The Norman Conquest of England

history · medieval · england · invasion

William's Bold Invasion. William, the Duke of Normandy, sailed across the English Channel with thousands of soldiers from Normandy, France, Flanders, and Brittany. He claimed he had the right to be King of England and decided to take the throne by force.

The Battle of Hastings. On October 14, 1066, William's army fought the English King Harold in a huge battle near a place called Hastings. William won, and King Harold was killed in the fight, which meant William could become the new king.

A New Kind of King. After winning, William became King William I of England, and everyone started calling him William the Conqueror. He brought Norman French culture, language, and ways of ruling to England, which changed the whole country.

Norman Power Spreads. William and the Normans built castles across England to keep control and show their strength. Many of these castles, like the Tower of London, still stand today over 950 years later.

Language Changes Forever. The Norman Conquest mixed English and French together, which is why English today has so many French words. Things like 'pork' and 'beef' come from French, while English people kept using 'pig' and 'cow' for the animals themselves.