Timeline of British diplomatic history

This timeline covers the main points of British (and English) foreign policy from 1485 to the early 21st century.

See the full list at Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

After years of conflict, Spain and England sign the Treaty of London, 29 August 1604. ( painting )
President Cleveland twists the tail of the British Lion regarding Venezuela—a policy hailed by Irish Catholics in the United States; cartoon in Puck by J.S. Pughe, 1895
The battleship HMS Royal Sovereign , 1896
A 1904 French postcard showing Britannia and Marianne happily dancing together, celebrating the new spirit of co-operation in the "entente cordiale"
The Triple Entente formed 1907 (in grey) versus the Triple Alliance of 1882–1914, shown in red.
British Empire in 1921