The Norman Conquest of England (1066-71) was led by William the Conqueror who defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Anglo-Saxon elite lost power as William redistributed land to his fellow Normans. Crowned William I of England (r. 1066-1087) on Christmas Day, the new order would take five years to fully control England.
More about: Norman Conquest of EnglandDefinition
Timeline
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1042 - 1066Reign of Edward the Confessor, king of England.
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1051William, Duke of Normandy, visits Edward the Confessor who, according to Norman sources, promises William the crown of England.
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1057Edgar Ætheling and his sisters Margaret and Cristina return from exile in Hungary to England.
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Mar 1064Possible visit to Normandy by Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex. Norman writers would claim he was captured and held by William the Conqueror until he promised to be the Norman's vassal in England.
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1065A revolt in Northumbria against Tostig, the Earl of Northumbria, is put down by Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex.
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6 Jan 1066Harold Godwinson is crowned Harold II, king of England, probably in Westminster Abbey.
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6 Jan 1066 - 14 Oct 1066Reign of Harold Godwinson, Harold II, king of England.
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Aug 1066William, Duke of Normandy, prepares his invasion fleet to conquer England.
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20 Sep 1066Battle of Fulford Gate in which a force led by Harald Hardrada defeats an Anglo-Saxon army led by the Earls of Northumbria and Mercia.
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25 Sep 1066Battle of Stamford Bridge in which Harold Godwinson (Harold II) defeats an invading army led by Harald Hardrada, king of Norway.
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28 Sep 1066William the Conqueror's invading army lands at Pevensey in Sussex, southern England.
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Oct 1066The Normans introduce motte and bailey castles to Britain.
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Oct 1066 - 20 Dec 1066William the Conqueror marches on London, capturing Romney, Dover, Canterbury and Winchester on his circuitous route.
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14 Oct 1066The Battle of Hastings in which William, Duke of Normandy, defeats King Harold II of England.
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25 Dec 1066William the Conqueror is crowned William I, king of England, in Westminster Abbey.
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1067 - 1079The Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest of Anglo-Saxon Britain is made.
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1068Edgar Ætheling and his sisters Margaret and Cristina flee to Scotland.
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1068A motte and bailey castle is built at York, England.
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1068A motte and bailey castle is built at Warwick, Warwickshire, England.
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Jan 1068Exeter and its Anglo-Saxon rebels surrender to William the Conqueror after an 18-day siege.
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11 May 1068Mathilda, wife of William the Conqueror, is crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey.
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1069A second motte and bailey castle is built at York, England.
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Jan 1069Northumbrian Anglo-Saxon rebels sack Durham and York.
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21 Sep 1069A Viking force led by King Sweyn II of Denmark's brother Asbjorn sacks York.
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Nov 1069 - Mar 1070William the Conqueror's 'harrying of the north'.
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c. 1070The Normans build the motte and bailey Pickering Castle, Yorkshire, England.
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c. 1070William the Conqueror builds a motte and bailey castle at Windsor.
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May 1070King Sweyn II of Denmark joins forces with Anglo-Saxon rebels led by Hereward the Wake to threaten East Anglia in England.
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Jun 1070Peterborough Abbey is attacked and looted by Anglo-Saxon rebels led by Hereward the Wake.
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Jun 1071William the Conqueror defeats the last Anglo-Saxon Rebellion at Ely Abbey in East Anglia.
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1075The future William II of England campaigns with success in Wales, subduing the Welsh king Caradog ap Gruffudd.
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1086 - 1087The Domesday Book is compiled in Norman Britain by William the Conqueror.
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1088Rebels, led by Odo of Bayeux, are defeated and Rochester Castle is besieged and taken by William II of England.
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c. 1093A motte and bailey castle is built at Caernarfon in Wales by the Normans.
