Why the Normans?

Migration – The Normans, 846-1204

In this course, Professor Leonie Hicks (Canterbury Christ Church University) discusses migration to and from Britain during the era of the Normans. In the first module, we look at the why the Normans came to settle in Britain. After this, we explore the origins of the Normans. Then, we look at why the Normans went to Italy. In the fourth module, we focus in to look at how the Normans came to settle in Britain. Finally, we explore the questions of whether the Normans can be considered conquerers or assimilators.

Why the Normans?

In this module, we look at the why the Normans came to settle in Britain. In particular, we will look at the key questions: (i) Who were the Normans, and where did they originally come from?; (ii) How did the Normans' migration from Scandinavia to Normandy occur, and what historical impact did this movement have?; (iii) What motivated the Normans to move from Normandy to other parts of Europe, such as Southern Italy and England?; (iv) How did the Normans establish their rule in England following the Battle of Hastings in 1066?; (v) What role did the Normans play in the Crusades, particularly during the First Crusade?; (vi) What lesser-known regions did the Normans conquer, and what was their impact there?; (vii) Why is there a rich historical record of the Normans' activities and migrations?; (viii) How did the Normans use historical writing to legitimise their conquests and establish a narrative for their people?; (ix) What critical perspectives did later chroniclers have on the Normans, and how did interpretations of their actions evolve over time?; and (x) Who were some of the key chroniclers who documented Norman history, and what perspectives did they offer on Norman activities in different regions?