What caused the Norman Conquest?
When Edward the Confessor, king of England, died in 1066, wealthy and powerful people from all over the world traveled far to claim the throne. Harold Godwinsson was appointed king in Edward the Confessor's will. However, Duke William of Normandy claimed that he had been promised the throne. The vikings were the first to begin raiding English villages. King Harold, leading a group called the Anglo-Saxons (or the Saxons) had to fight off all of the foreign invaders. Duke William eventually defeated the Saxons in the Battle of Hastings, described under the "More..." section on this website. Duke William became known as William the Conqueror after his many victories over the Saxons and other contesting invaders during the Norman Conquest.