The following is a timeline of the history of the city, university and colleges of Oxford, England.
Pre-history
Activity from the Mesolithic period onwards, attested by archaeological finds across the city. Bronze Age henge and barrow complexes at locations including the University Parks. Bronze Age burials at locations including The Hamel, Radcliffe Infirmary, Banbury Road and several university buildings. Wide-ranging Iron Age and Roman remains, suggesting continued occupation from pre-conquest period into the Roman era.
Recorded history before 12th century
By 727 – Dida of Eynsham establishes a nunnery with Frideswide, perhaps his daughter, as abbess. after 871 – Coins of Alfred the Great are minted with the name of Oxford, as Orsnaforda. 911 – 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.
12th century
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. Original All Saints Church established. Approximate date: St Martin's Church, Carfax built. 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, chancel and crypt 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.
1157 - 8 September: Richard I of England ("the Lionheart") born in Beaumont Palace. c.1160–1180 – St Mary the Virgin, Iffley built. 1166 - 24 December: John, King of England, born in Beaumont Palace. 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.