14th and 15th Century Key Events: Scottish Independence, Wars, and Revolts

14th Century

Scottish Independence

• 1305: William Wallace killed
• 1314: Battle of Bannockburn - Scotland becomes independent from England under King Robert the Bruce I.

The Hundred Years War (1339-1453)

• The House of Valois
• The House of Plantagenet (or Anjou) - Edward III claims the throne of England and France.

The Black Death (c.1348)

The Black Death affected all of Europe, killing between 30% and 60% of the population. This had a significant impact on the social structure and was one of the worst pandemics in history. It also dealt a blow to the Roman Catholic Church, as their efforts to care for the sick led to infections and blame being directed towards Rome. This also led to the persecution of minorities (Jews, foreigners, beggars, lepers) who were scapegoated as the origin of the disease. Jews were particularly targeted due to the false belief that they poisoned water sources.

1377: Death of Edward III, Accession of Richard II

John Wycliff and the Lollards

John Wycliff translated the Bible into English and is considered a precursor to the Protestant Reformation. He was a dissident within the Catholic Church, and his followers were called Lollards, a nickname for people with no academic background or education only in English. By the mid-15th century, Lollards became synonymous with heretics.

Wycliff advocated for the translation of the Bible into the common tongue to return to the original simplicity in the government of the Church.

The Peasants Revolt (1381)

Led by Watt Tyler, the Peasants Revolt was against the king and the Church and is considered the beginning of trade unionism.

1399: Henry IV

Richard II is deposed, and Henry IV of the House of Lancaster becomes king.

15th Century

The Medici

Henry VI, Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III

• The Princes in the Tower - Richard III (their uncle) becomes king.

1476: William Caxton

William Caxton establishes the first printing press, printing Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory.

Henry V established English as the first language at court in 1413.

Richard (Duke of York) died in the Battle of Wakefield, and his son Edward IV defeated Henry VI in battle and became king of England.

The Gutenberg Bible is published.

The Medici were sponsors of artists and were important in the Renaissance movement in Italy.

Henry VI is restored to the throne, but Edward's supporters killed them. When Edward IV dies, his son Edward V and his brother Richard are imprisoned in the Tower of London by Richard III (their uncle), who then becomes king.