Has French ever conquered England (even partially)? Norman was not French, but were Scandinavian, right?.?

Question

England has definitely conquered the northern part of France (Hundred Years War etc). But has French ever invade and occupy the part of England?

Answer 1

Normans were 'North- Men', originally from Scandanavia but naturalised in Normandy and they spoke Norman French a dialect of Old French.

The last invasion of Britain, by any nation, was in 1377 when the French landed on the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England and burned most of the towns and the villages to the ground. The native Islanders withdrew to Carisbrooke Castle in the geographical centre of the Island, and home to the ruling Lords, for safety and after a lengthy seige the Islanders armed with whatever came to hand, including farm implements fought back, massacred a large number of French in an area, still known today as Node Hill (from Old English noddy meaning dead) and eventually drove the French back into the sea.

The French haven't conquered Britain since 1066 and they never will 'cos they're more likely to run away from confrontation now than cause it!

Answer 2

The Normans were vikings who conquered and started living in France in the Normandy region. After they had been there for a couple of generations they invaded England and took it over. Before that I don't think there is any record of the french or the gauls (old school french) invading france. Previous invaders besides the normans were the real vikings and some german tribes, the angles and the jutes.

Answer 3

The Normans were French by the time of the Conquest, although they were originally of Scandinavian descent. The language of the Court and upper classes thereafter was French and for a couple of hundred years, at least, Kings of England were really more interested in their holdings and titles in France. Although your question refers to 'England', I guess it's ok to point out that there was a tiny invasion of part of Wales for a short time during the Napoleonic Wars.

Answer 4

I'm sure you're aware of Hastings - 1066. Since there is no real distinct break between the Germanic culture of the Franks and the distinctly European culture of the French, based as it is on several models—classical, Latin, German, Celtic, and Scandinavian. The area within the boundaries of France had one of the most dynamic histories of diversity in the European Middle Ages, occupied as it was at first by native Europeans, then the Celts, then the Romans, then the Germans, and, in the last wave of migration, and influx of Scandinavians. One can safely say what we now call French invaded.

Answer 5

In the last years of King John, the French invaded successfully, through the assistance of some of John's barons, and for a brief time, the Dauphin ruled England. Judging from the age and the time period (1216) it would have been the boy who later became Louis IX, later canonized as St. Louis. When John died, the barons pledged their loyalty to his young son Henry (Henry III, father of Longshanks) and they drove the French out.

Shakespeare's King John talks about this period, though Terry Jones "Medieval Lives"(I think) is a more entertaining view, posing it as a trivia question "who was King Louis of England?"

Answer 6

The Normans from what I remember were based out of Normandy, which is now part of France. So it's a bit of a catch 22, the conquerors came from "France", but did not call themselves French, so it's really up to you.

Answer 7

The French had a protection rigidity arranged to invade Britain yet cancelled while Britain paid Austria and Russia to declare conflict against France. France conquered/colonized England from 1066-1485. William the Conqueror (Maternally French/Gallo) replaced right into a Vassal to the King of France. The Plantagenet (French Colonizers of england and Descendants of William the Conqueror) and Capets (Which occupied England and Wales and not utilising a combat under Phillip Augustus Son and Isabelle "She Wolf of France") have been opponents who fought for hundreds of years. Roman Colonization of Greece lasted Centuries after the fall of Rome under the Byzantine Empire. French Colonization of england lasted Centuries after the fall of Normandy under the Plantagenet Empire. The Hundred Years conflict replaced into between predominantly Frenchmen scuffling with one yet another for administration of France. French replaced into the respected Language of england until the late fifteenth Century. England replaced right into a French Colony for almost 500 years! Vive l. a. France!

Answer 8

While William the Conqueror was descended from Rollo the walker he was of French blood as Rollo married a French women as did descendants so William and his men were of almost totally French descent.

Answer 9

Suggest you Google The Battle of Hastings... & NO not scandinavian!