When William the Conqueror invaded, and subsequently

conquered England in 1066, he unified the English lands with his own dukedom of Normandy. His son Henry I would therefore rule as King of England and Duke of Normandy. His son, Henry I and grandson, Henry II, ruled not only England and Normandy, but in addition ruled the French county of Anjou and the dukedom of Aquitaine. In these years, powerful nobles in England owned land and exerted considerable influence in large parts of western France.

In 1204, King John, son of Henry II lost Normandy and Anjou to the French king, Philip II, and by 1558, the English had lost their last remaining possession in France, the port town of Calais.