The+Normans

=The Normans=

====The Normans are a group of people from the area of Normandy in northern France (hence the name "Normans"). We know Normandy today, because it's the region of France where Allied Forces landed during D-Day. The Normans originated from the Germanic people and the Vikings - many of them were Viking descendants that had settled in France. The Norman style of architecture is often seen in old British buildings or churches. Their buildings have many Gothic characteristics and other things like pointed towers and narrow, pointed windows. The buildings are built from stone, and use a lot of arches, much different from their Viking ancestors, who built everything from wood.==== ====In the early 11th century, the Normans, along with some French and Brenton soldiers, invaded England. They were all led by Duke William II of Normandy, more commonly known as William the Conqueror. They fought the Anglo-Saxons at the battle of Hastings, and emerged victorious. William II was then crowned king of England on December 25, 1066. Along with the control of England came many changes. It wasn't until 1072, after putting down rebellions and dealing with rivals, that William was actually secure on the Throne. William made many changes regarding the Country. He made Norman-French the language of the government, and the language that everyone was to speak. He also created the Domesday Book, a land survey that recorded all of the land in England, its value, who owned it, etc. He built castles around the country to strengthen the military, and many more things that really changed England. The Normans made England somewhat of what it is today.====