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Home / Periods / High Medieval / Norman Conquest of England

Phase

Norman Conquest of England

1066–1071 CE

The Norman Conquest began with the succession crisis after Edward the Confessor’s death in 1066. Harold Godwinson defeated Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge, then marched south to face William of Normandy at Hastings. William’s victory led to a long process of conquest, castle-building, land redistribution, rebellion suppression, and cultural change.

The conquest matters because it remade England’s aristocracy, language, law, landholding, architecture, and relationship with continental Europe. It was not just one battle; it was a violent restructuring of power. The Norman ruling class imposed new military and administrative systems while adapting to an older English kingdom.

The Norman Conquest appears in novels by authors such as Julian Rathbone, Elizabeth Chadwick, and Georgette Heyer, and it forms the background to many books about post-Conquest England.

Related people for Norman Conquest of England

Alan Rufus11th century–1093 Copsid. 1067 Eadric the Wildfl. 1067–1070 Edgar Æthelingc. 1052–after 1125 Edith of Wessexdied 1075 Edith the Fairc. 1025–c. 1086 Edward the Confessordied 1066 Empress Matilda1102–1167 Godwin, Earl of Wessexdied 1053 Gospatric, Earl of Northumbriac. 1040–c. 1074 Gruffudd ap Cynan1055–1137 Gunhild of Wessexc. 1055–1097 Gytha of Wessexc. 1053–late 11th/early 12th century Gytha Thorkelsdóttirc. 1010–after 1068 Harald III of Norway1015–1066 Harold Godwinson1022–1066 Henry I of England1068–1135 Hereward the Wakefl. 1069–1071 Matilda of Flanders1031–1083 Osulf II of Bamburghd. 1067 Robert Curthose1054–1134 Robert de Cominesd. 1069 Robert of Jumiègesc. 11th century–1055 Stephen, King of England1095–1154 Tostig Godwinsonc. 1026–1066 Vladimir II Monomakh1053–1125 William the Conqueror1028–1087

Series

Series about Norman Conquest of England (5 series)

Conquest in Order

by Griff Hosker 4 books 4.6(4,479)

Conquest follows England after the Norman victory of 1066. The books use Hastings, rebellion, occupation and the consolidation of William the Conqueror’s rule to show how conquest continues long after a single battle is won. The series is strongest as a post-Conquest saga about dispossession, resistance, new lordship…

Road to Hastings in Order

by K. M. Ashman 3 books 4.5(1,382)

Road to Hastings traces the political rise of the Godwin family and the decisions that produced the English succession crisis of 1066. Beginning with Edith of Wessex's marriage to Edward the Confessor, the trilogy follows Earl Godwin and Harold Godwinson through exile, restoration, diplomacy and the growing influence…

Aelfraed in Order

by Griff Hosker 3 books 4.4(3,789)

The Aelfraed trilogy follows Saxon survivors through the violent aftermath of 1066. Beginning before the Battle of Hastings and continuing through resistance, outlawry and exile, the series uses the collapse of Harold Godwinson’s England to follow housecarls and rebels forced to decide whether to keep fighting, submit to…

The Conquest in Order

by James Aitcheson 3 books 4.2(2,635)

The Conquest follows Tancred a Dinant, a fictional Norman knight, through the final years of William the Conqueror’s struggle to secure England. Beginning with the northern rising of 1069, the trilogy moves through renewed English and Danish resistance, warfare on the Welsh Marches and the last major rebel…

The Norman Series in Order

by Henry Treece 2 books 4.0(56)

The Norman Series presents the conquest of England from the perspective of men committed to the defeated English order. Hounds of the King follows a Mercian boy into Harold Godwinson’s housecarls and the final stand at Hastings. Man with a Sword moves to the Fenlands, where Hereward continues…

Books

30 Best Novels About the Norman Conquest of England

Non-Fiction

13 Best Non-Fiction Books About the Norman Conquest of England

Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.