On this day in history–October 14, 1066–William, duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II of England at the Battle of Hastings. Because of this battle, William became known as William the Conqueror. Just as Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, so William became the first Norman king. William’s reign introduced many changes into English society, not the least of which was the evolution, over time, of Anglo-Saxon and old French into the modern English language.