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1300-1000 BC

The known era of Proto-Celtic (Common Celtic).

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1000-950 BC

Proto-Celtic splits into two groups: Celtiberian and
Gaulish-Brittonic-Goidelic.

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750 BC

The first known Celtic civilisation is established at
Hallstat in Austria.

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Ancient Greeks record that traders from Hallstat refer
to themselves as "Keltoi".

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600 BC

Celtiberians settle in Spain.

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6th Century BC

The Celtic La Tene civilisation is established in
Switzerland.

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The Lepontic language is established.

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Celts arrive in Gaul.

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Celts arrive in Britain from around the River Rhine.
Common Brythonic is established.

Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3

Celts begin settling Ireland, starting with the Builg.

Reference 1, Reference 2

387 BC

Celts defeat the Romans in battle. The Romans refer to
them as "Celtae."

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300 BC

Celts settle in Moravia.

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Laginian Celts arrive in Ireland.

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3rd Century BC

The Celtic Galatian language is established in north-
central Anatolia.

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100 BC

Gaelic Celts arrive in Ireland from Gaul.

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1st Century BC

Julius Caesar reports that the Celtic Gauls (inhabiting
Gallia Celtica, now central France) refer to themselves
as "Celtae" and that they are distinct from the people
occupying the other two regions of Gaul: Gallia Belgica
and Gallia Aquitania.

Reference 1, Reference 2

47 AD

Romans conquer Celtic Britain.

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74 AD

Romans have taken over all Celtic territory in Central
Europe.

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98 AD

Tacitus writes Agricola in which he mentions the close
cultural similarity between the Gauls and British and the
British and Irish.

Reference 1, Reference 2

100-600 AD

Primitive Irish period.

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122 AD

Romans build Hadrian's Wall to separate Roman-
controlled Britain from Celtic-controlled Britain.

Reference 1, Reference 2

4th Century AD

St. Jerome’s Commentaries on Galatians, Titus, and
Philemon describes the Galatian language as very
similar to that of the Gaulish Treveri tribe.

Reference 1, Reference 2

5th Century AD

Romans leave Britain and the whole of the island
becomes Celtic-controlled once more (410 AD).

Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3

Franks and Burgundians conquer Gaul.

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Emigrants from Southern Britain emigrate to
Armorica (includes what is now Brittany).

Reference 1, Reference 2

Late 5th Century AD - 6th Century AD

Gaulish becomes extinct and is replaced by a Latin
dialect. British settlers resist the spread of the dialect.

Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3, Reference 4

6th Century AD

Anglo-Saxons conquer Southeastern Britain (520 AD).

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The battle at Catraeth occurs as described in "Y
Gododdin." The charge is led by the Old North kingdom
of Gododdin and is allied with the Old North kingdom of
Elmet, Cornish kings, Pictish kings, and at least
one Germanic chieftain. These allies fought against Germanic
forces encroaching upon Celtic territory.

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Common Brythonic is split into Welsh, Cornish, Breton,
Cumbric, and possibly Pictish.

Reference 1, Reference 2

600-725 AD

Archaic Irish period.

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725-950 AD

Old Irish period.

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750 AD

The Anglo-Saxons occupy most of modern-day England. The
Brythonic languages in this area persist in the form of
Cornish, Cumbric and Welsh in the Southwest, the
Northwest, the Northeast, the West Midlands, and
Yorkshire.

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9th Century AD

Pictland merges with Dál Riata (Gaelic-speaking) to
form the Kingdom of Alba. Pictish becomes extinct.

Reference 1, Reference 2

Old Breton period (800-1200 AD).

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Early Welsh period ends and Old Welsh period begins
(850 AD).

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10th Century AD

The Gaelic dialects begin to diverge.

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Middle Irish period (950-1250 AD).

Reference 1, Reference 2

Cornwall is conquered by the West Saxons (936 AD).

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1018

The kingdom of Strathclyde collapses.

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12th century

Cumbric becomes extinct

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Middle Welsh develops (1100 AD).

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13th Century - 16th Century

Middle Cornish period.

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1250 AD

Modern Irish is established.

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1350-1660 AD

Middle Breton period.

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1500 AD

Modern Welsh period.

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17th Century - 18th Century

Late Cornish period.

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18th Century

Edward Lhuyd uses the term "Celts" to describe and
ethnolinguistically link Britons and Gauls.

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1974

Manx becomes extinct.

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