The course of English history was changed in 1066 when William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy (circa 1028-1087), invaded England. After the conquest, many Frenchmen who came with him ruled over England. For the next 300 years, high-class English people, including the King of England, spoke only French.

William, also known as William I of England and William II of Normandy, ruled as the first Norman King of England from 1066 until his death in 1087. He took his army of Normans, Bretons, Flemings, and Frenchmen from northern France across the English Channel in 1066 to press his claim to the English throne.

His army landed in Pevensey Bay, Sussex on Sept. 29, 1066. When he landed, he slipped on the shore and fell forward upon his two hands. Many of his men cried out loud: ¡°An evil sign is here.¡± But he said: ¡°See, my lords, by the splendor of God, I have taken possession of England with both my hands. It is now mine, and what is mine is yours.¡±

The Battle of Hastings, which took place on Oct. 14, 1066, was the decisive victory in the Norman Conquest of England. It was a battle fought between the Norman army led by William and the English army led by King Harold II, who was killed in the battle. As a result of his victory, William became England¡¯s first Norman king as King William I.

In the early years after the Conquest, Englishmen who pledged their allegiance to the King were allowed to keep their land. However, there were many uprisings against the Normans between 1067 and 1070. Many Englishmen cooperated with the new rulers, although they ¡°resented becoming an oppressed majority in their own country.¡± In fact, there were only about 10,000 Normans living among more than 1 million Saxons.

One of the most important influences the Norman occupation had on England was that about 10,000 French words were adopted into English, about three-quarters of which are still in use today.