Can you imagine England and the English people speaking French? After the Norman conquest, two languages were basically spoken in the island: French was the language of the new king and the Norman aristocracy who followed him. Meanwhile, Anglo-Saxon peasants, farmers and the rest of the English lower classes continued speaking English. This situation wouldn't change for many, many years! However, English never stopped being the language of the popular classes in England, and this means that the English language would never die or suffer.  

England, Wales and the South of Scotland were "Normanised". The Normans had a strong military and administrative control of the island.The different Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had more obligations to their new Lord and king in London, which was the capital of all the English. The government was totally Norman, and the English were just servants, although William had said before the invasion that he wanted to govern England through English administrators. Nice words, but just words.

William gave lands to his followers, and soon Britain was full of Norman farms and manors. The Norman aristocrats paid with their military service and loyalty to William. In addition, he collected taxes on land property because he wanted to get money to buy all properties from the Viking farmers and give them to the Normans. William also had the power to give lands and churches to the bishops, who were under royal control as well. 

William "the Conqueror" was a terrible tyrant who devastated large areas of Britain, who brought peace to the North through violence and cruelty, but he was also a clever man and a good administrator who established excellent cultural and economic relationships with France, Ireland and the rest of Europe. He introduced England into the European Middle Ages, (the Vikings couldn't make it )and his social, military and administrative model would make England the most powerful nation in Europe in the following years. Only France could be a rival, and soon both countries would not be friends, but terrible enemies.

But that's another story, isn't it? By the way, have a look at the pictures along these pages. It's the BAYEUX TAPESTRY, a beautiful description of the Norman invasion of Britain. This is just a small part of the huge tapestry. The web has many sites where you can see the whole work, and download it, of course!