It is surely the most famous date in English history. On 14 October 1066 William of Normandy’s army defeated and killed King Harold at the battle of Hastings. It was the decisive moment in the Norman conquest of England, which heralded the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and brought profound changes to the country whose effects are still felt today.To mark the 950th anniversary of William’s great victory, we’ve put together this collector’s edition, which charts the history of the Normans, from their Viking origins to the reign of their last English monarch. You will discover how the rulers of a small patch of land in northern France managed to conquer the powerful Anglo-Saxon realm, and spread their wings even further afield to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Plus, you’ll find explorations of some of the Normans’ most famous achievements, including the Bayeux tapestry, Domesday Book and their astonishing castles and cathedrals.The Story of the Normansbrings together some articles that have appeared previously inBBC History Magazinealong with lots of new content commissioned specially for this edition. All of the pieces are written by expert historians and, as you’ll see, there is still plenty of lively debate about the key moments and characters of the Norman age. Even at a distance of almost 1,000 years, history rarely stands still.