The
Medieval Period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. In Europe,
it began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and
merged into the Renaissance and the Age of
Discovery.
The Norman
conquest of England was the 11th-century invasion and occupation
of England by an army of Norman, Breton,
and French soldiers led by Duke William II
of Normandy, later styled as William the Conqueror.
William defeated Harold II of England on October 14 of 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England. This brought about many political, economic and social changes in medieval England.
William defeated Harold II of England on October 14 of 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England. This brought about many political, economic and social changes in medieval England.
A direct consequence of the invasion was the
almost total elimination of the old English aristocracy and the loss of English
control over the Catholic Church in England. Also, many Anglo-Saxons, including groups of nobles, fled
the country for Scotland, Ireland or Scandinavia. Members of King Harold’s family sought refuge in Ireland and used their
bases in that country for unsuccessful invasions of England.
But, one of the most obvious effects of the conquest was the
introduction of Anglo-Norman, a northern dialect of Old
French, as the language of the ruling classes in England,
displacing Old English.