The Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the Thames in central London. Its beginnings date to 1066, when William the Conqueror, after winning the Battle of Hastings, began building fortifications to control the city. The great stone keep, the White Tower, was built in the following decades, and later kings added walls and towers around it. Over the centuries it served as a royal residence, armory, mint, menagerie and prison, and was the site of the imprisonment and execution of figures such as Anne Boleyn. It now houses the Crown Jewels and is guarded by the Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist attraction.
Before and after
- 1059Construction of Florence Baptistery
- 1060Origins of Baphuon
- 1062Origins of Margat
- from 1065 to 1833Kingdom of Castile
- 1066Construction of Tower of London
- 20 September 1066Battle of Fulford
- from 28 September 1066 to 1 January 1075Norman conquest of England
- 14 October 1066Battle of Hastings
- 30 December 10661066 Granada Anti-Jewish massacre
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 691 CEConstruction of Dome of the Rock
- 8th centuryConstruction of Borobudur Temple
- from 1368 to 1644Ming dynasty
- from 1370 to 1789Construction of Bastille
- from 1438 to 1533Inca Empire
- 1473Construction of Sistine Chapel
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 11th century.