Photography of Joan of Arc Tower

Despite the difficult start where the young Duke has to face opposition from a part of the Norman aristocracy, peace is essential in the duchy and the ducal power is reinforced.

William grows his ancestors’ past alliances and develops new ones, imposing himself as a territorial prince with international reputation.

Confirmation charter of William the Conqueror (patronus of the Normans and King of the English) to Fécamp Abbey of Steyning (Estaninges), West Sussex, which King Edward (the Confessor) made to the abbey. He also grants the manor of Bury to the abbey in compensation for the claim which they made against him for the property which they had in Hastings (Hastinges) in king Edward’s time.

In the Middle Ages, these crosses were placed on the dead, both in France and England, along with a funeral pot.​
They have the shape of the Maltese cross and remember quite well the consecration crosses and crosses of cemeteries in 12th century.

After the Conquest, Sussex was divided into administrative areas known as ” rapes “. There were three in East Sussex – Hastings, Pevensey and Lewes. Count of Eu received the rape of Hastings, Count of Mortain that of Pevensey, while Guillaume de Varenne became Lord of Lewes.​

Upon Edward the Confessor’s death in 1066, Harold is crowned King of England, and takes the throne which amounted to William the Conqueror.​
When Harold refuses to give the kingdom back to him, William decides to raise an army and get across the Channel.

Helmeted head in stone Historical Background Helmeted head in stone, supposedly  of Du Guesclin – 15th century Meant to decorate…

In late 12th century and early 13th century, in the French regions
dominated by the Kings of England from the dynasty of Plantagenêt,
english coins circulated frequently along with local coins.​

Photographs of the re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings at the Battle Abbey Pageant in July 1932.

(ESRO: PCA 236/3, 5)

William de Warenne and Gundrada Historical Background William de Warenne was an early Norman baron who fought with William the…

Bayeux Tapestry, or Queen Matilda’s Tapestry, or even older Tale of the Conquest is a 70 meter-long embroidery, composed of 9 panels of linen cloth, showing 58 scenes, each being captioned in Latin.​

Objects on this board were all presented to the departmental Commission of Antiquities on 23 May 1871.
Preserved in the Museum of Antiquities, they were discovered in several places in Seine -Maritime and Eure between 1840 and 1871 ( Aubermesnil-les-Erables, Caudebec, Pîtres ) .

First Earl of Normandy, Rollo has generated much controversy. From Denmark or Norway, his story is known to us through Dudo of Saint -Quentin, Norman chronicler of 11th century.​

Henry abbot of Tréport (in Normandy) reminds that tenements at Bolinton and Pebsham (in Bexhill), Playden and Stand was sold to the abbot and convent of Robertsbridge, for £66 13s 4d.

Normandy had laid down in writing a set of legal rules, called the Très ancien coutumier de Normandie in the late part of the 12th century. The second part of these rules would be put in writing after Normandy became part of France in the first half of the 13th century and was to remain in force until the Revolution.

English alabaster carving depicting the murder of Saint Thomas Becket, second half of the 15th century. Semi-relief. Musée des Antiquités, inv. 626.

Large Protestant communities became established in Upper Normandy, centred mainly on Rouen and Dieppe, following the Protestant Reformation. The Huguenots took control of Rouen in April 1562 shortly after the massacre of Vassy, which marked the start of the civil war, and indulged in large-scale destruction, including mutilation of the statues in the cathedral.

This coin show that Rollo’s dynasty had become established. It bears the likeness of Rollo’s immediate successor, William Longsword, his son from a first marriage (927-942)

These silver pennies, minted in England after his victorious battle, show the face of William the Conqueror.

The first, minted in London, dates from 1066-1068
The others, from 1072-1074 and 1083-1086, were minted in Exeter, Bristol and Wilton.

Henry V was able to assert his authority in Normandy thanks to his control of Rouen. The English stayed for…