Date post: | 15-Jul-2015 |
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The Norman Conquest of England
What’s important about 1066?
Marks the end of the Viking Age
Led to the development of a centralized, feudal
state in England
The beginning of a long conflict between the
English and the French
The Normans
The Normans were
the descendants of a
group of Viking
raiders
Attacked the Frankish
kingdom and settled
in northwestern
France
Their chief, Hrolf the
Ganger (or Rollo the
Walker) became first
duke of Normandy
Normans cont’d
The Normans
(Northmen) began
speaking French and
developed a powerful
feudal state
Ruled by the dukes
of Normandy
Officially vassals of
the kings of France; in
reality much more
powerful
Europe around 1000 A.D.
Normandy
Norman Expansion
Norman knights
attacked not just
England, but Sicily
under Robert
Guiscard
Many later joined the
crusades
Perfected the use of
heavy cavalry
Cathedral of Palermo, Sicily
Duke William of Normandy
Illegitimate son of the
old duke—fought his
way to the top
After the death of
King Edward of
England, William (a
distant relative)
claimed the throne of
England
King Harold Godwinsson of England
Harold, an Anglo-
Saxon noble, took the
throne after Edward’s
death
Faced rebellion from
powerful nobles
Barely defeated an
invasion by King
Harald Hadrada of
Norway in 1066
The Battle of Hastings—1066
William and his Norman army invaded
Recorded on the Bayeux Tapestry
Norman knights crushed the Anglo-Saxons and
killed King Harold
Duke William became King William the
Conqueror of England
Organizing England
The Normans set up a
centralized feudal
system in England
The king was in
charge—his nobles
owed their position to
him
Lords had to report
directly to the king
The Domesday
Book: complete
record of people and
property in England
Development of England (1066-
1215)
Centralized leadership under William’s
descendants, but lords also kept their traditional
rights
The Magna Carta (1215)—spelled out rights of
nobles which kings could not violate
Parliament (represented nobles and merchants)
advised king and had to approve new taxes
Introduction of French changed the English
language
Difference between Beowulf and The Canterbury
Tales
Conflict between English and French The Norman kings of
England still had control over Normandy and other territories in France
Gained even more when King Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152
The English owned almost half of France—most of the rest was controlled by powerful nobles, not the French kings