2016 marks the 950th anniversary of the Norman invasion of England and William the Conqueror’s crowning at Westminster on December 25th, 1066.
To mark this occasion, Normandy commemorates these events by exhibitions, festivals and other events throughout the region. Medieval street markets, music, dance, theatre, reenactments, workshops, sound and light shows and exhibitions will be held in many towns and villages associated with William the Conqueror and his momentous expedition.
During the 10th and the 13th centuries, the period of the Dukes of Normandy, the region began to gain some independence. Starting with the Norman warrior Rollo (846-932) in 911 and then with William the Conqueror (1028-1087) and Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199), kings of England and Dukes of Normandy.
Rollo or Rollon is the Christian-Latin name for Hrolfr, given after his baptism after the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911) with the French King Charles the Simple (879-929). Rollo became a vassal of the French king, but was in fact independent and continued to conquer other territories in nowadays Normandy, but protected the French king against other Norman invaders. The capital of the Duchy was the seat of the archbishopric Rouen and his Christianization guaranteed the support of the Church. They built castles, churches, abbeys and other architectural masterpieces and governed the country in an effective, modern way, which would class Normandy as one of the richest provinces in the kingdom. (Source and further information: www.medieval-normandy.com).