page_title: Timeline of Oxford
section_title: Recorded history, prior to 13th century
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of Oxford / Recorded history, prior to 13th century
context_page_description: The following is a timeline of the history of the city, University and colleges of Oxford, England.
context_section_description: By 727 – Dida of Eynsham establishes a nunnery with Frideswide, perhaps his daughter, as abbess.
  911 – First mention of Oxford, as Oxnaforda, under the authority of Edward the Elder, King of Wessex.
  979 – Vikings burn Oxford.
  1002 – 13 November: St. Brice's Day massacre of Vikings: Monastery of St Frideswide destroyed.
  1004 – First bridge over the River Cherwell east of the town centre (on the site of modern-day Magdalen Bridge) is in existence.
  1009 – 1 August: Vikings burn Oxford.
  1015 – Early: Sigeferth and Morcar, chief thegns of the Five Boroughs of the Danelaw, come to an assembly in Oxford where they are murdered by Eadric Streona.
  1018 – Cnut the Great attends a Witenagemot at Oxford at which he is recognised as king of England.
  1022 – Witenagemot held at Oxford to translate the laws of England into Latin and apply them equally within England and the Danelaw.
  1026 – Witenagemot held at Oxford.
  1036 – Council of Oxford (a Witenagemot) declares Harold Harefoot regent of England for his half-brother Harthacanute.
  c. 1040–50 – Tower of St Michael at the North Gate completed.
  1071–73 – Oxford Castle erected as a motte-and-bailey by Norman baron Robert D'Oyly.
  1074
  St George's tower at the castle is built in stone (it may have Saxon origins), including a chapel for a college of secular canons.
  First stone of St Mary Magdalen's Church, built by D'Oyly, is laid.
  c. 1085 – First stone bridge over the River Thames at Grandpont (modern-day Folly Bridge) is built by D'Oyly.
  1088 – Curia regis held at Oxford by William II of England.
  1096 – Academic teaching at Oxford is recorded.
  c. 1100 – Construction of St Lawrence, North Hinksey as a chapel begins.
  c. 1110 – Priory of St Nicholas, Littlemore, established.
  1122 – Priory of St Frideswide established.
  1126 – Leper hospital and St Bartholomew's Chapel (Bartlemas), Cowley, established by Henry I.
  1129 – Osney Abbey established as a priory by Robert D'Oyly the younger. It is raised to abbey status in 1154.
  c. 1130–60 – Nave and chancel of St Peter-in-the-East built.
  1131 – Godstow nunnery established.
  1133
  Easter: King Henry I is in residence at his new Beaumont Palace.
  Robert Pullen, an English theologian, teaches in Oxford.
  1136 – April: Curia regis held at Oxford by the new king Stephen, attended by Theobald of Bec.
  1138 – Major fire.
  1139
  Curia regis held at Oxford.
  Temple Cowley founded by Matilda of Boulogne for the Knights Templar.
  1141 – 24 June: The Anarchy: Empress Matilda is forced to flee from Westminster to Oxford.
  1142 – The Anarchy
  26 September: King Stephen captures Oxford and besieges Matilda inside the castle.
  December: Matilda escapes from Oxford Castle across the snow in a white cape for camouflage.
  c.1160–1180 – St Mary the Virgin, Iffley built.
  1167 – Increased enrolment at Oxford after English students are barred from attending the University of Paris.
  1177
  May: Council of Oxford on governance of Ireland.
  Jewish cemetery.
  1185 – Curia regis held at Beaumont Palace by Henry II.
  c. 1187–1188 – Gerald of Wales reads his Topographia Hibernica to a large academic audience in Oxford.
  1190
  First known foreign scholar commences study at Oxford, Emo of Friesland.
  Major fire.
  By 1191 – Burgesses are using the first known corporate town seal in England.
  1193 – The inn later to become the Golden Cross is in existence.
  1194 – St Mary Magdalen's Church rebuilt by Bishop Hugh of Lincoln.
caption: St George's Tower of the Castle
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