Normans from France invade and conquer England. The invasion is led by the Duke of Normandy, who comes to be known as William the Conqueror. With the Norman Conquest, the Viking raids and invasions of the British Isles, which have begun with the raid on Lindisfarne Monastery in 793, die out. The new Norman elite take over from and eventually mix with the Anglo-Saxons, who have settled and dominated Britain from around 450 (after the end of Roman rule in 410).
England, under the leadership of King Henry II, invades Ireland. The invasion, sanctioned by the Catholic Church, represents the start of English involvement in Ireland, as the English monarch becomes “Lord of Ireland”. The English expand their power in 1542, when King Henry VIII of England takes on the title of “King of Ireland”. While a separate kingdom with its own parliament until 1800, Ireland is effectively under English control.
Wales is "united and annexed" under the English crown with the Statues of Wales, but maintains a degree of self-rule. In 1535 and 1542 with the Laws in Wales Act, Wales becomes wholly unified with England under the rule of Henry VIII, as the last vestiges of Welsh law are removed.
The East India Company, a stock company initially trading in spices from India, is founded under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. English victory over the Spanish Armada (fleet) in 1588 in connection with the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604) has furthered English exploration of the world and its resources, and trading posts on the west coast of Africa are established in the same period. The East India Company is to become a central part of the expansion of the British Empire, and a major global economic power, its activities amounting to half the world’s trade in the middle of the 18th century.
The Union of Crowns unites England and Scotland when James VI of Scotland inherits the English and Irish thrones as James I, joining them all in a personal union. However, Scotland remains a sovereign state with its own parliament. The first Union Jack flag is created in connection with James’ accession to the throne.
Founding of the English settlement of Jamestown (named after James I) in Virginia in North America as the first permanent English settlement in America. The English colonists establish contact with local Native Americans, and conflicts and war ensue.
The Pilgrims, a group of Puritans fleeing religious persecution in England because they wish to remain separate from the Church of England, set out for North America. Arriving in what they consider a new Promised Land, they establish Plymouth Colony (in present-day Massachusetts) and, subsequently, further colonies are established.
The first English colony in the West Indies is founded on Saint Christopher Island (St Kitts). In the following years, settlements are established all over the area that comes to be known as the British West Indies.
England acquires Bombay (today Mumbai), thus establishing a significant foothold in India. Bombay becomes the seat of the headquarters of the East India Company, which will eventually effectively rule India 1757-1858.
England and Scotland become a united kingdom under the name the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Acts of Union 1707. The establishment of an economic union replaces a number of Scottish laws, and the Parliament of Great Britain in London replaces the Scottish Parliament.
