The Norman Conquest (0)

For over three centuries Western Europe was raided by the Vikings . The Vikings who had settled down in England had mixed with the Anglo-Saxons. They lived under the rule of the English kings. In the 9th century a territory in northern France was conquered by another branch of the Vikings. That territory was called Normandy. They took over the French coustoms, traditions and language . The Normans lived under the rule of their own duke . By the 11th century the dukes of Normandy had become very powerful . Altought the kinf of France was their lord , they were very independent. William was the Duke of Normandy when the English king Edwar died. William had promised him that he'll be the next king. But there was another relative , Harold , who wanted to be king too. William wanted to start a war. Knights from all over the France were invited to his army .Harold was killed in the battle and the English were defeated. The Battle of Hastings was the beginning of the Norman Conquest. William became King of England.