The General Prologue: context links Timeline

Year	Historical	Literary	Author
1346	Battle of Crecy
1347	England captures Calais
1348	Black Death breaks out in England Order of the Garter established
1350	First paper-mill built in England	Pride of Life Morality play
1352		Winner and Waster alliterative poem
1357			Chaucer enters the household of the Countess of Ulster
1359			Chaucer captured by French soldiers - Edward III contributes to ransom costs
1360		First version of Langland's Piers Plowman appears	Chaucer works as a diplomat in negotiations with the French king 1360s: Chaucer marries Philippa de Roet, has children
1361	Black Death
1362	For the first time, the King addresses parliament in English, not French English declared official language of law courts	Approximate date, Piers Plowman A-text
1365			? late 1360s: Chaucer writes The Book of the Duchess
1367			Chaucer given a life pension by Edward III
1370			1360s - 1370s: Chaucer travels to Italy, ?Spain, Flanders, Paris (-1387) Chaucer's early writings: dream visions, translations Troilus and Criseyde
1373		(-1388) Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love (short and long versions)
1374	Government controlled by John of Gaunt		Chaucer given the post of Controllership of Customs and Subsidy of Wools, Skins and Hides in the Port of London Mid 1370s: Chaucer begins work on The House of Fame
1375		Boccaccio dies
1376	John Wycliffe preaches disendowment of clergy The heir-apparent, the Edward, Prince of Wales, dies	Earliest record of York mystery plays
1377	Richard II becomes king, grandson of Edward III Edward III dies	Approximate date of Piers Plowman B-text	Chaucer appoints a deputy in the customs
1378	Great Schism (-1417), rival popes in Rome and Avignon
1380		Cloud of Unknowing	Early 1380s: Chaucer writes The Parlement of Fowles
1381	Wat Tyler leads the Peasants' Revolt University of Oxford condemns Wycliffe's teachings
1382		Wycliffite complete translation of Bible
1384			Mid 1380s: Chaucer writes Troilus and Criseyde
1385		Gower's Vox Clamantis (L.)
1386		Gower's Confessio Amantis (ME)	Chaucer gives up Controllership of Customs but appointed Knight of the Shire of Kent
1387			Chaucer's (-1400) Canterbury Tales
1388		Wycliffe produces first English translation of the Bible
1389			Richard II appoints Chaucer as Clerk of the Works
1390		1390-93: John Gower writes Confessio Amantis Piers Plowman C-text Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Patience, Cleanness
1391			Chaucer appointed Deputy Forester at Petherton, Somerset
1392		Earliest mention of Coventry plays
1394			Mid 1390s: A large proportion of the Canterbury Tales completed
1399	Richard II overthrown by Henry IV, cousin of Richard II		Henry IV awards Chaucer a new pension. Chaucer moves to a house in the grounds of Westminster Abbey
1400	Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndwr	William Langland dies	Chaucer dies in October

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