This resource provides a full introduction to the Norman Conquest, which resulted in dramatic changes to England's aristocracy, church, and administration; brought new language and cultural influences to England; and revolutionized military architecture with the introduction of the castle. With maps showing how William the Conqueror's strategic intelligence enabled him to defeat his formidable opponents and create a new order, this vivid survey studies the Conquest's campaigns in detail. Assessing the human experience of the war, attention is also paid to the community surrounding the campaigns. Including a chronology and an analysis of the consequences of William the Conqueror's victory, this fascinating volume will prove valuable for both student and general readers.

Contents include: * Introduction * Chronology * Background to the war: Danes, Normans, and the English royal succession * Warring sides: Harold and William - the war lords * Outbreak: Preparations and motivations * The fighting: Two invasions, one conques * Portrait of a soldier: Viking legend, English patriot, and two Norman earls * The world around war: politics, strategy, the Church, and administration * Portrait of a civilian: Three bishops and a queen * How the war ended: The Conqueror's reign * Conclusion and consequences: The English experience - law, culture and society