How William the Conqueror Changed the Way You Speak

William the Conqueror took England’s crown in 1066. His conquest helped transform the English language, but why didn’t English disappear? From the Battle of Hastings to the words we use today, Retold explores how Norman rule brought French-speaking elites to England, while ordinary people continued speaking English. Through castles, households and written records, discover how power and everyday contact reshaped a language over centuries. We also unpack the familiar cow and beef story and why the real history is more complicated. A crown changed hands. A language changed shape. Subscribe to Retold for illustrated stories about extraordinary lives and the history they left behind. What part of English’s history surprised you most? Tell us in the comments. #WilliamTheConqueror #EnglishLanguage #History