# UK Constitution and Government/Normans


### `<font size=1 color=dimgray>`{=html}Presentation`</font>`{=html}

```{=html}
<table height=1 border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; border-color:LightSkyBlue; background-color:AliceBlue;" width="100%">
```
```{=html}
<tr>
```
```{=html}
<td align=left>
```
```{=html}
<table width="100%" align=left>
```
```{=html}
<tr>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!Introduction{width="" height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
![](Gohome.png "Gohome.png"){width="" height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td nowrap>
```
`<font size=6 color=teal>`{=html}`</font>`{=html}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!Plantagenets{width="" height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!List of Topics{width=""
height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td width="99%">
```
 

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!Plantagenets{width="" height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
</tr>
```
```{=html}
</table>
```
```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
</tr>
```
```{=html}
</table>
```
 

`<big>`{=html}`<big>`{=html}The Normans
(1066-1154)`</big>`{=html}`</big>`{=html}

Next Chapter

------------------------------------------------------------------------


## William I

The course of English political, legal and cultural history was changed
in 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy (also called William the
Conqueror) successfully invaded the nation and displaced the Saxon king,
Harold II.

In 1066 King Edward, also called St Edward the Confessor, died. His
cousin, the Duke of Normandy, claimed that the childless King had named
him heir during a visit to France, and that the other claimant to the
throne, Harold Godwinson, had pledged to support William when he was
shipwrecked in Normandy. The veracity of this tale, however, is
doubtful, and Harold took the crown upon King Edward\'s death. William,
however, invaded England in September, and defeated (and killed) Harold
at the famous Battle of Hastings in October.

## William II

In 1087, King William I died, and divided his lands and riches between
his three sons. The eldest, Robert, became Duke of Normandy; the second,
William, became King of England; the youngest, Henry, received silver.
Henry, however, eventually came to possess all of his father\'s
dominions. William II died without children, so Henry became King. Henry
later invaded Normandy, imprisoned his brother, and took over the Duchy
of Normandy.

## Henry I, Stephen and Matilda

Henry, whose sons had predeceased him, took an unprecedented step:
naming a woman as his heir. He declared that his daughter Matilda would
be the next Queen. However, Matilda\'s claim was disputed by Stephen, a
grandson of William I in the female line. After Henry I died in 1135,
Stephen usurped the throne, but he was defeated and imprisoned by
Matilda in 1141. Later, however, Matilda was defeated, and Stephen took
the throne.

Matilda, however, was not completely defeated. She escaped from
Stephen\'s army, and her own son, Henry Plantagenet, led a military
expedition against Stephen. Stephen was forced to agree to name Henry as
his heir, and when Stephen died in 1154, Henry took the throne,
commencing the Plantagenet dynasty.

ms:Perlembagaan dan Kerajaan United Kingdom: Dinasti
Normandy
