{"slug": "river-thames", "label": "River Thames", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19686", "qid": "Q19686", "description": "river in southern England", "entries": 33, "years": 33, "span": [-399, 1989], "span_label": ["400 BCE", "1989 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 11}, {"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 7}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 5}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 3}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 2}, {"title": "Disasters & Accidents", "count": 2}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 1}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 1}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "london", "label": "London", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "wessex", "label": "Wessex", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "london-bridge", "label": "London Bridge", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "mercia", "label": "Mercia", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "essex", "label": "Essex", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "university-of-oxford", "label": "University of Oxford", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "france", "label": "France", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-east-anglia", "label": "Kingdom of East Anglia", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "guthrum", "label": "Guthrum", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "edward-the-confessor", "label": "Edward the Confessor", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "william-shakespeare", "label": "William Shakespeare", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "england", "label": "England", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -399, "year_label": "400 BCE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "London has its origins on a rise above marshy waters at the point where the Walbrook joins the River Thames. The Celtic king, Belin, rebuilds an earth wall surrounding a few dozen huts and orders a small landing place to be cut into the south side of the wall, along the river front, where a wooden quay is built (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361270863#By_place", "title": "400 BC", "revid": 1361270863, "section": "Events › By place"}}, {"year": 50, "year_label": "50 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "Romans build a wooden bridge across the Thames in the London area.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373339620#Britain", "title": "50s", "revid": 1373339620, "section": "Events › 50 AD › Britain"}}, {"year": 675, "year_label": "675 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "King Wulfhere of Mercia dies after a 17-year reign, in which he has extended his sway over much of England south of the Humber River, including Essex, Surrey, and part of Wessex north of the Thames. Wulfhere is succeeded by his brother Æthelred.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340805588#Britain", "title": "675", "revid": 1340805588, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 690, "year_label": "690 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "King Oswine of Kent is toppled by Wihtred, brother of the late king Eadric of Kent, after a 2-year reign. He takes his lands north of the River Thames, in revenge against the East Saxons (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340806273#Britain", "title": "690", "revid": 1340806273, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 870, "year_label": "870 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Danes, led by Halfdan Ragnarsson and Bagsecg, invade Wessex and take the royal estate at Reading (Berkshire), which Halfdan makes his headquarters. A naval Viking contingent sails up the Thames River.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341129562#Britain", "title": "870", "revid": 1341129562, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 871, "year_label": "871 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Danes sail down the River Thames, to raid the Mercian port of Lundenwic (in the London area). Here, over the winter, they divide their spoils.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341129558#Europe", "title": "871", "revid": 1341129558, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 879, "year_label": "879 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Viking leader Guthrum becomes 'king' of East Anglia. A Viking fleet sails up the River Thames, and builds a camp at Fulham (near London) to prepare for an invasion of France.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1348046041#Britain", "title": "879", "revid": 1348046041, "section": "Events › By place › Britain"}}, {"year": 957, "year_label": "957 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Mercia and Northumbria rebel against King Eadwig and switch their allegiance to his brother Edgar. The English nobles (in support of the church) agree to divide the kingdom along the Thames River, with Eadwig keeping Wessex and Kent in the south and Edgar ruling in the north. Edgar's advisers recall Dunstan from Flanders (see 956).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341512729#England", "title": "957", "revid": 1341512729, "section": "Events › By place › England"}}, {"year": 991, "year_label": "991 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 11", "text": "August 11: Following a raid by Olaf Tryggvason at the mouth of the River Thames, ealdorman Byrhtnoth is killed in the Battle of Maldon in Essex, which is commemorated in the Old English poem The Battle of Maldon. Æthelred the Unready is forced to pay a tribute of 22,000 pounds of silver for Tryggvason to withdraw his troops; this is the first in a series of Danegelds.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365261005#Events", "title": "991", "revid": 1365261005, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1052, "year_label": "1052 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Godwin, Earl of Wessex, sails with a large fleet up the Thames to London, forcing King Edward the Confessor to reinstate him into his previous position of power.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350127696#England", "title": "1052", "revid": 1350127696, "section": "Events › By place › England"}}, {"year": 1142, "year_label": "1142 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "December", "text": "December – Stephen lays siege to Oxford Castle, trapping Matilda and her supporters inside the city. Just before Christmas she manages to escape across the snow and ice of the frozen Thames River – dressed in white (to get past Stephen's pickets), and safely reaches Abingdon. The next day Oxford Castle surrenders to Stephen, Matilda rides with an escort to Wallingford Castle, where she seeks refuge.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362174122#England", "title": "1142", "revid": 1362174122, "section": "Events › By place › England"}}, {"year": 1212, "year_label": "1212 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "July 10", "text": "July 10 – The Great Fire: The most severe of several early fires of London burns most of the city to the ground; over 3,000 people die, many of them by drowning in the River Thames. According to a contemporary account: \"An awful fire broke out on the Southwark side of London Bridge; while it was raging, a fire broke out at the other end also and so hemmed in the numerous crowds who had assembled to help the distressed. The sufferers, to avoid the flames, threw themselves over the bridge into boats and barges; but many of these sunk, the people crowding into them.\".", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354428304#England", "title": "1212", "revid": 1354428304, "section": "Events › By place › England"}}, {"year": 1215, "year_label": "1215 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "June 15", "text": "June 15 – A large number of barons, led by Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury, meet King John of England on an island in the Thames at Runnymede. They force John to sign Magna Carta, a document that grants liberties to the \"free men\" – the Barons, the church and the towns. He is subjected to the rule of law, by confirming the status of trial by jury, on June 19.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359458031#Europe", "title": "1215", "revid": 1359458031, "section": "Events › By continent › Europe"}}, {"year": 1220, "year_label": "1220 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "Spring – King Henry III makes large alterations to the Tower of London including new curtain walls, an improved water-filled ditch, and a water gate, so that he can enter the castle directly from the Thames.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360552842#United_Kingdom", "title": "1220", "revid": 1360552842, "section": "Events › By place › United Kingdom"}}, {"year": 1599, "year_label": "1599 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "February 21", "text": "February 21 – At Southwark, near London on the south bank of the River Thames, the land upon which the Globe Theatre will be built is leased by Nicholas Brend to a team of investors led by William Shakespeare, Thomas Pope, actors Cuthbert and Richard Burbage, and three others.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373325746#January–March", "title": "1599", "revid": 1373325746, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1606, "year_label": "1606 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "December 19", "text": "December 19 – The Susan Constant sets out from the River Thames in England leading the Virginia Company's fleet for the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369561009#October–December", "title": "1606", "revid": 1369561009, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1652, "year_label": "1652 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 8", "text": "October 8 – First Anglo-Dutch War: Battle of the Kentish Knock – In a battle fought near the shoal called the Kentish Knock in the North Sea, about 30 km mi from the mouth of the River Thames, the Dutch are forced to withdraw.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367149733#October–December", "title": "1652", "revid": 1367149733, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1683, "year_label": "1683 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "December", "text": "December – The River Thames in England freezes, allowing a frost fair to be held.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366000368#October–December", "title": "1683", "revid": 1366000368, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1684, "year_label": "1684 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "January 15", "text": "January 15 (January 5 O.S.) – To demonstrate that the River Thames, frozen solid during the Great Frost that started in December, is safe to walk upon, \"a Coach and six horses drove over the Thames for a wager\" and within three days \"whole streets of Booths are built on the Thames and thousands of people are continually walking thereon.\" Sir Richard Newdigate, 2nd Baronet, records the events in his diary.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366005630#January–March", "title": "1684", "revid": 1366005630, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1701, "year_label": "1701 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": "May 23", "text": "May 23 – Scottish-born Captain William Kidd, having been imprisoned in Boston Gaol (Massachusetts) and Newgate Prison (London) and convicted by the High Court of Admiralty of piracy and the murder of one of his crew, is hanged at Execution Dock in Wapping (London). His body suffers gibbeting over the River Thames at Tilbury Point; ballads are already spreading the legend that he has left buried treasure in the Americas.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366683505#April–June", "title": "1701", "revid": 1366683505, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1719, "year_label": "1719 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "June 18", "text": "June 18 – Captain John Perry fixes the Dagenham Breach of the River Thames in England.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365415998#April–June", "title": "1719", "revid": 1365415998, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1726, "year_label": "1726 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 2", "text": "March 2 – In London, a night watchman finds a severed head by the River Thames; it is later recognized to be that of the husband of Catherine Hayes. She and an accomplice are later executed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372345509#January–March", "title": "1726", "revid": 1372345509, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1729, "year_label": "1729 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "November 29", "text": "November 29 – The first (wooden) Putney Bridge is completed, as the only fixed crossing of the River Thames between London Bridge and Kingston, England.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368871381#October–December", "title": "1729", "revid": 1368871381, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1839, "year_label": "1839 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "March 26", "text": "March 26 – The first Henley Royal Regatta is held on the River Thames in England.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360384794#January–March", "title": "1839", "revid": 1360384794, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1843, "year_label": "1843 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "March 25", "text": "March 25 – Marc Isambard Brunel's Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel under the River Thames and the world's first bored underwater tunnel, is opened in London for pedestrians.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366016136#January–March", "title": "1843", "revid": 1366016136, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1845, "year_label": "1845 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "May 19", "text": "May 19 – HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, with 134 men, comprising Sir John Franklin's expedition to find the Northwest Passage, sail from Greenhithe on the Thames. They will last be seen in the summer, entering Baffin Bay.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364939346#April–June", "title": "1845", "revid": 1364939346, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1869, "year_label": "1869 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "August 27", "text": "August 27 – The University of Oxford wins the first international boat race held on the River Thames, against Harvard University.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360511845#August", "title": "1869", "revid": 1360511845, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 1870, "year_label": "1870 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "August 2", "text": "August 2 – The Tower Subway beneath the River Thames in London, the world's first underground passenger \"tube\" railway, officially opens. Although this lasts as a railway operation only until November, it demonstrates the technologically successful first use of the cylindrical wrought iron tunnelling shield, devised by Peter W. Barlow and James Henry Greathead, and of a permanent tunnel lining of cast iron segments.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362496807#August", "title": "1870", "revid": 1362496807, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 1878, "year_label": "1878 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "September 3", "text": "September 3 – Over 640 die when the crowded pleasure boat collides with the Bywell Castle in the River Thames.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365252865#September", "title": "1878", "revid": 1365252865, "section": "Events › September"}}, {"year": 1880, "year_label": "1880 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "March 20", "text": "March 20 – For the first and last time in its history, the annual side-by-side rowing race between the 8-member teams of University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge on the River Thames is postponed. The call comes because of a thick fog that makes visibility impossible. Two days later, Oxford wins the race by 3+3⁄4 lengths.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371273111#March", "title": "1880", "revid": 1371273111, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1897, "year_label": "1897 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "May 22", "text": "May 22 – The Blackwall Tunnel, at this time the longest underwater road tunnel in the world, is opened for traffic beneath the River Thames in the East End of London by the Prince of Wales.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362850810#May", "title": "1897", "revid": 1362850810, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1904, "year_label": "1904 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "September 2", "text": "September 2 – John Voss sails the rigged dugout canoe Tilikum into the River Thames in England after a 3-year voyage from Victoria, British Columbia, westabout.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373337754#September", "title": "1904", "revid": 1373337754, "section": "Events › September"}}, {"year": 1989, "year_label": "1989 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "August 20", "text": "August 20 – Marchioness disaster: Fifty-one people die when a pleasure boat collides with a dredger on the River Thames adjacent to Southwark Bridge in London.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369557705#August", "title": "1989", "revid": 1369557705, "section": "Events › August"}}]}