Downton Abbey is a historical drama series created and written by Julian Fellowes. Following the lives of the Crawley family as they struggle to keep their estate in their name as well as the lives and struggles of their staff members, Downton Abbey is jam-packed with drama. The PBS series is universally acclaimed and has won a number of prestigious accolades and received a record-breaking 27 nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards. The Downton Abbey series' popularity led to the creation of two sequel films: Downton Abbey and Downton Abbey: A New Era. As the series is set during the early 20th Century, the show accurately covers real major events that occurred between 1912 and 1926 and incorporated them into its captivating storyline.

Updated May 15, 2023: If you enjoyed watching the award-winning historical drama Downton Abbey, then you'll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content.

Skillfully intertwining fact and fiction, Downton Abbey employs real-life tragedies in its captivating storylines. The series anchors itself in the context of historical events, providing a rich canvas for the characters' lives to unfurl. These calamities function as plot elements and encapsulate the human experience during turbulent times, bestowing a sense of genuineness upon the series. By melding these occurrences with the characters' arcs, the show presents a singular outlook on the interplay between societal forces and individual experiences. The meticulous representation of these events further highlights the series' dedication to historical accuracy, enhancing the viewing experience for enthusiasts of both period dramas and history. Here are the biggest historical events that occurred in Downton Abbey.

6 The Sinking of the Titanic

A scene from Downton Abbey
PBS/ITV

In the very first episode of Downton Abbey, the news reaches the Crawley family about the Titanic sinking. Not only does the news shock the family and the staff, but it kick-starts the main plot of the series as the heir to the Downton estate, Patrick Crawley, was aboard the Titanic and did not make it out. Unexpectedly tragic, his demise plunged the Crawley family into an inheritance crisis as the estate's succession plan mandated a male heir. Searching fervently, they discover distant cousin Matthew Crawley, a middle-class solicitor.

Related: Downton Abbey: Every Crawley Family Member, Ranked By Kindness

Matthew and his mother Isobel's entrance ignites the complex dynamics and clashes among family members and the domestic staff of the estate. While the majority of the family got over the death rather quickly, it hit particularly hard for Edith because of her close relationship with Patrick. The Titanic was a tragedy of epic proportions as the giant ship, infamously deemed "unsinkable," sank after hitting an iceberg. With over 1500 fatalities, the sinking of the Titanic was probably one of the most tragic events of the 20th Century.

5 World War I

A scene from Downton Abbey
PBS/ITV

One turning point in the show was the announcement of going to war. It led to the enlistment of many beloved characters like Matthew, Thomas, and William. While not much battlefield action is seen on-screen, we get glimpses of it, giving the audience an idea of what happened on both fronts of the war. Downton Abbey managed to capture the effects of World War I on both soldiers and civilians, as well as the overall consequences WWI had on society as a whole, changing perspectives, particularly on things like small traditions during dinner time. One tragic fatality from the war in Downton Abbey was William, a footman and son of a farmer, who sacrificed his life for the good of his country.

4 Spanish Flu

Lavinia Swire in Downton Abbey
PBS/ITV

One epidemic that many people forget about, considering that it took place during the First World War, was the sudden outbreak of Spanish Influenza. The infectious Spanish Flu infiltrates the Crawley household during Downton Abbey's second season. The Spanish Flu was horrifying for most as it spread like wildfire and claimed the lives of many of its victims. It also snuck up on people, as they would appear to be getting better but, in fact, were getting worse. Many characters on Downton Abbey suffered from the Spanish Flu, including matriarch Cora and Lavinia Swire, Matthew's fiancée.

Related: These Are the Most Heartbreaking Character Deaths in the Downton Abbey TV Series

Unfortunately, due to the unpredictability of the illness, Lavinia's condition worsened and claimed her life. This pivotal event paves the path for Matthew's eventual union with Lady Mary Crawley and results in their intricate romance spanning throughout the series. However, Lavinia's demise due to the disease casts a shadow on Matthew, who grapples with remorse regarding his emotions for Mary and the distressing situation of Lavinia's death. While Downton Abbey concluded its run before the COVID-19 pandemic, any audience member who started the series during lockdown or revisited it likely found many parallels between the Spanish Flu and the COVID-19 pandemic.

3 The Teapot Dome Scandal

Harold Levinson in Downton Abbey 
PBS/ITV

In Season 4 of Downton Abbey, audiences finally got a glimpse into Cora's family, including her mother and her brother Harold. Harold pushes for Robert to come to America to bail him out of his sticky situation, which is only vaguely discussed with Cora mentioning something about Senator Fall. The Teapot Dome Scandal, while not as widely known as the sinking of the Titanic, was an affair that involved Secretary Albert Bacon Fall being bribed into leading Navy Oil reserves at Teapot Dome to private oil companies for immense profit. This is one of the few American-specific events in history to make an appearance on Downton Abbey.

2 The Beer Hall Putsch

Michael Gregson and Edith Pelham in Downton Abbey
PBS/ITV

Michael Gregson was a beloved character by many, who swept Edith off her feet. When Michael magically disappeared, many wondered what had happened to him. It is eventually revealed in season five that Gregson was murdered by "Brownshirts." The Brownshirts were the first Nazis to surface and spread hate and destruction. The event that led to Gregson's death was referred to as the Beer Hall Putsch. In November 1923, Hitler and a group of Brownshirts forced their way into a political meeting in Munich to stage a coup. 16 people were killed at this event, and Hitler made headlines, helping him gain the power he would need to conquer Europe in the following decade.

1 The Talkies

downtonabbeyanewera
Focus Features

Downton Abbey: A New Era features a subplot involving a movie being shot at the titular location, and much talk is made about how silent films are being phased out in favor of movies with sound, known as "talkies.". The movie is set in 1927, the same year The Jazz Singer premiered and ushered in movies with sounds. The topic of sound changing the motion picture industry has been tackled in films like The Artist or Babylon, but what makes Downton Abbey: A New Era interesting is how it tackles the topic in terms of viewers at the time as opposed to the industry.

Grasping the historical context of Downton Abbey is vital to appreciate its intricacy and depth. By exploring the real-life events that marked this era, Downton Abbey affords audiences a deeper understanding of the influences that molded the Crawley family's world and the wider society in which they resided. In achieving this, the show and the two films not only entertain but educate as well, presenting an intriguing glimpse into an era long gone.