Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest changed the history of England forever. It began in the 11th century with an invasion by a large army. This force included many troops from Normandy, France, Flanders, and Brittany. They were led by the Duke of Normandy, who later became known as William the Conqueror.

William believed he had a right to the English throne. He claimed King Edward the Confessor had promised it to him. Edward was a king who had no children of his own. When Edward died in January 1066, a struggle for power began.

To understand the Normans, we must look at their past. Long ago, in 911, a French ruler named Charles the Simple allowed Vikings to settle in Normandy. Their leader was a man named Rollo. These settlers became known as the "Northmen," which is where the names Normandy and Normans come from. Over time, these people changed their culture. They became Christians and began speaking a version of French. They mixed their own language with Old French to create the Norman language.

In 1066, two different invasions threatened the new English king, Harold Godwinson. First, the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada invaded northern England in September. He brought a fleet of about 300 ships and many men. Harold Godwinson rushed north to meet him. The English won a victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25. However, this battle was very hard on the English army.

The soldiers were tired and far from the southern coast. They had to march quickly to face a new threat.

Just three days after the battle in the north, William's fleet landed in the south. They arrived at Pevensey in Sussex on September 28. William's army was made of many different types of soldiers. It included foot soldiers, archers, and cavalry riders on horses. Historians have different ideas about how many men he had. Some say his force was around 7,000 or 8,000 men.

On October 14, the two sides met at the Battle of Hastings. William's army won the battle, and King Harold was killed. This allowed William to become the new king of England.

William had to work hard to keep control of his new kingdom. He gave much of the land to his own followers. He also built many strong castles to hold important spots in the land.

By the year 1086, he completed a massive survey called the Domesday Book. This was a giant record of much of England and parts of Wales. The conquest also brought new ways of speaking and governing. A French dialect became the language used by the leaders. Even village life changed as slavery was formally ended in the land.