1066 was an important year in English history: two kings died and William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, led the last invasion of England.
In 1066, England, contrary to many European countries, was a unified kingdom. King Edward the Confessor had no children and when he died in January 1066, three people wanted to replace him:
The English nobles voted and Edward's brother-in-law Harold Godwinson became king, he was crowned King Harold II.
But Edward's distant cousin William, Duke of Normandy said that Edward had promised him the English crown. He started constructing ships and organising an army to invade England.
William wasn't the only person who wanted the English crown, King Harald Hardrada of Norway decided to invade the north of England.
Harald Hardrada invaded northern England, near York, in September. So, King Harold marched the English army north and defeated the Norwegians on 25 September. On 28 September, William arrived in the south, near Hastings. So, King Harold marched 400km south.
The Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October.
William had about 15,000 men. Harold only had about 5000 tired men. It was a difficult battle. Harold died and William won. He was crowned King in London on Christmas Day.
French Replaces English
William gave the nobles in his army property in England. French became the language of the court, the legal system and religion for 300 years. Modern English has about 10,000 words which come from French. They include enemy, peace, religion, service, miracle, beauty, romance... and battle!
William's brother, Odo, was bishop of Bayeux in Normandy. He ordered the Bayeux Tapestry to show poor illiterate people William's version of the Norman invasion. It was the first comic strip and today most British people's image of the Battle of Hastings comes from the Bayeux Tapestry.
