The year 1066 is significant in English history primarily because of the Norman Conquest, which saw William the Conqueror invade England and defeat King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings. This event marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England and the beginning of Norman domination. The conquest led to widespread changes in the English social structure, language, and governance, as the Normans introduced feudalism and brought a new aristocracy. Additionally, the fusion of Norman and Anglo-Saxon cultures drastically altered England’s path, influencing its legal and linguistic development for centuries.