The Norman Conquest of England

William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings in 1066

William the Conqueror

• Viking descendant• Dad was Duke of Normandy

– Normandy- N. France given to Vikings

• Mother was a commoner • Father never married his

mom– Because of this- many nobles

said he was illegitimate – They tried to prevent him from

becoming Duke

William’s Rough Years

• Some of these nobles attempted to kill him and take his father’s lands

• Three of his guardians were killed by his enemies

• At 18 he claims his title and brutally puts down any rebellion

Claim to English Throne

• King of England Edward the Confessor dies without leaving an heir

• William and Edward are cousins

• William claims a right to the English throne

• But so did Harold II- Earl of Wessex

But….

• There were multiple claims to the English crown

• Viking kings from Norway and Denmark had taken over

• The Anglo-Saxons were struggling to get their power back

• And Anglo-Saxon named Harold II- was crowned King of England immediately following Edward’s death

• So…• William invades England- claiming

to be the rightful king

The Road to Norman Victory

• Both sides had between 7,000-8,000 soldiers

• When the Norman’s landed, Harold’s forces just fought a successful war against the Norwegians in northern England

• They had to march 240 miles to Hastings

Battle of Hastings: 1066

Heads up Harold!

• The Norman also fought with knights on horseback- they were crucial to their victory

• The English fought on foot

• King Harold II is killed in the battle- can you guess how he died?

Willy is now the Conqueror

• William was crowned King of England

• Kings and Nobles now own land in both England and France

• See the back board and take down the key ideas

William as King of England

• Kept one-fifth of England as his personal property• Took land and titles from Harold’s supporters• Norman knights and lords become nobles in England

– gave land to 200 Norman lords

• ***His nobles and successors had land in both England and France**

• Set up line of succession • Domesday Book-

– Property survey/census so taxes could be collected

• Built a number of castles/fortifications through England; the most famous is The Tower of London

Line of Succession

• Who gets the throne after the king croaks? • In theory- 1st Born son- is considered first for

any royal/noble title– If no son; it goes to oldest daughter, or another male

relative

• But many times in English history- this did not happen

• The king’s will, input of nobles, and multiple claims to the throne often make succession and bloody, messy and confusing issue

• The division of land and wealth often created conflict