Timeline of Celtic History
	by Alexei Kondratiev
1100 BC
ca. 1100 BCE	Emergence of original Celtic culture in Central Europe; "Urnfields" period
ca. 900-800 BCE	Celtic culture spreads west to Atlantic coast, Spain, Britain and Ireland
ca. 800 BCE	Beginning of Celtic Iron Age; influence of Eastern equestrian cultures
650 BCE	Beginning of "Halstatt" period
600 BCE	Foundation of Massalia (Marseilles) by Greeks on south Gaulish coast, creating major trade conduit
450 BCE	Overthrow of political power centres in Central European Celtic heartland. Beginning of "La Tene" period. Spread of Celts (Boii) east into Bohemia
400 BCE	Gaulish settlement of North Italy
390 BCE	Celtic raids south through Italy. July 18: Dies Alliensis, Romans defeated on the banks of the Allia. Gauls sack Rome
380 BCE	Celts invade and settle Balkans
335 BCE	Alexander the Great meets Balkan Celtic emissaries on the Danube
281 BCE	Celtic raids into Thrace: establishment of Celtic kingdom of Tylis (on Black Sea)
279 BCE	Celtic raid into Greece: sack of Delphi
278-7 BCE	Landless Celtic tribes settle in Asia Minor at invitation of King Nicomedes of Bithynia: beginning of "Galatia"
232 BCE	Defeat of Galatians by Attalus of Pergamum ("Dying Gaul" monument)
225 BCE	Major defeat of North Italian Celtic coalition by Romans at Telamon
212 BCE	Destruction of Tylis
191 BCE	Defeat of Boii: end of Celtic resistance to Rome in Italy
179-8 BCE	Conquest of Celtic Spain by Tiberius Gracchus; widespread massacres
154 BCE	Revolt of Iberian Celts under Viriathus
149-6 BCE	Third Punic War: Celts play important role as allies of Carthage
133 BCE	Fall of Numantia: end of Celtic resistance to Rome in Spain
123 BCE	After Romans conquer, southern Gaulish tribes and Greek trading cities on Mediterra-nean coast of Gaul, the "Province" is established
88 BCE	Massacre of Galatian aristocracy at orders of Mithridates IV
60-59 BCE	Eastern European Celts decimated by Dacian king Burebista
58-51 BCE	Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul, culminating in defeat of Vercingetorix
54 BCE	Unsuccessful invasion of Britain by Romans. Germans begin to occupy many Celtic lands north and east of the Rhine
27 BCE	Establishment of Roman Empire
15 BCE	Kingdom of Noricum (Austria) annexed by Romans
15-9 BCE	Roman conquest of Balkan and Danubian Celts
20 CE	Gaulish revolt under Sacrovir and Florus
43-51 CE	Roman conquest of Britain, ending with betrayal of Caratacus
59-60 CE	Revolt of Vindex and Civilis. End of Celtic resistance to Rome in Gaul
60 CE	British revolt under Boudicca. Destruction of Druid centre on Mona by Suetonius Paulinus
84 CE	Battle of Mons Graupius: Agricola defeats northern British tribes. End of Celtic resis-tance to Rome in Britain (although Romans later abandon North)
319 CE	Edict of Milan: emancipation of Christians in Roman Empire
ca. 350 CE	Beginnings of Celtic Christianity. First British settlers in Armorica (later Brittany)
410 CE	Sack of Rome by Visigoths. Political turmoil in Roman Empire: Britain abandoned by Roman legions
440 CE	English invade Britain
ca. 450 CE	North British tribes re-establish Celtic rule in Wales
475 CE	End of Western Roman Empire
ca. 500 CE	Kingdom of Dal Riada (eventually Scotland) established in Britain by Irish settlers from Ulster
560 CE	First Christian High King in Ireland

563 CE	Establishment of Iona by Colm Cille
575 CE	Assembly of Druim Ceat in Ireland: Colm Cille argues for retention of pre-Christian bardic institutions within Christianised framework
577 CE	Battle of Dyrham: English victories separate Celts of Devon and Cornwall from Celts of Wales
590 CE	Columbanus goes to Gaul: beginning of Celtic Christian missions to Continent
597 CE	Augustine of Canterbury (Roman emissary to evangelise the English) alienates British Celtic Christians. Death of Colm Cille
603 CE	Synod of Chalon-sur-Saone: first major clash between Celtic Christians and Roman Church hierarchy
615 CE	Battle of Chester, massacre of Celtic Christians at Bangor Is y Coed: English cut Celts of Wales away from North British kingdoms
635 CE	Irish mission to English of Northumbria. Foundation of Lindisfarne by Aidan
655 CE	English conquer Celtic kingdom of Elmet (now Yorkshire). Swift disappearance of other North British kingdoms
660 CE	Synod of Whitby: Celtic Christians over-ruled by Roman Church in Northumbria
685 CE	Battle of Nechtansmere prevents English invasion of Pictland
712 CE	Iona submits to Roman Church demands
736 CE	War of the Scots and Picts
793 CE	Beginning of Viking invasions
802-6 CE	Iona destroyed by Vikings (in several raids). Decline of Celtic monasticism
841 CE	Beginning of Viking settlements in Ireland
843 CE	Union of Scotland and Pictland under Kenneth MacAlpine
851 CE	Battle of Ballon: native chieftain Nomenoe defeats Franks, ensures independence for Brittany
913 CE	Viking raids destroy Landevennek, main centre of Celtic monasticism in Brittany. Native manuscripts lost
927 CE	English establish protectorate over Cornwall

946 CE	Cornwall comes under English crown
981 CE	Viking raids destroy Celtic Christian centres in Cornwall; English (Roman Church) founda-tions replace them
1014 CE	Battle of Clontarf: defeat of Vikings of Dublin. Beginning of assimilation of Viking settlements into Celtic society
1066 CE	Normans under William the Conqueror invade Britain
1070 CE	Malcolm III of Scotland marries Margaret of England, who fights to purge the Scottish church of Celtic customs. Decline of Gaelic influence as southern elites adopt English language (helped by English refugees from Norman invasion)
1081 CE	Beginning of Norman settlement in Wales
1140 CE	Malachi founds Cistercian abbey of Mellifont. Implantation of continental religious orders with for-eign hierarchy stifles native forms of Christianity in Ireland
1149-52 CE	Synod of Kells: all differences between Celtic Irish and Roman church are abolished. End of Celtic Christianity
1169 CE	Beginning of Norman rule in Ireland
1282 CE	Death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd, last native ruler of Wales. Wales comes under Anglo-Norman rule
1286-1320 CE	Norman expansionism; William Wallace, Robert the Bruce; Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 decisively sets back English invasion
1348 CE	Black Death devastates and destabilises Europe, including Celtic lands
1366 CE	Statutes of Kilkenny forbid Anglo-Normans in Ireland to follow Celtic customs: largely ignored
1400 CE	Welsh revolt under Owain Glyn Dwr
1411 CE	Scottish Gaelic revolt against Lowlander rule defeated at Harlaw
1485 CE	Tudors establish modern English state
1488 CE	Battle of St-Aubin-du-Cormier: Bretons defeated by French
1491 CE	Charles VIII of France marries Anne of Brittany: forced Union of Crowns
1497 CE	Cornish revolt under Thomas Flamank and Myghal an Gov
1532 CE	Treaty of Union between Brittany and France (Brittany to retain its native parliament and laws)
1536 CE	Annexation of Wales by England: Welsh language and customs proscribed
1541 CE	Annexation of Ireland by England
1553 CE	Beginning of Leinster Plantation
1570 CE	Beginning of Ulster Plantation
1603 CE	Flight of the Earls: after an unsuccessful rebellion, Ireland loses its native aristocracy and the main sustainers of its native institutions. James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England: Union of Crowns
1609 CE	Statutes of Iona: Gaelic language and customs lose all official status in Scotland
1649 CE	Cromwellian massacres in Ireland
1675 CE	"Red Bonnets" revolt in Brittany. Severe repression
1695 CE	Penal Laws take away civil rights of Catholics in Ireland
1707 CE	Abolition of Scottish Parliament
1746 CE	Battle of Culloden: destruction of clan system in Gaelic Scotland
1790 CE	Abolition of Breton Parliament
1792 CE	Iolo Morganwg creates Welsh Gorsedd
1798 CE	Revolt of United Irishmen
1800 CE	Abolition of Irish Parliament
1838 CE	First Pan-Celtic assembly at Abergavenny Eisteddfod in Wales
1839 - 49 CE	Lady Charlotte Guest publishes her translation of the Mabinogion
1845-9 CE	The Great Famine in Ireland: severe blow to native culture
ca. 1850 CE	The Highland Clearances: Gaelic Scotland loses much of its population
1893 CE	Gaelic League founded in Ireland
1900 CE	Henry Jenner launches Cornish language revival
1901 CE	First Pan-Celtic Congress in Dublin
1916 CE	Easter Rising in Ireland
1921 CE	Partition of Ireland: creation of Free State, followed by Civil War
1944-6 CE	Major persecution of all Breton cultural activities by French government (on pretext of punishing Nazi collaborators). Decline of Breton culture follows
1949 CE	Free State becomes Republic of Ireland
1962 CE	Formation of militant Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society)
1977 CE	First Diwan (Breton language) schools in Brittany
1997 CE	Scotland votes to restore its Parliament; Wales votes for an Assembly