Medieval England

The Middle Ages, also called the Medieval period, ran from the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476 to 1485. Throughout this time, and particularly after the Norman Conquest, there was almost continuous warfare. During the Middle Ages, the following took place:

• Annexation of Wales to England
• Scotland remaining independent
• Ireland acknowledging the authority of England

Wars Abroad

Overseas wars during the Middle Ages included:

• Crusades: Religious wars fought to protect the Holy Land.
• The Hundred Years' War: A long conflict with France, lasting 116 years. One of its best-remembered engagements was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The English eventually withdrew from France in the 1450s.

The Black Death and the Decline of Feudalism

The Black Death was a catastrophic plague that arrived in 1348 and killed roughly one-third of the population of England, Scotland, and Wales.