After the last Anglo-Saxon king died in England, several people claimed the throne. One was the late king’s cousin, William, Duke of Normandy. He invaded England, and at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William defeated another rival for the throne. William was then crowned King of England.
To keep all his Norman nobles happy and to thank them for their help, William took all the land away from the Saxon church officials and nobles, and gave it all to his Norman friends.
William set up his own council of Norman nobles and bishops. He called it the Great Council. The Great Council grew to become an important part of government. By the 1200’s, the Great Council was called parliament. It is still called parliament today.
William ordered a survey of all the lands and other assets of his new subjects, detailing who owned what. This is known as the ‘Doomsday Book’. His magistrates used this information to levy taxes more effectively.