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After the Roman conquest, all the Celtic tribes of Gaul (who were already fan of bear and charcuterie !) were incorporated into the provincia Lugdunensis (now Lyon). In the Lower-Empire, the province of Second Lyonnaise was created, with Rotomagus (now Rouen) as its capital city, and christianism spread over through the axis Lyon-Rouen, so that the first bishop of Rouen was appointed in the beginning of the IVth century. The borders of this province were more or less those of medieval and modern Normandy. Six other cities, which were the former capital cities of the Gaul tribes, became a bishopric: Evreux, Lisieux, Bayeux, Coutances Avranches and Sées. From the IIIrd to the VIth century, the coast of Normandy was attacked by many invaders : the Saxons, who established a few settlements in Bessin (now the coastal part of Calvados) , the Franks, and around 800, under Charlemagne, the Norsemen. In 911, a Danish army led by the Norwegian Rollon (Hrolfr) was defeated near Chartres. Rollon, after negotiations with king of France Charles le Simple. acquired what is now known as the Upper-Normandy (departments of Eure and Seine-Maritime). Rollon's Vikings were christened and appointed defendors of Normandy against the other Vikings. This is how was born the duchy of Normandy. One of Rollon's successor, was called Guillaume, sixth duc of Normandy and famous under the name of Guillaume le Conquérant. Born in Falaise, he reorganize his duchy and his army, contribute to the buildings of churches and cathedrals, and landed in England on 28 September 1066 where he defeated the English Army in Hastings on 14 October 1066. Guillaume was crowned King of England in Westminster on 25 December 1066. The conquest of England is depicted on the famous Tapestry of Bayeux. Later, in 1204, Philippe-Auguste, incorporated Normandy and a part of the southern neighbouring areas, to the France realm. Most of the Norman barons,emigrated to England. During the centuries which follow, religion and suverenity place Normandy at the center of french history. On June 6th, 1944 (D.Day), the Allies land on low-normandy beaches: it is the beginning of french and european liberation from nazism and occupation. A hundred kilometers large defence wall is established between Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and Orne. It is the biggest operation of landing of the second wold war.
Links : A good site about Normandy History
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