Which area mainly in the UK did the Normans settle?

Question

what is a short history of these people too, btw?

and can you still tell the difference in the facial features of people from Normandy France today even you think?

why and how is this?

Thanks for your answers!

Answer 1

That's four different questions and a complete answer would take a whole book.

In 1066 the Normans initially took over almost all the lands previously owned by Saxon noblemen; by the time of Domesday Book (1086 - 87) almost no Saxon landholders remained anywhere in England - the theory goes that the displaced thegns and earls went to Scotland, Scandinavia, Russia and other parts of Europe. Their subsequent history has never been fully researched.

Norman knights then obtained land in Scotland during the early 12th century and around the coastal areas of Wales (it is only around the coast that castles were built); several attempts were made to conquer Ireland but again only small lodgements were successful. The Normans occupied and controlled the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and even Kernow (Cornwall) which at the time was like another country - its inhabitants did not speak Old English but Kernowek, related to southern Welsh.

In 1138 a very large Scots army invaded northern England; in its ranks were large numbers of displaced Saxon lowlanders and Norman knights who supported David king of Scotland. So at the ensuing Battle of the Standard just a few miles north of Northallerton, there were English and Normans on both sides (the Scots army was slaughtered and retired in confusion).

Short history: Around 911 AD, Charles III (king of the West Franks) was forced to grant a huge area of land to the Viking chieftain Rollo, where a large Viking settlement was established. Rollo was theoretically a vassal of the French king but not so's you would notice. This became Normandy.

These Norsemen gradually adapted the French language of the time, but with a distinct dialect and slightly different vocabulary; they also adopted castle building and cavalry tactics - improving on both to the point that they could outfight the French. They also adopted Old French names: William, Adam, Robert, Roger, Richard, Hugh, Odo, Guy, Waleran and so on instead of their traditional Nordic names.

This all explains why the Norman leader William was only "Duke of Normandy" (he was still in theory a subject of the king of France), but became king of England. The Normans of the 11th and 12th centuries never considered themselves to be French, despite the views of the English.

There is today only a very minor genetic difference between the people of Normandy and the Bretons and other French - you would need DNA tests to prove any difference in origin. Facial differences - no, I doubt it very much.

Answer 2

battle of Hastings was the starting place where they defeated the Anglo Saxons. There are Norman fortifications all along the english coast, some in the south west were never actually defended in battle. I am not sure about further north.

Answer 3

The Norman invasion was not followed by any mass migration of Normans into England Those that did settle inevitably settled in the South East corner of England nearer their ancestral home and the seat of the (new) (Norman) royal power.Eventually the Normans extended their influence  over the whole of the UK but did so politically and militarily and via the feudal system rather than by  replacing the original Anglo Saxon population with the Norman French.

As to facial features apparently William The Conqueror had a big nose but who hasn't these days ??

Answer 4

everywar

Answer 5

Yeah the first answer above is right

Answer 6

They essentially settled in all of England. It would be very hard to find anyone in England not of some Norman decent, along with Anglo-Saxon as well.

Where you can see the Norman traits destinguished is in Sicily. There you will see numerous dark, olive skinned folks with blond hair, aparently from their Norman decent.

Answer 7

As far as I recall, all of England and the Welsh Marches. I don' t think any distinguishing facial features can be spotted today. Have a look at the Domesday Book for some idea of how widespread Norman Rule was after the invasion. However, if you go forward even 100 years or more to the time of Richard I and King John, I believe that there was still a distinction between Norman and English!

Hope that helps

Answer 8

kent -lot's of normandy castles and it's near the coast to france and  they have big noses