Top 10 Facts About the Norman Conquest of England

Submitted by Ann on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 19:27

The Norman conquest of England took but a few weeks, yet its legacy is enormous. The arrival of the warrior-race and their French-Norman culture changed the course of British history.

Here are ten facts (more or less in order) about the conquest and its consequences you truly ~~need~~ want to know.

1. Three Kings

In 1066, after the death of Edward the Confessor, three wannabe-kings were claiming the English crown; King Harald III of Norway (defeated first), Harold Godwinson (Edward's brother-in-law, and for a short while King Harold II of England) and William, Duke of Normandy (victorious and henceforth known as 'William the Conqueror').

2. William the Viking

Normans were originally Vikings. Their name derives from 'Nortmanni' – meaning 'men from the north'.

By 1086, Norman barons owned 55 per cent of the land in England. In comparison, Anglo-Saxons held only 5 per cent.

3. The Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings (October 14th 1066) lasted one day. It was one of the longest battles in the medieval world, so a break for lunch (and regrouping) was taken.

4. Castle-crazy

Immediately after their victory, the Normans started constructing castles from IKEA-style 'quick assembly Norman castle kits' brought from France. According to Sir Edward Creasy, they had “had brought with them in the fleet, three wooden castles from Normandy, in pieces, all ready for framing together, and they took the materials of one of these out of the ships, all shaped and pierced to receive the pins which they had brought cut and ready in large barrels; and before evening had set in, they had finished a good fort on the English ground”.

Those Normans were surely castle-crazy. Thirty years after the Norman Conquest, no village in England was more than a day's march from a Norman fortification or castle.

5. The Bayeux Tapestry

The Battle of Hastings (and the construction of prefab castles) is documented on the Bayeux Tapestry, some 70 metres of embroidered cloth. It also features Halley's Comet.

6. New Names and Game

The Normans introduced the names William, Robert and Henry to Britain and rabbits to the British countryside.

7. Norman Nobility

By 1086, Norman barons owned 55 per cent of the land in England. In comparison, Anglo-Saxons held only 5 per cent. (The remaining lot was owned by the King, Church, … .)

8. Domesday

We know this because 60,000 people all over England were questioned during the Domesday Inquisition (video) and 13,000 places are named in the Domesday Book. Writing this all down took about one million words (double the amount of Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings') and at least 200 calf and sheep skins to make the Domesday Book's 800 pages.

9. The Menu

Those french-speaking barons would order mouton, boeuf and veau, while the Anglo-Saxon peasants would herd sheep (for mutton), cows (for beef) and calves (for veal). The master wants venaison on his plate? Go hunt some deer.

10. The English Lexicon

It is not just the food. About 30% of English vocabulary originates in French, compared to less than 25% of words inherited from Anglo-Saxon (the remaining bulk is mainly derived from Latin and Greek).

Read 2 comments, or leave your own

About The Author

Ann Wuyts (follow me: e-mail or

)

Last three pieces by this author:

Unique Iron Age Hoard goes on display at Ipswich Museum | Royal Artefacts - Including King Tut's Golden Trumpet - Returned to Egyptian Museum Cairo | SCA releases full list of treasures missing from the Cairo Museum

Ann 'Vint' Wuyts is looking after the Heritage Key community and avatar health & entertainment. She is slightly fascinated by everything to do with 3D technology and what's commonly defined as 'Web 2.0'. When she grows up, Ann - eventually - wants to be a mummy. Favourite game: Buzzword Bingo /…

Ann's blog

Comments

likes on facebook:

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="51">
<col width="51" />
<tr height="20">
<td height="20" width="51" style="height: 15.2pt; width: 38pt;" class="xl24">The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William<a href='http://www.dominateseo.net/customer/index.php?linkwheel-link-wheel-service&cid=236'>,</a> Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating the king Harold II of England. Harold's army had been badly depleted in the English victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Northern England on 25 September 1066 over the army of King Harald III of Norway. By early 1071, William had secured control of most of England, although rebellions and resistance continued until approximately 1088.<br />
The Norman conquest was a pivotal event in English history. It largely removed the native ruling class, replacing it with a foreign, French-speaking monarchy, aristocracy, and clerical hierarchy. This, in turn, brought about a transformation of the English language and the culture of England in a new era often referred to as Norman England.<br />
By bringing England under the control of rulers originating in France, the Norman conquest linked the country more closely with continental Europe, lessened Scandinavian influence, and also set the stage for a rivalry with France that would continue intermittently for many centuries. It also had important consequences for the rest of the British Isles, paving the way for further Norman conquests in Wales and Ireland, and the extensive penetration of the aristocracy of Scotland by Norman and other French-speaking families, with the accompanying spread of continental institutions and cultural influences.</td>
</tr>
</table>

Wed, 12-10-2011 06:43

north face coats:

<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">China</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">'s culture has achieved a historic leap, the overall strength significantly increased, people's <a href="http://www.northerfacecoats.com/">north face coats</a> spiritual and cultural needs of an increasingly strong interest and participation in society as a whole culture with unprecedented enthusiasm,</span></p>

Fri, 04-11-2011 03:21

Interesting Articles And Blog Posts

PASE Domesday Online Database launches ahead of BBC Two Domesday Special

PASE Domesday, a database of Domesday Book linked to mapping resources, has been launched online today, ahead of tomorrows Domesday special to be broadcast on BBC Two.

Anglo-Saxon Aloud - Add some Old English to your iPhone

Professor Michael DC Drout over the years has build up an impressive collection of sound Anglo-Saxon literature samples. Consider it the must-have audiobooks for the history-geek. From the famous poem 'Beowulf', to the death of of Alfred and more practical advice in Old English.

Interesting Publications