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.
Considering that the series is set during the 20th Century, the best way for the show to accurately depict the time period is to include real-life events that occurred between 1912 and 1926. In addition to creating a more accurate picture of the time, the addition of realhistory within the show also helps to establish how people would have reacted and adapted to such events. Here’s every real-life tragedy that Downton Abbeyincluded in its storylines.
5 The Sinking of the Titanic
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. 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.
4 World War I
One turning point on 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 the War 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, footman and son of a farmer, who sacrificed his life for the good of his country.
3 Spanish Flu
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 Spanish Flue 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 just getting worse. Many characters on Downton Abbey suffered from the Spanish Flu, including matriarch Cora and Lavinia Swire, Matthew’s fiancée. Unfortunately, due to the unpredictability of the illness, Lavinia’s condition worsened and claimed her life.
2 The Teapot Dome Scandal
In Season 4 of Downton Abbey, we finally get 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 the only significant event in American history to make an appearance on Downton Abbey.
1 The Beer Hall Putsch
Michael Gregson was a beloved character by many, who swept Edith off her feet. When Michael magically disappeared, many wondered what happened to him. It is eventually reveal 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 to gain the power he would need to try to conquer Europe in the following decade.
