Norman conquest of England

The Norman conquest of England began in 1066 with the invasion of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy), and his success at the Battle of Hastings resulted in Norman control of England. The Norman Conquest was a pivotal event in English history for a number of reasons. This conquest linked England more closely with continental Europe through the introduction of a Norman aristocracy. It created one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe and engendered a sophisticated governmental system. The conquest changed certain aspects of English culture, added some Latin words to the spoken language, and set the stage for a rivalry with the Western Franks (France) that would continue intermittently until the 19th century. It has an iconic role in English national identity as the last successful military conquest of England.