How William the Conqueror's 1066 Invasion Rewrote England's Land Ownership

William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England in 1066 after defeating King Harold II, triggering a sweeping redistribution of land. William rewarded his loyal supporters by granting them estates across the country, concentrating wealth among Norman nobles. To document and manage these holdings, William commissioned the Domesday Book in 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and resources across England. By the close of his reign, Norman nobles had come to control the bulk of English land and wealth. These changes fundamentally restructured England's feudal system and made tax collection significantly more efficient.