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William the Conqueror, sailed across the English Channel in 1066 and conquered England after his decisive victory at the Battle of Hastings, Prior to that, England was under the rule of the Anglo-Saxons, a Germanic people who were descended from the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who immigrated to the island after the collapse of the Roman Empire. England became divied into petty kingdoms, among them Wessex, Northumbria, and Mercia. Following Viking incursions into England during this time led to several attempts to establish a Nordic empire, which was almost achieved by Canute the Greaty. However, the Saxons, under Alfred the Great, successfully recovered much of England back from the Scandinavians, making Wessex the preeminent kingdom of southern Britain. The last major attempt by Vikings conquer to conquer England came under Harald Hardrada, who was repulsed by the Saxons at the battle of Stamford Bridge. The leader of the Saxons was Harold Godwinson, who had assumed the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor. Edward, however had promised the crown to William, duke of Normandy (and vassal to the king of France). Harold was forced to concede the crown to William, but declared himself king after Edward's passing. When William caught word of Harold actions, he gathered his forces and set sail across the English Channel. The Saxons under Harold prepared to meet him at Hastings. On the battlefield, the Saxons stood firm behind their shield wall, but on a feigned retreat by William, the unruly Saxons broke ranks to chase after the Normans. William then used his calvary to smash through the unorganized Saxons. Harold himself was killed by an arrow through his eye. With the king dead and army in dissary, the Saxons quickly succombed to the Normans. William proceeded to claim all the lands held by Harold, and was crowned King of England on Christmas Day, 1066. All subsequent English monarchs have their ancestry traced from this event. The formal recognition of England under William by the Roman Catholic Church is usually considered as the time when England as a nation was formed.

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13y ago

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