When did Edward I die and what happened to his body?
Edward I died in 1307 while en route to a campaign in Scotland. His body was left to be carried on future wars while his heart was sent to the Holy Land.
Common questions about England in the Late Middle Ages
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the Black Death arrive in England and how many people did it kill?
The plague arrived by ship from Gascony to Melcombe in Dorset shortly before the Feast of St. John the Baptist on the 24th of June 1348. It took approximately 500 days to traverse the entire country, killing between a third to more than half of the population.
When did the Hundred Years War begin and which battle destroyed the French fleet?
The Hundred Years War began in 1328 after Charles IV of France died without a male heir. Edward III won a significant naval victory at the Battle of Sluys where the French fleet was almost completely destroyed.
When did the Peasants Revolt occur and who led the rebels in London?
The Peasants Revolt occurred in 1381 when Kent rebels led by Wat Tyler marched on London. The rebels stormed the Tower of London and executed those hiding there before Tyler was killed at Smithfield.
When did the Wars of the Roses end and who became king in 1485?
The Wars of the Roses ended in 1485 when Henry VII took the throne after Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Henry VII founded the Tudor dynasty and brought the Plantagenet line of kings to an end.
When was English officially adopted as the language of royal courts and parliament?
Edward III encouraged the re-adoption of English as the official language of courts and parliament with the Statute of Pleading. It was officially adopted for diplomatic language in place of French in the reign of Henry IV.