Pre-Norman Conquest (978-1066)

There were renewed Norse attacks on England at the end of the 10th Century. Ethelred (the Unready) ruled a long time but ultimately lost his kingdom to Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark, though he recovered it following the latter's death. However, Ethelred's son, Edmund (II) Ironside died soon after, allowing Canute, Sweyn's son, to become king of England, one part of an empire stretching across the North Sea. Viking influence on English culture was at its height during this time.

Rule over England fluctuated between the descendants of Ethelred and Canute for the first half of the 11th century. Ultimately this resulted in the Conquest where several people had a claim to the English throne.

William of Normandy, the great nephew of Emma of Normandy (Edward the Confessor's mother and the widow of both Ethelred and Canute) said he had been promised the throne, and also said that Harold II had promised to support his claim. Harald (Hardrada) of Norway had ambitions on the English throne and Harold II's estranged brother, Tostig of Northumbria, chose this moment to rebel. Also claiming the throne, and arguably the one with the strongest claim, was Edgar "the Aetheling" (Prince), as the grandson of Edmund (II) Ironside he was the last male descendant of the West Saxon royal household. However, he only aged 14 at the beginning of 1066 and deemed too young to claim the throne, leading to the appointment of Harold II. Harold was possibly nominated by Edward the Confessor on his death bed, but he was certainly appointed by the Witan Council. (Following the Battle of Hastings Edgar was proclaimed Edgar II by the Witan but he was never crowned and submitted to William I two months later).

Harold defeated Harald Hardrada and his brother at the Battle of Stamford Bridge but fell in battle against William of Normandy at Hastings.

William I of England (1066-1087)

William I was known as "the Conqueror" and "the Bastard", William was Duke of Normandy from 1035 (where he was known as William II) and King of England from 1066 until his death in 1087.

In order to claim the English crown he invaded England in 1066, defeating Harold II in the Battle of Hastings (14th October, 1066), and suppressed subsequent English revolts.

His reign had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of the Middle Ages. In addition to political changes his reign also saw a change to English law, a programme of building and fortification, changes to the vocabulary of the English language, and the introduction of continental feudalism into England. In 1086 the Domesday Book was published, an in depth survey of property and towns in England was published.

He was succeeded on his death by his eldest son, Robert Curthose, in Normandy and by his third son (his second had died in 1081), William, in England.