Chronology of the Coventry Area
(Before Christ - 1066 AD)
| Before Christ | Evidence of Palaeolithic settlement in the sub region
stretching back 60,000 years is to be found. Stone axe found
in 1973. Celtic settlements founded throughout Warwickshire
on at least 150 sites, particularly around Wolston and Dunsmore
|
| AD 42 - 410 | Roman Occupation of Britain Evidence of Roman occupation is to be found throughout the area. Because the sandstone rock under the city is near the surface and also because the city has been rebuilt many times, there is no direct evidence of Roman occupation in Coventry itself |
| 43-47 | Romans under
Emperor Claudius occupy the area
|
| 60 | The original Roman Lunt Fort built at Bagington near Coventry |
| 61 | Rebellion led by Queen Boudicca crushed at Mancetter to the north of the city |
| 60's | Watling Street and Fosse Way, Roman roads in the Coventry area built
|
| 550-600 | Hwicca Saxons (Kingdom
of Wessex) start to settle in south-west Warwickshire, whilst Angles (Kingdom of Mercia) settle in north-east Warwickshire
|
| 586 | Cridda (an Angle) becomes the
first King of Mercia
|
| 628 | Battle of Cirencester - Hwicca territory annexed by Mercia
|
| 655 | Preada becomes the first Christian King of Mercia. Warwickshire starts to become Christian. St Chad is reputed to have brought 10,000 virgins to Coventry to help in the conversion of the city
|
| 700 | St Osberg established a nunnery. First mentioned by Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherbourne |
| 757 | Battle of Seckingham - Mercia v Wessex |
| 800-900 | Settlements start on the site of Coventry |
| 800-1035 | Vikings raid Britain |
| 878 | Treaty of Wednore forming the Danelaw boundary along Watling Street - Coventry and most of Warwickshire remain Anglo Saxon though Rugby became Danish. Biggin area in Stoke, Coventry and Keresley were settled by Danes |
| 915 | Ethelfreda, granddaughter of Alfred the
Great of Wessex, is said to have built a castle in Warwick |
| 924 | Aethelstan succeeds to both
Wessex and Mercia crowns and in 927 to the crown of Northumbria. Died 939 |
| 927 | England formed |
| 1016 | Danes destroy St Osburga
Monastery in Coventry and ravage the area. Mercia subdued by
King Cnut (Canute) |
| 1022 | Archbishop Aelthelnoth presents
a holy relic to St Osberg's nunnery - the arm of St Augustin of
Hippo |
| 1040's | Exhall first mentioned in the public records |
| 1042 | St Osberg's nunnery closes |
| 1043 | St Mary's Monastery founded
by Earl Leofric |
| 1043 | Ranulf (Co-Lord
of Coventry) grants a Charter to the Town |
| 1057 | Earl Leofric dies |
| 1067 | Lady Godiva dies
(born c 1000 AD) |
© 1996 Coventry City Council. City Development Directorate. Myles Mackie
Page updated 20.10.96 by Ecosaurus: coventry@ecosaurus.co.uk