The Norman Conquest was the last and most successful invasion in Britain. In 1066 the French-speaking Normans headed by Duke William III of Normandy (William the Conqueror) invaded England from France.

The battle was fought near Hastings on the south coast of England and is known as the battle of Hastings. The Normans defeated the English and French became the language of government.

But it all began with the death of Edward the Confessor, the king of England. (He was a holy man, and in 1161 the Pope made him a saint giving him the title of "Confessor").

Long ago Edward had promised the throne to his closest relative Duke William of Normandy. But the problem was that Anglo-Saxon didn't wish to be ruled by the Normans and preffered to put a Saxon king - Edward's brother- in- law Harold Goldwin, a Saxon king who who had claimed the English crown for himself. It was he who was Edward's last nominated heir.

Harold was coronated at Westminster Abby and when William of Normandy knew about it he decided to invade England and take what he had been promised - the right to be the next king of England.