864

950

Earliest surviving castle in France built

Earliest surviving castle in France built at Doué-la-Fontaine (Maine-et-Loire).

1035

William the Bastard becomes duke of Normandy

William the Bastard, aged 8, becomes duke of Normandy.

1051

First castles built in England

First castles built in England at Richard's Castle, Ewyas Harold in Herefordshire and Clavering in Essex.

1066

Duke William invades England

Duke William invades England. Early castles are erected at Pevensey, Hastings and Dover.

1067-8

William builds castles in the face of rebellion

William faces rebellions all over England, prompting him to build castles in major towns and cities, such as Exeter, Warwick, Nottingham, York, Lincoln, Huntingdon and Cambridge.

1069

William lays Yorkshire to waste

A national rebellion against William's rule supported by the Danes and focused on the north of England prompts a savage reaction from the king. After retaking York and building a second castle, he lays the county of Yorkshire to waste.

1070-1

William creates power-blocks of supporters

William continues his draconian policy of conquest and dispossesses Englishmen on a grand scale to create new power-blocks for his trusted Norman supporters. Roger of Montgomery is made Earl of Shropshire, soon to become the English county with more castles than any other.

1086

The Domesday Book is compiled

The Domesday Book is compiled to set a seal on 20 years of chaotic land acquisition. It mentions around 50 castles. Other documentary sources name a further 50. Altogether, around 500-600 castles are reckoned to have been built by this date.

1087

William dies

William I dies after falling from his horse at Mantes in France.

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