2. At also…

The Norman conquest of England began in 1066 with the invasion of the Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), and his success at the Battle of Hastings resulted in Norman control of England. The Norman Conquest was a pivotal event in English history for several reasons. This conquest linked England more closely with continental Europe through the introduction of a Norman aristocracy, thereby lessening Scandinavian influence. It created one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe and engendered a sophisticated governmental system. The conquest changed the English language and culture and set the stage for a rivalry with France that would continue intermittently until the 20th century. It has an iconic role in English national identity as the last successful foreign conquest of England …

3. Origins

Normandy is a region in northern France which in the years prior to 1066 experienced extensive Viking settlement. In 911, French Carolingian ruler Charles the Simple had allowed a group of Vikings, under their leader Rollo, to settle in northern France with the idea that they would provide protection along the coast against future Viking invaders. This proved successful, and the Vikings in the region became known as the Northmen from which Normandy is derived. The Normans quickly adapted to the indigenous culture, renouncing paganism and converting to Christianity. They adopted the langue d'oïl of their new home and added features from their own Norse language, transforming it into the Norman language. They further blended into the culture by intermarrying with the local population. They also used the territory granted them as a base to extend the frontiers of the Duchy to the west, annexing territory including the Bessin, the Cotentin Peninsula and the Channel Islands. [1]

Meanwhile in England, Viking attacks resumed in the late 10th century, and in 991 the King of England Aethelred II agreed to marry Emma, the daughter of the Duke of Normandy, to cement a blood-tie alliance for help against the raiders. When King Edward the Confessor died in 1066 with no child and thus no direct heir to the throne, a power vacuum arose in which several competing interests laid claim to the throne of England. [2]

One was Harald III of Norway, commonly known as Harald Hardraada, whose claim was based on a supposed agreement between the previous King of Norway, Magnus I of Norway, and Harthacanute, whereby if either died without heir, the other would inherit both England and Norway. Another claimant to the English throne was William, Duke of Normandy because of his blood ties to Aethelrad through Aethelred's wife Emma. A third was the Earl of Wessex Harold Godwinson who had been elected king by the Witenagemot of England. The stage was set for a battle among the three. Other contenders later came to the fore. The first was Edgar Atheling, Edward the Confessor's great nephew who was of direct descent from King Edmund Ironside. He was the son of Edward the Exile, son of Edmund Ironside and after his father's return to and subsequent death in England in 1057, Edgar was nominated by Edward the Confessor as Heir Apparent, hence his epithet the atheling (spelled Atheling during the Anglo-Saxon period). Atheling denoted a man of noble blood, and was used more specifically in the later Anglo-Saxon period to designate a potential heir to the throne. Unfortunately for Edgar, he was only about thirteen or fourteen at the time of Edward the Confessor's death and with little family to support him, his claim was passed over by the Witan. Another contender was Sweyn II of Denmark, who had a claim to the throne as the grandson of Sweyn Forkbeard and nephew of Cnut, but he did not make his bid for the throne until 1069. Tostig Godwinson's attacks in early 1066 may have been the beginning of a bid for the throne, but after defeat at the hands of Edwin and Morcar and the desertion of most of his followers he threw his lot in with Harald Hardrada. [3]