Conquests in Eleventh-Century England: 1016, 1066

This book explores the significant conquests of 1016 and 1066 in England, revealing their interconnected impacts on the nation’s history and culture.

In Conquests in Eleventh-Century England: 1016, 1066, the authors delve into the tumultuous events that shaped England during the eleventh century, focusing on two significant conquests that transformed the nation. The first of these, the Danish conquest of 1016, marked the end of years of raids and invasions, culminating in the establishment of foreign rule. While often overshadowed by the more famous Norman Conquest of 1066, the earlier conquest laid the groundwork for the latter, intertwining the fates of England and Scandinavia in a complex web of conflict and cooperation.

The book offers a multidisciplinary approach, examining the political, legal, and religious ramifications of these conquests, as well as their influence on art, literature, and culture. It highlights how these events not only affected the elite ruling classes but also the everyday lives of the populace in a society that was both changing and hybrid. By placing England within broader British, Scandinavian, and European contexts, the authors challenge the insular perspectives that have long dominated scholarship on this period.

Through a collection of essays, Conquests in Eleventh-Century England: 1016, 1066 provides fresh insights and new documentary evidence, bridging the gap between the tenth and twelfth centuries. The contributors, including notable scholars in the field, engage deeply with the significance of these conquests, revealing the continuities in Anglo-Saxon, Danish, Norman, and Angevin cultures that shaped England's history.