: Roland Unger, Public domain
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31 Oct
AD 475 Romulus Augustulus becomes the last Western Roman emperorRomulus Augustulus became emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He was still a boy, placed on the throne by his father Orestes, a powerful army comman…
November
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1 Nov
1141 Empress Matilda frees King Stephen, and the Anarchy drags onDuring a civil war known as the Anarchy, Empress Matilda released her rival, King Stephen. In return, Stephen's side freed Robert of Gloucester, Mati…
Photo: Artist unknown; the Gospels of Henry the Lion, Public domain
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1 Nov
1688 William of Orange sets sail to take the throne from James IIWilliam of Orange set sail from Hellevoetsluis in the Netherlands for the second time. He aimed to take the crowns of England, Scotland and Ireland f…
Photo: Godfrey Kneller, Public domain
- 2 Nov 1470 Born: Edward VEdward V, who would briefly be King of England, was born. He became king in April 1483 when his father, Edward IV, died, but he was never crowned. Ju…
- 3 Nov 1492 Henry VII and Charles VIII of France make the Peace of ÉtaplesKing Henry VII of England and King Charles VIII of France signed a peace treaty at Étaples. Charles agreed to stop supporting Perkin Warbeck, a ‘pret…
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3 Nov
1534 Henry VIII becomes Supreme Head of the Church of EnglandParliament passed the first Act of Supremacy. It made King Henry VIII and the monarchs after him Supreme Head of the Church of England, taking the pl…
Photo: Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, Public domain
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4 Nov
1501 Catherine of Aragon meets Arthur, Prince of WalesCatherine of Aragon met Arthur, Prince of Wales, the elder brother of the future King Henry VIII. The two were later married, but Arthur died a short…
Photo: Lucas Horenbout, Public domain
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4 Nov
1677 Princess Mary marries William of OrangeThe future Queen Mary II married William, Prince of Orange, a leader in the Dutch Republic. In 1689 the couple began ruling England, Scotland and Ire…
Photo: Godfrey Kneller, Public domain
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5 Nov
1605 Guy Fawkes is caught and the Gunpowder Plot failsAround midnight, men searching the rooms beneath the House of Lords in London found Guy Fawkes guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder. He belonged to a gro…
Photo: Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, Public domain
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5 Nov
1688 William of Orange lands at Brixham to challenge King James IIPrince William of Orange landed at Brixham with a Dutch fleet. He had come to challenge King James II, who was also James VII of Scotland and the las…
Photo: Godfrey Kneller, Public domain
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6 Nov
1217 Henry III issues the Charter of the ForestThe young King Henry III issued the Charter of the Forest. It gave free men back their right to use the royal forests, a right that had been worn awa…
Photo: Anonymous, Public domain
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6 Nov
1494 Born: Suleiman the MagnificentSuleiman I, known as Suleiman the Magnificent, was born. He became sultan, or ruler, of the Ottoman Empire in 1520 and reigned until 1566, the longes…
Photo: Circle of Titian, Public domain
- 8 Nov 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie leads a Jacobite army into EnglandCharles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, marched into England with an army of about 5,000 men. He was the grandson of King James II and…
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9 Nov
1683 Born: George II of Great BritainGeorge II, who became King of Great Britain and Ireland in 1727, was born in northern Germany. He is the most recent British monarch to have been bor…
Photo: Thomas Hudson, Public domain
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9 Nov
1688 William of Orange captures Exeter in the Glorious RevolutionWilliam of Orange, a Dutch prince, captured the city of Exeter after landing in England with his army. He had come to challenge King James II, who wa…
Photo: Johan Herman Isings, Public domain
- 9 Nov 1841 Born: Edward VIIEdward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was born. Nicknamed 'Bertie', he was Prince of Wales for almost 60 years before he be…
- 9 Nov 1901 Prince George is made Prince of WalesPrince George, Duke of Cornwall, was given the titles Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. He was the only surviving son of Edward VII, who had becom…
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9 Nov
1907 King Edward VII is given the giant Cullinan DiamondThe Cullinan Diamond was presented to King Edward VII as a birthday gift from the government of the Transvaal Colony in South Africa. Found in 1905, …
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
- 11 Nov 1100 King Henry I marries Matilda of ScotlandKing Henry I of England, the fourth son of William the Conqueror, married Matilda, daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland. She was crowned queen on…
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13 Nov
1312 Born: Edward III of EnglandEdward III, who became King of England at just 14, was born. At 17 he took power for himself from Roger Mortimer, who had been ruling the country. Ed…
Photo: William Bruges, Public domain
- 13 Nov 1642 Parliament's army blocks King Charles I at Turnham GreenEarly in the English Civil War, the army of King Charles I faced a much larger Parliamentarian army at Turnham Green, near London. The battle ended i…
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13 Nov
1715 Government forces halt the Jacobites at the Battle of SheriffmuirDuring the Jacobite rising in Scotland, the forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain stopped the advance of the Jacobite army at the Battle of Sheriffm…
Photo: John Wootton, Public domain
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14 Nov
1948 Born: King Charles IIIKing Charles III, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was born. He became heir to the throne when his mother became queen in 1952…
Photo: White House, Public domain
- 14 Nov 1973 Princess Anne marries Captain Mark PhillipsPrincess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, married Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey in London. Mark Phillips…
- 15 Nov AD 655 King Oswiu of Northumbria wins the Battle of the WinwaedKing Oswiu of Northumbria defeated King Penda of Mercia and his ally, King Æthelhere of East Anglia, at the Battle of the Winwaed in what is now York…
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16 Nov
1272 Edward I becomes King of England while far from homeWhen King Henry III died, his eldest son, Prince Edward, became King Edward I. Edward was on his way back from a crusade, a military expedition to th…
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
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17 Nov
1292 John Balliol is chosen to be King of ScotsAfter the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, several people claimed the Scottish crown. A group of noblemen headed by King Edward I of England chose …
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
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17 Nov
1558 Elizabeth I becomes Queen of EnglandElizabeth I became Queen of England and Ireland after the death of her half-sister, Mary I. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she reigned f…
Photo: Unidentified painter, Public domain
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19 Nov
1600 Born: Charles ICharles I was the second son of King James VI of Scotland, and became King of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1625. He believed in the 'divine right…
Photo: Workshop of Anthony van Dyck, Public domain
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20 Nov
1947 Princess Elizabeth marries Philip MountbattenPrincess Elizabeth, the elder daughter of King George VI, married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in London. Philip had been born …
Photo: Donald McKague, Public domain
- 20 Nov 1992 Fire badly damages Windsor CastleA major fire broke out at Windsor Castle, the largest lived-in castle in the world and a home of the British monarch. It started in the Queen's Priva…
- 21 Nov 1840 Born: Victoria, Princess RoyalVictoria was the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. At 17 she married Prince Frederick of Prussia, and they had eight children. In 188…
- 22 Nov 1855 Prince Albert lays the first stone of the Midland InstitutePrince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, laid the foundation stone of the Birmingham and Midland Institute in Birmingham. A foundation stone is …
- 24 Nov Every year Feast day of St EanflædThis is the feast day of St Eanflæd, a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon princess, queen and abbess. She was the daughter of King Edwin of Northumbria and beca…
- 24 Nov 1542 England defeats a Scottish army at the Battle of Solway MossA large Scottish army marched into England and was beaten near Solway Moss, by the River Esk, by a much smaller English force. About 1,200 Scots were…
- 25 Nov 1034 Duncan becomes King of Scots after the death of Malcolm IIMalcolm II, King of Scots, died at Glamis in Angus, and his grandson Duncan became king. Malcolm had ruled the kingdom of Alba, an old name for Scotl…
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25 Nov
1487 Elizabeth of York is crowned Queen of EnglandElizabeth of York was crowned queen consort of England, which means she was the wife of the reigning king. She had married King Henry VII in 1486, af…
Photo: After Meynnart Wewyck, Public domain
- 25 Nov 1638 Born: Catherine of BraganzaCatherine of Braganza became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland when she married King Charles II in 1662. She was queen until Charles died in 168…
December
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1 Dec
1420 Henry V rides into Paris with the French kingKing Henry V of England entered Paris alongside King Charles VI of France, who was his father-in-law. Earlier that year, the Treaty of Troyes had nam…
Photo: Jean Galopes, Public domain
- 1 Dec 1662 John Evelyn writes about skating in St James's ParkThe diarist John Evelyn recorded skating on the frozen lake in St James's Park, London. King Charles II and Queen Catherine were there watching. Evel…
- 1 Dec 1844 Born: Alexandra of DenmarkAlexandra of Denmark married Edward, who later became King Edward VII. As his wife, she was Queen of the United Kingdom from 1901 to 1910, while he w…
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2 Dec
1804 Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the FrenchAt Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French. He had first become famous as a general during the French…
Photo: Jacques-Louis David / Georges Rouget, Public domain
- 2 Dec 1908 Two-year-old Puyi becomes Emperor of ChinaPuyi became Emperor of China when he was only two years old. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor of the Qing dynasty until 1912. He turned out to be the…
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4 Dec
1259 Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of ParisKing Henry III of England and King Louis IX of France agreed the Treaty of Paris. Henry gave up his claims to lands controlled by France on the conti…
Photo: Anonymous, Public domain
- 4 Dec 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie's army reaches DerbyThe army of Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, reached Derby. It was the furthest point it got to during the Jacobite rising of 1…
- 5 Dec 1958 The Queen launches direct dialling for long-distance phone callsQueen Elizabeth II launched Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) in the United Kingdom. She made a call from Bristol to the Lord Provost, the civic leader…
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6 Dec
1421 Born: Henry VIHenry VI became King of England when he was just nine months old, after his father, Henry V, died. He reigned from 1422 to 1461, and again from 1470 …
Photo: Poems and Romances (Shrewsbury book), illuminated by the MASTER OF JOHN TALBOT, Public domain
- 6 Dec 1648 Pride's Purge removes MPs so King Charles I can be triedDuring the English Civil War, soldiers stopped some Members of Parliament from entering the House of Commons. These MPs were seen as hostile to Parli…
- 6 Dec 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie's army begins to retreatThe Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, began to retreat. Two days earlier it had reached Derby, the furthest poi…
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8 Dec
1542 Born: Mary, Queen of ScotsMary, Queen of Scots, was the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise. When her father died, she became Queen of Scotland at just six …
Photo: François Clouet, Public domain
- 9 Dec 1688 William of Orange's forces win the Battle of ReadingForces loyal to William of Orange won a clear victory at the Battle of Reading. It was one of only two big military clashes in England during the Glo…
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10 Dec
1936 King Edward VIII signs his abdicationKing Edward VIII signed a document to abdicate, which means give up the throne. He wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who had been divorced,…
Photo: Freeland Studio, Public domain
- 11 Dec 1282 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, dies in battleLlywelyn ap Gruffudd, known as Llywelyn the Last, died at Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, during the Battle of Orewin Bridge. He was the last native Prin…
- 11 Dec 1688 James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River ThamesKing James II threw the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames as he tried to flee to France. James was the last Catholic monarch of England, …
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11 Dec
1936 King Edward VIII's abdication becomes officialKing Edward VIII's abdication became official. To abdicate means to give up being king or queen. Edward had wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an Americ…
Photo: Edward VIII, Public domain
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12 Dec
1915 Yuan Shikai declares himself Emperor of ChinaYuan Shikai, the president of the Republic of China, declared that China was an empire again, with himself as emperor. He was a powerful general who …
Photo: Photo by Rio V. De Sieux, Public domain
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13 Dec
1553 Born: Henry IV of FranceHenry IV was King of Navarre and later King of France, from 1589 to 1610. He was the first French king from the House of Bourbon. He is remembered as…
Photo: Frans Pourbus the Younger, Public domain
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14 Dec
1542 Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week oldMary Stuart became Queen of Scotland when she was only a week old, after her father, King James V, died. She is remembered as Mary, Queen of Scots. M…
Photo: François Clouet, Public domain
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14 Dec
1895 Born: George VIGeorge VI was King of the United Kingdom from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He became king after his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated, or …
Photo: Matson Photo Service, Public domain
- 16 Dec 1431 Henry VI of England is crowned King of France in ParisHenry VI of England was crowned King of France at Notre-Dame in Paris, during the Hundred Years' War. He had become King of England at just nine mont…
- 16 Dec 1485 Born: Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon was a Spanish princess who became Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII. They married in 1509. Before that she ha…
- 17 Dec 1538 Pope Paul III excommunicates King Henry VIIIPope Paul III excommunicated King Henry VIII of England, shutting him out of the Catholic Church. Henry had already broken away from the Pope and mad…
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18 Dec
1271 Kublai Khan founds the Yuan dynasty of ChinaKublai Khan gave his empire the name 'Great Yuan', marking the official start of the Yuan dynasty. Kublai was the fifth khagan, or great ruler, of th…
Photo: Araniko, Public domain
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19 Dec
1154 Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster AbbeyHenry II was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London. He reigned until his death in 1189. As well as England, he controlled parts of W…
Photo: Gerald of Wales, Public domain
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20 Dec
1192 Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the CrusadeKing Richard I of England was captured by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, while travelling home after the Third Crusade. Leopold had also fought in the C…
Photo: Adam Bishop, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 20 Dec 2007 Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in British historyQueen Elizabeth II became the oldest monarch in the history of the United Kingdom. She passed the age reached by Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 yea…
- 22 Dec 1135 Stephen of Blois is crowned King of EnglandThree weeks after King Henry I died, Stephen of Blois claimed the throne. He was crowned King of England in a private ceremony. Stephen's reign was t…
- 23 Dec 1688 King James II flees to France in the Glorious RevolutionKing James II escaped from England to France after losing his throne in the Glorious Revolution. He was replaced by his daughter, Mary II, and her Du…
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25 Dec
AD 800 Charlemagne is crowned emperor in RomeCharlemagne, King of the Franks, was crowned emperor in Rome on Christmas Day. He had united most of Western and Central Europe under his rule. He wa…
Photo: Charlemagne. Autorité émettrice de monnaie indéterminé. Atelier monétaire. Émetteur, Public domain
- 25 Dec 1013 Viking leader Sweyn Forkbeard is proclaimed King of EnglandSweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, took control of the Danelaw and was proclaimed King of England. The Danelaw was the part of eastern and northern En…
- 25 Dec 1066 William the Conqueror is crowned King of EnglandWilliam, Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. Earlier that year he had defeated the Anglo-Saxon army …
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26 Dec
1606 Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James IThe first known performance of William Shakespeare's play King Lear took place in front of King James I. The play is based on the legend of Leir, a k…
Photo: Ford Madox Brown, Public domain
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28 Dec
1065 Westminster Abbey is consecratedWestminster Abbey in London, built by King Edward the Confessor, was consecrated, which means it was officially blessed as a church. It was the first…
- 29 Dec 1911 Mongolia declares independence from China's Qing dynastyMongolia broke away from the Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty to rule China. The 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, an important leader in Tibetan Bu…
- 31 Dec 1720 Born: Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie)Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was born in Rome, Italy. He was the grandson of King James II of England and VII of Sco…
- 31 Dec 1857 Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as the capital of CanadaQueen Victoria chose Ottawa, then a small logging town, as the capital of the Province of Canada. This was a British colony in North America. Ottawa …