Anglo-Norman

The Anglo-Normans were descendants of the Vikings, or Norsemen, who settled in northern France and later expanded into England, southern Italy, and Sicily. The term "Anglo-Norman" specifically refers to the Normans who settled in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.12

These settlers, originally pagan pirates from Scandinavia, adopted Christianity and the French language, but retained traits of restlessness, courage, and cunning. They established the duchy of Normandy and, under William the Conqueror, invaded England in 1066, leading to profound changes in the British Isles. The conquest resulted in the replacement of the English aristocracy with a Norman one and the introduction of Norman French as the language of the court, law, and administration, significantly influencing English literature and culture.1342