Battle of Hastings - 1066



Conflict 

William of Normandy was from what is today France and spoke a medieval version of French. He was descended from Vikings who conquered the north of France. The word Normandy comes from the "Northmen" that conquered it. One of these Vikings was related to William and his name was Rollo. 

William's cousin was Edward the Confessor, King of England. Edward had promised the throne to William but on Edward's deathbed he named Harold Godwinson, the most powerful man in England, as King instead.

William was upset by this and planned to take the throne by force. In 1066, William landed in England at Pevensey, on Britain’s southeast coast, with thousands of troops and cavalry. Seizing Pevensey, he then marched to Hastings, where he paused to organize his forces. 

Harold arrived near Hastings with his army, and the next day, after fighting off a Viking invasion in the north. 

The next day William led his forces out to battle. 

Harold's forces were high up on a ridge. Each man had a shield. William's archers fired at them but did little damage so he sent his men up the hill.

Harold's forces fort them off. When William's forces retreated, they chased them down the hill. This was a big mistake because then William's forces turned back around with reinforcements and encircled the attacking men when they came down the hill.

This depleted Harold's numbers and Harold was killed–shot in the eye with an arrow, according to legend–and his forces were destroyed.


Aftermath

After 1066, the Battle of Hastings and the Norman invasion, William the conqueror imposed himself as King of England. He spoke French and his lords and barons were French speaking. The English felt that they had been beaten and were under occupation. William the Conqueror organized a survey of the lands he now owned and had won as a result of his invasion. The dejected English dramatically called this survey the Doomsday Book. Land was meticulously recorded along with it's assets and inhabitants. King William then shared this land out among his trusted subjects. They would rule over local lands on his behalf and they would give orders to the pheasants. This was known as the feudal system. 

William became William the Conqueror and became King of the British throne. 

Did you know? William, an Old French name composed of Germanic elements (“wil,” meaning desire, and “helm,” meaning protection), was introduced to England by William the Conqueror and quickly became extremely popular. By the 13th century, it was the most common given name among English men.

Draw your own Bayeux Tapestry 

Built the white tower

Doomsday Book - Census of lands won. Hereford included. 


Language 

French became the language of the king’s court and gradually blended with the Anglo-Saxon tongue to give birth to modern English. (Illiterate like most nobles of his time, William spoke no English when he ascended the throne and failed to master it despite his efforts. 

Old English words + Old French Words = Modern English

Cow vs Beef - Class structure

Corgette, Aubergine 

Brunette, Massage, omelet, Resoviour, Cliché, Detour, Bachelor, Fiancée 

Doomsday book

After 1066, the Battle of Hastings and the Norman invasion, William the conqueror imposed himself as King of England. He spoke French and his lords and barons were French speaking. The English felt that they had been beaten and were under occupation. William the Conqueror organized a survey of the lands he now owned and had won as a result of his invasion. The dejected English dramatically called this survey the Doomsday Book. Land was meticulously recorded along with it's assets and inhabitants. King William then shared this land out among his trusted subjects. They would rule over local lands on his behalf and they would give orders to the pheasants. This was known as the feudal system.

https://youtu.be/txA48AcJNmg

Ancestry 

Where are you from? Before that...

American

British

French

Viking

Germanic 

Hunter-Gatherers

Africa

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