The When I say the term Normans, odds are, as an English speaker yourself, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the story of

William the Conqueror. You know, his military prowess, the cleverly timed journey

across the English channel. You know, 1066 is a universally known date. We do understand

that the conquest changed the fabric of life in England. Change the people in power, who

owned the land, religious institutions, buildings, and even landscape language and names.

And that's why this is a familiar story.

But it's also just one story about a group of people who would come to

dominate multiple regions across Europe. A group who, according to the 11th

century monk Gofredo Malaterra were.

Specially marked by cunning, despising their own inheritance in the hope of winning a greater,

eager after both gain and dominion, given to imitation of all kinds, holding a certain

mean between lavishness and greediness, that is perhaps uniting as they certainly did these two

seemingly opposite qualities. Their chief men were especially lavish through their desire of good report.

They were, moreover, a race skillful in flattery, given to the study of eloquence so that the very

boys were orators. A race altogether unbridled unless held

firmly down by the yoke of justice.

They were enduring of toil, hunger, and cold whenever fortune laid it on them, given to hunting and hawking, delighting in the pleasure of horses and of all the weapons and garb of war.

So who were the Normans?

And how did a bunch of errant Vikings come to change culture across the continent?

I'm Dr. Eleanor Yanega, and today on Gone Medieval from History Hit, we'll be talking about the rise of the Normans,

one of medieval Europe's most interesting cultural groups. Normandy, the landmass, was always a fairly prosperous area. The Romans held several villas there and Yveslo had a forum and was an important

pilgrimage site. The Romans eventually retreated and the area was then settled

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