After his victory at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror's army ravaged much of the country in order to attempt to beat the English into submission. He burnt Southwark but he strategically avoided London and waited at Berkhamsted for the city's officials to recognise him as king. The Londoners quickly acquiesced and their swift action led the new monarch to grant the city the first formal charter of his reign.

The charter showed remarkable generosity. The freedoms london's citizens had enjoyed in previous years were now enshrined in law. The exceptional status of London, which was answerable only to the King and enjoyed his full protection, was a strong influence in making it the outstanding commercial centre of the time.

William the Conqueror was crowned king of England in a ceremony at the newly finished Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066, just three months after his victory at the Battle of Hastings.

The new king built a castle at the watergate on the western edge of the city wall, not only to observe and intimidate the most important city in his new realm, but also to protect that city and its vital port facilities. This castle was expanded by later kings until it became the complex that we now call the Tower of London.

The Tower of London acted as the royal residence, and it was not until much later that it became a famous prison. During the medieval period it also acted as a royal mint, treasury, and housed the beginnings of a zoo.

In 1085, after almost two decades on the throne, William was still finding it difficult to collect taxes from his subjects (which were vital to maintain his army and finance the building of the strategic castles he needed to govern the land) and there continued to be squabbles over titles and land ownership. He therefore ordered a "census" of the wealth and property of the country, which became known as the Domesday Book.

Though London is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086, its population of both Normans and Anglo Saxons was growing fast. The charter and the newly found stability served to increase both trade and numbers as livelihoods became secure once more.

When William I died in 1087, his rule had left a major mark on London. The city was now the seat of power and had thrived during his reign. Moreover, he had changed the political landscape of the country by introducing new laws and allowing the influence of the church to increase significantly.

William's successor, William Rufus (William II), is noted for his building works including the great hall at Westminster, reinforcement of the Tower of London and rebuilding the Thames bridge which had been seriously damaged by flooding. He showed less regard for the people of London and his reign was blighted by conspiracy and intrigue often involving his brother Robert, who had inherited the title of Duke of Normandy but coveted the throne.

When William II's reign ended in suspicious circumstances after a 'hunting accident', his younger brother Henry succeeded him. Henry I tried to unite the country by marrying a descendent of the last Anglo Saxon King (who also happened to be the daughter of a Scottish King) and when Robert did eventually cross the Channel in 1106 to assert his right to the thrown, the Anglo Saxons fought with him. The two armies met at the Battle of Tinchebrai and, when Henry won, he became King over not just England, but Normandy too.

Henry was very popular in London and he was later to grant the city's residents an exceptional charter of liberties. London's relative freedom was unique within the country. On a not so bright note, he also created the post of "Exchequer" to improve the collection of taxes.

Henry I died in 1135 and left no son but a daughter, Matilda. Matilda's rival for the thrown was Henry's nephew, Steven. The Londoners claimed the right to elect their new monarch and, although they initially supported Matilda, her arrogant behavior when she occupied Westminster so angered the citizens that they rose in revolt in support of Stephen. Four years of civil war followed and, when Stephen was later held prisoner following the Battle of Lincoln, the people of London demanded the return of their king. The cities forces were eventually instrumental in banishing Matilda, from the kingdom.

However, poetic justice was service when Stephen I left no heir and, in 1153 Matilda's son, Henry, succeeded Stephen I to became Henry II.

After Norman London came Medieval london