Norman Conquest: A History from Beginning to End

Few military conquests lead to truly lasting cultural, political, religious, or societal change. Countries are often occupied by stronger nations, but as those inevitably decline, independence is reasserted and the country usually resumes its previous form. One exception to that is the Norman Conquest of England which took place between 1066 and 1071. At the Battle of Hastings, Duke William of Normandy led his forces to victory over the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II and then suppressed several attempts at rebellion. Within five short years, England was transformed into a nation of Anglo-Saxon peasants ruled by a Norman king and nobles.

Over time, the two cultures gradually became assimilated to form something entirely new, a concept of England and Englishness based on a melding of Anglo-Saxon and Norman influences. The influence of that change can still be seen in Britain today in the form of culture, architecture, laws, and even a unique language that draws from both these sources. It can be argued that the creation of modern Britain can be traced back directly to the Norman Conquest, and many historians herald this as one of the seminal events in European and world history. This is the story of the Norman Conquest.