It could be said that the Viking raids did not stop when the Norse stopped participating in them. If it is recognized that the Normans were descendants of the Vikings, both in their characteristics and military objectives and in their genealogy, then one could recognize their military efforts against England, France, Sicily and southern Europe. Italy as continuous Viking raids. It seems quite clear that when Charles the Simples gave the Viking leader Rollo the territory surrounding the Lower Seine in 911, there was no pretense that he or his followers would become "French". Soon the dukes of Normandy, as Rollo and his descendants came to be known, paid homage to the French king and fought with him in his battles, obligated, it seems, to a code similar to that of the king's other nobles. However, the new religious, linguistic and family ties never seemed to suppress their military instincts or their desire for further conquests and invasions. This situation worsened in the second half of the 11th century, when two successful Norman invasions took place. The first was led by a Norman adventurer, Robert Guiscard, and his brothers against Sicily and southern Italy; the second was accomplished by the Norman Duke William, known at the time as "the Bastard" for his illegitimate birth and later as "the Conqueror" for his subjugation of England. The Normans first sighted Sicily and southern Italy in 1006 when a group of Norman pilgrims returning from the Holy Land joined as mercenaries in the wars fought there first between the Italians and the Byzantines and later against the Muslim Arabs, who tried to take advantage of these wars to conquer these regions. In doing so, they became very rich, and when news of this...... middle of newspaper... England. At the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066, Harold defeated the Norwegians; Harald Hardrada was killed in the fighting. However, King Harold was unable to celebrate this victory, for news quickly reached him that, while he was in the north, William and the Normans had landed in the south. The evidence shows that William planned a long campaign, but it would not be necessary. Harold, fueled by his recent victory, chose instead to immediately face the Norman invaders in battle. Fighting between two armies took place on Senlac Hill, north of Hastings, on 14 October 1066. After what one historian described as an "unusual battle" due to its unusual duration, William's forces carried away, killing Harold, his brothers and many men. their soldiers. Although there would still be limited resistance, with this victory William conquered England..