Different Calendar in history

[Henri De Ceredigion]

And don't forget the Julian calendar (introduced by Julius Caesar) which is still used by people in Pembrokeshire to this day http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16487089

[Colin Middleton]

There's also an issue of when the year starts in historic calendars. IIRC the Julian calendar started the year sometime around Easter, which is where our traditional financial year comes from.

[Sophia]

Also don't forget that years were sometimes written according to how long the current sovereign had been on the throne.

e.g. 1556 - Year 3 of Mary I reign (can't remember exactly how it would be written off top of the head).

[Fox]

If only it were all that simple.

Read the chapter on date and time in The Time Travellers Guide to Medieval England;

Simply by travelling round Europe you can change year backwards and forwards, including some very odd variations.

(And you know, we're answering a spam bot. )

[Colin Middleton]

Also don't forget that years were sometimes written according to how long the current sovereign had been on the throne.

e.g. 1556 - Year 3 of Mary I reign (can't remember exactly how it would be written off top of the head).

I think that I've seen " 4th year of the reign of King Edward IV" written.

[Brother Ranulf]

This is why king John was born on 24 December 1166 and 1167 . . .

[Medicus Matt]

In the will of William Bunker (my 11 x Great grandfather) it's set down as:-
"ye last daye of September in the fyfte & vjth yeres of the raigne of oure Soveraigne Lord & Ladye Kynge Phillip & Quene Marye ye date of oure lord god 1558"