The Early Medieval period covers the Norman Conquest in 1066 up to the end of Stephen’s reign in 1154.    This period covers the reign of four kings who were William I (the Conqueror), William II Rufus, Henry I and Stephen. The Normans successfully invaded England in 1066 and followed on with conquering Wales and Ireland.  The Normans came from Normandy in Northern France and were the descendents of Northman, which comes from the Viking for Norse Men.