The Norman Invasion

In the year 1016 while returning from a trip to the holy land as pilgrims, forty Norman knights stopped at the town of Salerno. They were invited into the city so that they could help to repel an attack that was orchestrated by the Saracens. They were urged to stay and they liked it so much that they sent back word to their brethren, to come to this place and share in the happiness that they were experiencing. Among those who took advantage of the invitation were six stalwart sons. They were the offspring of Tarnence de Haughtville. The brothers aided in the defense of Byzantium and for their pay they got part of Atuila.  Thirty years later a seventh son came of Robert The Weasel Guiscard. By raiding a papal city he invoked the rage of the Pope whose name was Pope Leo the Ninth. The pope went to war with The Weasel and was captured. While the pope was captured Robert asked for his forgiveness. While he had the Pope captured he confirmed his title to all conquests that he had made or might make. During this time, Roberts little brother Roger was setting about conquering the rest of the Byzantine Empire. In the north other Normans were set about conquering anything that they could get their hands on, mainly England. In the years previous to the Norman Conquest the leader of England was Ethelred The Unready/ Ill Advised; whom had been forced to pay tribute to the Danish invaders. After a power struggle the Danes took over the entire country. They had what turned out to be an excellent leader King Canute.  After the death of Canute and his two sons “The Ill Advised” bloodline returned via his son Edward “The Confessor”. Since he had spent most of his life in Normandy Edward decided to pack up and move there from England. He was about forty and he had no heirs so there was bound to be a conflict over the throne. Later it was reported by William Duke of Normandy that he was named by Edward, his second cousin, to be his heir. 

At this time the most powerful man in England was Harold Godwinson, the son of the earl of Wessex and the brother of Edwin’s queen and a good friend to William. When it was time for Harold to go home he was not able to go unless he swore to William to support Williams successions. He of course did. In 1066 Edward died leaving his throne to Harold not William. William then forced the pope to excommunicate Harold and that summer William raised an army to fight for the crown. When Harold heard about this he too assembled an army. When the two armies met it was called the Battle of Hastings and is considered by historians to be one of the most decisive battles in history. On Christmas Day 1066 William was crowned king of England and Harold who had been struck down along with his two brothers “Hard the Hard Boiled”. 

In 1154 Henry The Second came to the throne and set down what could be construed as common law, including the jury and other judiciary traditions. So ends the chronicle of the Norman invasion, what is considered by many historians the biggest turning point in western history.