Ironclad

Ironclad

Year: 2011

Runtime: 121 min

Language: English

Director: Jonathan English

ActionAdventure

During a tumultuous period in medieval England, a group of Knights Templar find themselves defending Rochester Castle against the determined forces of King John. Facing overwhelming odds, they must fight to protect the castle and uphold their principles in a desperate battle for survival, where honor and loyalty are put to the ultimate test.

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Timeline – Ironclad (2011)

Trace every key event in Ironclad (2011) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Magna Carta triggers long struggle and royal backlash

In the prologue, the barons of England, aided by the Knights Templar, wage a war against King John that lasts more than three years. Magna Carta is forced upon the King, granting rights to freemen and limiting royal power. In a later twist, John regrets signing Magna Carta and hires an army of pagan Danish mercenaries led by the warlord Tiberius to restore his absolute authority.

Prologue England
2

Abbot Marcus leads a Templar pilgrimage to Canterbury

Abbot Marcus guides three Templar knights on a pilgrimage toward Canterbury. They seek shelter from the rain at Darnay Castle, where they pause to rest and plan their route. Marshall is assured that his release from the Templar Order will be sought at Canterbury.

During pilgrimage to Canterbury Darnay Castle
3

King John attacks Darnay Castle; baron hanged; Abbot tongue cut

By morning, King John arrives with his army and Danish mercenaries. Baron Darnay signs Magna Carta and is executed in retaliation for his act, while the Abbot is ordered to have his tongue cut out. The castle's defenders are left reeling as the King's power asserts itself.

Morning Darnay Castle
4

Marshall escapes with the Abbot; two knights die; vow broken

Marshall and his two fellow knights fight the Danes to cover a retreat. Marshall escapes on horseback, carrying the wounded Abbot, while the other two knights are slain. The Abbot dies of his wounds, and Marshall breaks his vow of silence to declare that his sacrifice will not be in vain.

During the escape Darnay Castle
5

Canterbury meeting; Langton and d'Aubigny plan to stop John

Marshall reaches Canterbury and meets Archbishop Langton and Baron William d'Aubigny. Langton reveals that the Pope has sided with King John and that he himself faces excommunication for Magna Carta. The trio resolves to stop John at Rochester Castle, a strategic stronghold in the rebellion.

After arrival Canterbury
6

Aubigny recruits allies; depart for Rochester

Aubigny gathers support, recruiting three men along with his squire Guy and the petty criminal Jedediah. A fourth man declines, leaving seven fighters ready to march on Rochester. They depart Canterbury to strike at the stronghold and challenge John's control.

Departure Canterbury region
7

Rochester Castle captured from Danish forces

Arriving at Rochester, Aubigny's party finds Danish mercenaries already inside. They fight and kill the Danes, claiming Rochester Castle for the rebellion, much to Cornhill's displeasure. The castle becomes a new focal point in the struggle against John.

Arrival Rochester Castle
8

John's siege begins; garrison holds initial assault

John's army arrives and lays siege to Rochester Castle. The garrison repels the initial Danish assault, and the siege settles into a grinding contest as resources dwindle. The Archbishop learns that Prince Louis is waiting in France and negotiates with John to hasten an end to the conflict.

Initial siege Rochester Castle
9

Winter hunger and Marshall's forbidden liaison

As winter approaches, hunger gnaws at the defenders. Marshall slips out at night to raid the Danish camp and returns with food to bolster morale. His actions coincide with a forbidden entanglement with Isabel, Cornhill's wife, breaking his Templar vows.

Winter Rochester Castle
10

Tiberius initiates an inside job; second assault

Tiberius orders a new tactic, slipping a small force over the walls to open gates from within. Guy discovers the breach and raises the alarm, but Tiberius leads the assault into the castle grounds, slaughtering the garrison.

Pre-dawn of second assault Rochester Castle
11

Aubigny is executed; Cornhill's fate; the keep is sabotaged

During the second assault, Aubigny is dragged before King John and forced to watch as the hands of two prisoners are chopped off; after a defiant exchange, he meets the same fate and is hurled by the castle trebuchet into a keep wall. Cornhill attempts to surrender but ends his life by hanging. John's engineers have prepared a mine beneath the keep's foundation, using pigs and fat to fuel its destruction.

Second assault Rochester Castle
12

Final stand; relief forces arrive; Tiberius defeated

With the keep crumbling, the last defenders fall; Guy, Isabel, and Marshall remain. Marshall recovers and engages in a savage duel with Tiberius, emerging victorious. The distant horns announce the arrival of the combined English rebel and French army, forcing John and the Danes to retreat in panic.

Final assault Rochester Castle
13

Gates of Rochester; Marshall's meeting with Louis and Langton

At the gates, Marshall meets Prince Louis and Archbishop Langton; Langton proclaims that Marshall is free of the Templar Order. He and Isabel ride away together as Guy salutes the fallen baron and says, 'We held.'

After relief Rochester Castle Gates
14

Epilogue: John's death and Rochester's reconstruction

King John's death occurs during his retreat, and Rochester Castle is rebuilt to stand as a lasting symbol of Magna Carta. The stronghold endures as a testament to the rebellion and the enduring rights won for English freemen.

Epilogue England

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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