* Francis ceased to be Emperor of Germany, upon the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806, having declared himself hereditary Emperor of Austria, under the title of Francis I. in 1804. Upon the formation of the Germanic Confederation in 1815, the Emperor of Austria was declared hereditary head of that body.

ix

A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

OF

EVENTS, INVENTIONS, AND REMARKABLE MEN,

RELATING PRINCIPALLY TO ENGLAND.

B.C.

Before the Commencement of the Christian Era.

55 Julius Cæsar's first expedition into Britain, in August and September.

54 Julius Cæsar's second expedition into Britain, which occupied him from the Spring till the end of September.

From the Commencement of the Christian Era to the year 1066, the date of the Norman Conquest.

A. D.

40 The followers of our Saviour called Christians.

43 Claudius Cæsar's expedition into Britain.

44 Conquests of Plautius in England.

50 London founded by the Romans.

51 Caractacus, the British king, is carried in chains to Rome. 60 Christianity supposed to have been introduced into Britain about this period.

61 Boadicea, the British queen, defeats the Romans.

64 First persecution of the Christians by the Romans. 70 Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, under Titus. 78 The conquest of Britain completed by Agricola.

84 The Caledonians (Scotch) defeated by Agricola.

121 Britain visited by the emperor Hadrian, who ordered the construction of a military work from the mouth of the Tyne to the Solway Firth.

132 Second destruction of Jerusalem by Hadrian, and subsequent foundation of a new city by that emperor.

170 The Romans deserted all of Britain which lay to the north of the wall of Antoninus.

209 The wall of Severus built; his death at York, 211. 306 The Cæsar Constantius Chlorus dies at York.

333 The Roman legions in Britain appoint Maximus to be emperor of the West instead of Gratian.

368 Britain delivered from the Picts and Scots, and Saxons, in the reign of the Roman emperor Valentinian, by his general, Theodosius.

A. D.

388 Death of Maximus, and renewal of the incursions of the Picts and Scots.

399 Britain delivered from the Picts and Scots.

400 Church-bells invented, by Paulinus, bishop of Nola in Campania.

402 Departure of the Roman legion from Britain, to oppose the Goths in Italy.

404 In this year, or 405, the Pelagian heresy was originated by Pelagius, a British monk, and Celestius, an Irishman. 406 Return of the Roman legion to Britain before this year. Revolt of the Roman troops in Britain; Constantine chosen emperor; his departure.

410 In this year, according to some authorities, or in 412, according to others, Britain was finally abandoned by the Romans.

426 A federal monarchy established by the British princes. 449 Vortigern, the federal monarch of Britain, invites the Saxons into Britain against the Picts and Scots.

450 Vortigern cedes Kent to the Saxon chief Hengist. 455 Hengist, the Saxon, founds the kingdom of Kent, having entered into a treaty with the Picts against the Britons. 457 Battle of Crayford, which confirms the establishment of Hengist in Kent.

465 The Britons attack Hengist in Kent, and are defeated. 491 The kingdom of Sussex founded by Ella, a Saxon chief, who had landed in 477, and been defeated by the Britons in 487, and who died in 514.

508 About this time the British king Arthur is supposed to have reigned.

519 Cerdic, a Saxon chief, founds the kingdom of Wessex, and is crowned at Winchester.

526 Erkenwin, a Saxon chief, founds the kingdom of Essex. 530 In this year, or 520, or 511, was fought the famous battle of Bath, in which Arthur defeated the Saxons under Cerdic.

542 Death of Arthur.

547 Ida, a chief of the Angles, lands at Flamborough, and founds the kingdom of Bernicia.

550 Gildas, the author of a Latin work on the destruction of Britain, the most ancient British history extant, was a monk of Bangor about this time.

551 Silkworms introduced into Europe from China. 559 The Saxon kingdom of Beira founded by Ella. 569 Birth of Mohammed.

571 The kingdom of East Anglia founded by Uffa.

A. D.

584 The kingdom of Mercia founded by Crida.

597 Gregory, bishop of Rome, sends missionaries to England for the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons.

609 Mohammed preaches the doctrines of Islam at Mecca. 610 The chief church of London dedicated to St. Paul. 614 Jerusalem taken by the Persians under Chosroes. 622 The Hejira, or flight of Mohammed from Mecca to Medina, on the night of July 15. The era of the Hejira,

or common Mohammedan era, is computed from July 16 in this year.

637 Jerusalem taken by the Saracens.

660 Organs used in churches.

672 Venerable Bede, the English Presbyter, born at Jarrow, near Durham.

685 The Britons driven into Wales and Cornwall by the Saxons.

689 Ina, king of Wessex, visits Rome, establishes an English school there, and imposes upon his subjects for its support a house-tax of one penny, which afterwards became the tribute known as Peter's Pence.

709 Aldhelme, a Saxon writer of Latin poems, died. 727 Foundation of the Pope's temporal power about this time. 735 Venerable Bede died, May 26.

750 The practice of interment in church-yards, introduced into England by Cuthbert, archbishop of Canterbury.

787 The Danes make their first descent upon England on the coast of Northumberland.

800 Charlemagne crowned emperor of the Romans.

Egbert elected king of Wessex.

804 Alcuin, a Saxon writer on theology, history, &c., died. 827 Egbert the Great becomes sole king of England.

833 The Danes land, and are defeated by Egbert at Charmouth in Dorsetshire.

835 The Danes land in Cornwall, and are defeated by Egbert at Hingesdown in Devon.

836 Death of Egbert, and accession of his son Ethelwulph. 849 King Alfred the Great born at Wantage in Berkshire. 85] The northmen winter in the Isle of Thanet for the first

time.

852 The northmen defeated at Ockley by Ethelwulph. 853 Alfred sent by his father to Rome, and anointed king by

the Pope.

855 Ethelwulph, with the sanction of his witenagemot, made that donation to the church which is usually construed as the grant of its tithes.