Britain & Europe: A Chronology

55 B.C. Julius Caesar invades Britain. Roman rule, firmly established by 85 A.D., brings peace to Celtic tribes.

c. 410. Last Roman legions leave Britain after fall of Rome to the Visigoths.

449-577. Saxon pirates overrun England.

597. Rome’s St. Augustine brings Christianity to Britain.

783. First Viking raids. Norsemens’ victories in 1016 bring Denmark’s Canute to throne, unify England.

1066. William of Normandy conquers England. Last successful invasion of Britain establishes kingdom’s ties with Europe. By mid-12th century, England rules all western France to Pyrenees.

1337-1453. Hundred Years’ War between France and confident, aggressive England. Vastly outnumbered, superior English bowmen win Battle of Crécy (1346).

1415. Henry V wins Battle of Agincourt, is later acknowledged heir to French throne.

1422. Henry V’s death leads to long series of British defeats. Britain loses all its French possessions except Calais, which French seize in 1558. Britain’s sailors and traders turn to New World.

1533. Henry VIII breaks with Pope, leading to adoption of Anglican faith as state religion.

1587. Mary Queen of Scots executed. Spain’s Philip II claims British throne.

1588. Spanish Armada destroyed by Queen Elizabeth’s navy, freeing Holland and France from domination by Spain.

1713. Peace of Utrecht. Eleven-year war with France ends with Britain as Europe’s dominant economic and maritime power.

1756-63. Seven Years’ War. Britain defends Prussia against Austria, Russia and France.

1815. Battle of Waterloo and defeat of Napoleon. Britain, other European powers at Congress of Vienna inaugurate a century of overall peace in Western Europe.

1854-56. Crimean War. Britain blocks Russian expansion into Middle East, retires into “splendid isolation” from European affairs.

1880s. Industrial competition from Europe turns British trade to the Empire.

1904. Entente Cordiale with France, prompted by rise of German sea power.

1914-18. World War I. Britain loses more than 800,000 men.

1938. Munich. Chamberlain promises “peace for our time.”

1939-45. World War II. Britain loses close to 400,000 lives.

1940. After Hitler’s armies invade France, Churchill offers France political union with Britain. The offer is rejected.

1945. Britain becomes charter member of the U.N., joins NATO in 1949, pledges “permanent” army on the Rhine (1954).

1957. The Six sign Treaty of Rome. In 1959 Britain organizes Outer Seven.

1961. Britain seeks admission to Common Market.