England in the High Middle Ages includes the history of England between the
Norman Conquest in 1066 and the death of
King John, considered by some to be the last of the
Angevin kings of England, in 1216. A disputed succession and victory at the
Battle of Hastings led to the conquest of England by
William of Normandy in 1066. This linked the crown of England with possessions in France and brought a new aristocracy to the country that dominated landholding, government and the church. They brought with them the French language and maintained their rule through a system of castles and the introduction of a
feudal system of landholding. By the time of William's death in 1087, England formed the largest part of an Anglo-Norman empire, ruled by nobles with landholdings across England, Normandy and Wales. William's sons disputed succession to his lands, with
William II emerging as ruler of England and much of Normandy. On his death in 1100 his younger brother claimed the throne as
Henry I and defeated his brother
Robert to reunite England and Normandy. Henry was a ruthless yet effective king, but after the death of his only male heir in the
White Ship tragedy, he persuaded his barons to recognise his daughter
Matilda as heir. When Henry died in 1135 her cousin
Stephen of Blois had himself proclaimed king, leading to a civil war known as
The Anarchy. Eventually Stephen recognised Matilda's son
Henry as his heir and when Stephen died in 1154, he succeeded as Henry II.