The Normans - Who were the Normans?

Last Updated: 08/04/2014 - 07:15

The Normans that invaded England in 1066 came from Normandy in Northern France. However, they were originally Vikings from Scandinavia.

Norman migration map

At the beginning of the tenth century, the French King, Charles the Simple, had given some land in the North of France to a Viking chief named Rollo. He hoped that by giving the Vikings their own land in France they would stop attacking France.

The land became known as Northmannia, the land of the Northmen. It was later shortened to Normandy. The Vikings intermarried with the French and by the year 1000, they were no longer Viking pagans, but French speaking Christians.

In the year 1030 a group of Normans conquered land in Italy. By 1099 they had taken over most of Southern Italy.

 Although the Normans are best remembered for their military achievements, they also showed remarkable skill in government especially in Italy.

The Normans established many schools, monasteries, cathedrals and churches in both Italy and England and after conquering England built many castles to defend their new land.

Good sources for Norman history include the buildings, many of which survive to today, writings of the men of the time [primary sources], and the Bayeaux Tapestry, which shows the Norman invasion and conquest of England.