Basic Outline of Norman Conquest

Traditionally the Vikings raided the northern coasts of Europe, rarely moving very far inland and generally remaining mobile looters. But in the early 10th century King Charles III [the Simple] of France made a deal with once such Viking lord who had been trolling his northern coasts, Rollo of dubious yet certainly nordic origins. The King of France gave Rollo a large bit of land in northern France on which to settle and, in return, Rollo declared fiefdom to France, mostly stopped looting French land, and protected the northern coasts against other Vikings. Charles the Simple's strategy worked, Rollo and his men settled the region well, inter-marrying with the locals and developing a mixture of French and Norse for a language. They became known as the Normans [Norsemen] and their land Normandy. Viking raids on English coasts continued into the late 10th century when King Ethelred the Unready of England [which had only united within the previous century or so] married Emma the daughter of Richard I [the Fearless] Duke of Normandy [and grandson of Rollo] in an attempt to get his own Viking protection.

After the terrible reign of Ethelred the rule of England was captured by a Danish line of kings and for almost three decades England was a part of the Danish empire while Emma's sons by Ethelred were exiled to Normandy. While there Edward II [the Confessor] developed an affinity for Norman society. When the Danish line ended he was restored to the throne, however his Norman sympathies and favoritism of Norman nobles put him in conflict with the powerful Anglo-Saxon earls of Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria [collectively, the better part of the English Kingdom]. In 1066 Edward died without an heir. Harold Godwinson Earl of Wessex with the authority of the Witenagemot, and by blood relation to Emma William the Duke of Normandy, and by a specious claim Harald III King of Norway - all claimed the throne of England and had armies ready to fight for that claim.

First, Tosig Godwinson, the exiled brother of Harold, attacked England from the southeast. Harold drove him north north where he was beaten by the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria. He retreated into Scotland and then met up with King Harald's forces who began their attack on the north. Mercia and Northumbria were defeated at the Battle of Fulford and King Harald took up residence in York. All the while, Harold Godwinson waited with an army on the south coast for William. But with his supplies dwindling through the wait, he dismissed his army and moved north gathering troops on the way. Tosig and King Harald were taken by surprise and killed by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and Harold's army was left severely weakened.

During this time William had been gathering troops from all over France by promises of English lands and entitlements. He was delayed in setting sail by bad weather and thus missed Harold who had been waiting with his army. William arrived in Pevensey, Sussex and set up base [so chosen because it was the personal property of Harold] days after the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Harold ran south at the news with his depleted and weary army and met William at the Battle of Hastings. It was a close battle but near the end Harold was killed.

The Witenagemot tried to elect another King, and some of the Anglo-Saxon nobles resisted but William defeated them and was crowned King of England late in 1066. This began the Norman rule of England and was the last time England was militarily conquered.