Norman invasion (1066), French conquest and unification of England

Norman = North-man, descendants of Danes, spoke French influenced by Germanic dialect

William was in full control of England within ten years. A single Anglo-Norman kingdom was established

Death of many Anglo-Saxon nobles

The conquest put an end to internal conflicts and Viking invasions; control of the Welsh

Frenchmen in all high offices: from government administration to senior Church positions

Imposition of feudal system, vassalage, peasants bound to the land

Kings of England spoke French, took French wives and lived mostly in France; the English court was French-speaking

Henry II Plantagenet (r. 1154-1189), married to Eleanor of Aquitaine, established the dynasty which lasted until 1399

English lacked prestige. Latin was written language of the Church and secular documents

Development of bilingualism among Norman officials, supervisors, some marriages of French and English, bilingual children

Very little written English survives from this period