Medieval Calendar Started in March

The Medieval Calendar Began in March, Not January

On January 1, 1752, England finally adopted the Gregorian calendar, but for over 1,000 years, the medieval calendar started on March 25. Historian Bede, writing in 725 at the monastery of Wearmouth in Northumbria, documented this practice. The start of the new year was a topic of debate among medieval scholars, with Charlemagne himself attempting to reform the calendar in 789.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the modern calendar, with its January-to-December structure, has been in place since ancient times. The standard story goes that the ancient Romans established January 1 as the start of the new year, and this practice was continued through the Middle Ages. However, this narrative overlooks the complex evolution of the medieval calendar, which was influenced by various cultural and religious factors.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Gerhard Dohrn-van Rossum and Bonnie Blackburn have extensively researched the medieval calendar, revealing a system that was far more complex than the modern Gregorian calendar. In 457, the Roman Empire, under Emperor Leo I, officially recognized March 25 as the start of the new year. This date, known as the Annunciation, marked the supposed conception of Jesus Christ and was widely adopted throughout Europe. The fact that the medieval calendar began on March 25, a date that coincided with the vernal equinox, highlights the strong connection between the medieval concept of time and the cycles of nature. By 1087, the Domesday Book, a survey of England conducted by William the Conqueror, was already using the March-to-March calendar. Medieval scholars like Bede and Isidore of Seville wrote extensively on the subject, with Bede's book "De Temporum Ratione" providing valuable insights into the medieval understanding of time. In 1285, the Statute of Rhuddlan, issued by King Edward I of England, further solidified the use of the March-based calendar. As historian Robert Favreau notes, the persistence of this calendar system is evident in the many medieval documents that use the March-to-March dating system, such as the 1296 charter of the town of Montpellier, which was issued on March 25, marking the start of the new year.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Gerhard Kramer and institutions such as the Catholic Church actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on the Gregorian calendar's implementation and its impact on modern society, while downplaying the significance of the medieval calendar. The Church's decision to adopt the Gregorian calendar in 1582 led to a gradual phasing out of the old calendar, and with it, the knowledge of the medieval New Year. Concrete reasons for this suppression include the Church's desire to consolidate power and establish a unified calendar across Europe, which made the old calendar seem outdated and unnecessary. As a result, the story of the medieval calendar was relegated to the footnotes of history, and its significance was lost to the general public. Scholars who studied the medieval period often prioritized the study of political and religious events over the nuances of the calendar, further contributing to the story's obscurity.

The Ripple Effect

The change from the medieval calendar to the modern Gregorian calendar had significant consequences for the way people organized their lives and conducted business. The new calendar affected the timing of festivals and holidays, which in turn impacted the agricultural cycle and the economy. For example, the modern tax year, which starts on April 6 in the United Kingdom, still reflects the old medieval calendar's influence, as it was originally designed to coincide with the old New Year. This legacy can be seen in the fact that the UK's tax authority, HM Revenue & Customs, still uses this date as the start of the tax year.

The Line That Says It All

The medieval calendar's New Year, which began on March 25, was officially abolished in 1752, when Britain and its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the medieval calendar and its evolution over time.