When Did the Normans Conquer England?

The Norman Conquest of England occurred in 1066—a pivotal year in English history.

Key Timeline:

• 5 Jan 1066: Edward the Confessor dies childless
• 6 Jan: Harold Godwinson crowned
• 28 Sep: William, Duke of Normandy lands at Pevensey, Sussex
• 14 Oct: Battle of Hastings – Harold killed; Norman victory
• 25 Dec: William crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey

Profound Impacts:

• Feudal system imposed; Anglo-Saxon aristocracy displaced
• French becomes language of court/law (300+ years)
• Domesday Book (1086) – comprehensive land survey
• Castles, cathedrals, Romanesque architecture
• Legal, administrative, linguistic transformation

1066 remains the most famous date in English history—the last successful invasion of England.