The history books in the 1970s (at least in Ireland) referred to him as “William the Conqueror”.
That’s considered the beginning of England, as we know it today.
...made it almost 1000 years.
There were three contenders for the throne in 1066.
Two were decendents of Vikings, Harald Hrdrada, King of Norway, and Duke William of Nomandy.
The Saxon Harold, son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex does not seem to have had Viking ancestors.
http://www.normaninvasion.info/claims-throne-england-1066.htm
“1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England” by W. C. Sellar, et al was one funny book. I’d recommend it highly to give good laugh or two for anyone with a prior experience with English history.
While the fighting was going on at Hastings, the Sunset Crater volcano near present-day Flagstaff, Ariz. volcano was erupting.
NOT in Hastings and NOT 1066!
William’s father was riding by a stream and saw a young lady washing some clothes; he scooped her up and took her home with his wife still in residence. She became the Bastard’s mother.
The last successful forceful invasion of England.
Now a successful slow invasion is taking place, one moslem at a time.
Also Eisenhower’s bday, too.
This was one of those mixed blessing events
I’m a Wessex Saxon of over half my DNA
But I acknowledge the Normans were more organized and formidable
But they got usurped by Saxon ovaries in the long run
Besides Danelaw ovaries already had a foothold two hundred years before Rollo cousins killed poor Harold