You can view our original 2d Tower of London timeline [here](http://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/122155/Tower-of-London/).;xNLx;;xNLx;The information for this timeline has primarily been drawn from [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London) and the [Historic Royal Palaces](http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/timeline) websites.;xNLx;;xNLx;
The first structures of what would become the Tower of London are built for William the Conqueror. It is believed they were made from timber, and were replaced by the White Tower when it was built.
Also known as William the Conqueror, William was the cousin of the childless English king Edward the Confessor. It was understood that William had been named as Edward's successor, but Edward named another his successor on his deathbed. William invaded England to claim what he saw as rightly his own, and won.
The White Tower forms the heart of the Tower of London.
William II was the third son of William I - his elder brother inherited Normandy, whilst William II inherited England. According to his contemporary chroniclers, William II was an unpopular king. He died in a hunting accident in 1100, and left behind no heirs.
Henry I was the fourth son of William I, and claimed the English throne on his brother William II's death. He invaded Normandy and imprisoned his eldest brother Robert, putting the two territories under a single ruler again. His only legitimate son died, and he planned to make his daughter Matilda and her husband Geoffrey of Anjou successors, but the throne was claimed by his nephew Stephen instead.
Ranulf Flambard is the first known prisoner of the Tower, and is also the first to escape.
The nephew of Henry I, Stephen ruled over England during a period of civil war known as the Anarchy. Peace was finally achieved when he decided to name Henry II as his successor.
Since Henry I left no legitimate male heirs, a period of civil war between his nephew Stephen and his daughter Matilda broke out. Peace was ultimately reached when Stephen made Matilda's son Henry his successor.
The Constable of the Tower, Geoffrey de Mandeville, sold his allegiance to Matilda when she was gaining during the Anarchy, and then sold his allegiance back to Stephen a year later when Stephen was ahead. When he tried to sell allegiance back to Matilda later, Stephen had him arrested and stripped of his lands and authority.
Henry II's reign was long and eventful, especially given that he ruled over not just England but much of western France. His early reign was defined by restoring lands and government damaged during the Anarchy. His marriage to Eleanor of Aquitane produced five sons and three daughters, which led to problems in his later reign. Several of his sons and his wife revolted against Henry starting in 1172, but Henry prevailed and defeated them by 1175. Two of his five sons eventually ruled England.
