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The University High School Band
The History and Theory of Music

The Norman Conquest

The Battle of Hastings by Francis William Wilkin (1840)

The end of the Viking Era is generally marked by the Battle of Hastings in 1066. At this battle, William the Conqueror sailed across the English channel from Normandy and defeated the armies of Harold Godwinson, who was already in a weakened position, having just defeated and repelled the Viking armies of Harald Hardrada. To this day, the British monarchy traces its origins back to William, who is considered the first King of England (as opposed to earlier monarchs in Britain who were called "King of the English.")

The Norman conquest of England had long-lasting consequences, not least for the English language. Old English was a Germanic language, whereas the Normans had been living in Europe for two centuries and spoke Old French, a combination of Frankish and Latin. This is why English basically has two words for everything. Everyday English words (like "father," "cow," "farm," and "house") have Germanic roots, whereas more technical words (like "paternal," "bovine," "agricultural," and "domestic") have French/Latin roots. In addition, although the "king" kept an Old English title, the apparatus of government took on a distinctively French vocabulary, complete with a "parliaments," "palaces," and "aristocracy."