What factors led to the Norman Conquest?

Question

for 6th grade

Answer 1

1. The death of King Edward the Confessor in 1066 without a clear successor to the English throne led to a power struggle among several claimants.

2. William, Duke of Normandy, claimed that King Edward had promised him the throne before his death, which led to his invasion of England to enforce his claim.

3. The Battle of Hastings in 1066, where William's forces defeated the English army led by Harold Godwinson, solidified William's claim to the English throne.

4. The Norman Conquest was also facilitated by internal divisions within Anglo-Saxon England, as various noble families vied for power and influence.

5. William the Conqueror's control over key strategic points in England, such as castles and major cities, allowed him to consolidate his power and establish Norman rule over the country.

6. The Norman Conquest also introduced a new aristocracy and feudal system to England, with Norman nobles replacing Anglo-Saxon landowners and reshaping the social and political landscape of the country.