The Shaping of Normandy
900 BC
The Celtic tribes arrive settling the northeast region of France, using the Seine to transport Cornish tin.
58-1 BC
The region Normandy becomes the Roman province of Amorica. Many walled towns are built such as Rotomagus (Rouen), Mediolanum (Evreux), Noviomagus (Lisieux), became outposts of the Roman Empire.
3rd to 5th Centuries AD
Christianity begins to spread throughout the Empire. The Germanic tribes begin their migration.
485 to 500 AD
The Roman Empire begins its decline, whilst the Franks led by Clovis , occupy parts of Normandy.
6th to 8th Centuries AD
Religious centres are founded at St-Wabdrille (649), Jumieges (654), Mont-St-Michel (709).
800 AD
The Vikings or Northmen begin raids on the coastal areas of Normandy.
9th Century AD
Vikings make their way along the Seine River, Making lightening attacks on Rouen and Jumieges in 841 and reach Bayeux in 858.
911 AD
King Charles the Simple king of the Franks accepts the strong Viking presence, making their leader Rollo the first duke of Normandy.
933 AD
Duke William Longsword brings the Cotentin peninsula in to duchy.
1027 AD
Birth of William the Bastard (later the Conqueror) at Falaise, to Duke Robert and Arlette, a laundress and tanner’s daughter.
1066 AD
Duke William invades England, defeating Harold at the battle of Hasting, and becomes King of England.
1087 AD
William the Conqueror dies in Rouen and is interred at the Abbaye Aux Hommes Caen.
1204 AD
King John of England concedes the duchy of Normandy to King Phillipe Auguste of France.
1315 AD
Norman charter gives the region independent tax-raining powers.
1346 AD
King Edward III of England invades Normandy, thus beginning the hundred years war between England and France.
1431 AD
Jeanne d’Arc the saviour of French fortunes is burnt at the stake by the English at Rouen.
1450 AD
Normandy is regained and becomes French territory by King Charles VII of France.
1517 AD
A new port is established at Le Havre by King Francois I.
1589 AD
Following years of religious warfare, Protestant King Henri IV of France defeats the Catholics at Arques and Ivry-la-Bataille.
1598 AD
The Edicts of Nantes grants limited rights to Huguenots, the French Protestants.
1608 AD
Samuel de Champlain sets sail from Honfleur to found Quebec, Canada.
1685 AD
The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV causes the mass emigration Huguenots, which causes a decline in the Norman textile industry.
1789 AD
During the French revolution much of Normandy remains royalist, but the city of Caen becomes a stronghold of the republican Girondin faction.
1793 AD
The Girondins lay siege to the fortress town of Granville, defeating the royalist Chouan defenders.
1806 to 1843 AD
Growth in railway network, and improved transport between Dieppe and Newhaven, England, encourage the development of coastal resorts.
1883 to 1923 AD
Impressionist painter Claude Monet lives and works at Giverny, improving his fine gardens.
1940 AD
The German occupation of Normandy.
1944 AD
The D-Day landings by British, Commonwealth and American forces begins on the 6th June, the Battle of Normandy.
1954 AD
Rene Coty, a native of Le Havre, becomes elected president of the Republic.
1967 AD
On the Cotentin peninsula the La Hague nuclear processing plant opens.
1974 to 1975 AD
Brotonne and Normandie-Maine regional parks are created to ensure rare natural heritage is protected.
1980 AD
Cherbourg harbour is the scene of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior pursuing a vessel carrying nuclear waste.
1994 AD
The Fiftieth anniversary of the D-Day Landings.
1998 AD
The first fast-ferry catamaran is launched on the western channel route.
2004 AD
The Sixtieth anniversary of the D-Day landings. Replicas of the Liberty Bell are installed on all the landing beaches.
2009 AD
Celebration held for the Sixty fifth anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.
