Editing History of London (section)

===Norman and Medieval London (1066 – late 15th century)===
{{Main|Norman and Medieval London}}
[[File:towrlndn.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|A depiction of the imprisonment of [[Charles, Duke of Orléans]] in the [[Tower of London]], from a 15th-century manuscript. [[Old London Bridge]] is in the background]]

The new Norman regime established new fortresses within the city to dominate the native population. By far the most important of these was the [[Tower of London]] at the eastern end of the city, where the initial timber fortification was rapidly replaced by the construction of the first stone castle in England. The smaller forts of [[Baynard's Castle]] and [[Montfichet's Castle]] were also established along the waterfront. King William also granted a [[charter]] in 1067 confirming the city's existing rights, privileges and laws. London was a centre of England's nascent [[History of the Jews in England (1066–1290)|Jewish population]], the first of whom arrived in about 1070.<ref>Jacobs, Joseph. TITLE. JewishEncyclopedia.com. 2018-07-04. URL:http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10098-london. Accessed: 2018-07-04. (Archived by WebCite® at)</ref> Its growing self-government was consolidated by the election rights granted by [[John of England|King John]] in 1199 and 1215.

On 17 October 1091 a [[London tornado of 1091|tornado]] rated [[TORRO scale|T8]] on the [[TORRO]] scale (equivalent to an F4 on the [[Fujita scale]]) hit London;{{cn|date=March 2025}} it directly struck the [[St Mary-le-Bow|church of St. Mary-le-Bow]]; four [[rafter]]s {{cvt|7.9|m|0}} long were said to have been buried so deep into the ground that only {{cvt|1.2|m|0}} was visible. Other churches in the area were destroyed as well; it was reported to have also destroyed over 600 houses (although most of them were primarily wood) and hit the [[London Bridge]], after the tornado the bridge was rebuilt in stone. The tornado caused two deaths and an unknown number of injuries; this tornado is mentioned in [[chronicle]]s by [[Florence of Worcester]] and [[William of Malmesbury]], the latter of the two describing it as "a great spectacle for those watching from afar, but a terrifying experience for those standing near".{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In 1097, [[William Rufus]], the son of William the Conqueror, began the construction of Westminster Hall, which became the focus of the [[Palace of Westminster]].

In 1176, construction began of the most famous incarnation of [[London Bridge]] (completed in 1209), which was built on the site of several earlier timber bridges. This bridge would last for 600 years, and remained London's only bridge across the [[River Thames]] until 1739.

[[Antisemitism|Antisemitic]] violence against [[Jews]] took place in 1190, after it was rumoured that the new King had ordered their massacre after they had presented themselves at his coronation.<ref name=Jacobs>{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Joseph|title=England|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5764-england|website=[[Jewish Encyclopedia]]|publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com|year=1906}}</ref>

In 1216, during the [[First Barons' War]] London was occupied by [[Louis VIII of France|Prince Louis of France]], who had been called in by the baronial rebels against [[John of England|King John]] and was acclaimed as King of England in [[Old St. Paul's Cathedral|St Paul's Cathedral]]. However, following John's death in 1217 Louis's supporters reverted to their [[Plantagenet]] allegiance, rallying round John's son [[Henry III of England|Henry III]], and Louis was forced to withdraw from England.

In 1224, after an accusation of [[ritual murder]], the Jewish community was subjected to a steep punitive levy. Then in 1232, Henry III confiscated the principal [[synagogue]] of the London Jewish community because he claimed their chanting was audible in a neighbouring church.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Jewish Community of London |url=https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/london-england |publisher=[[The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot]] |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-date=25 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725165154/https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/london-england |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1264, during the [[Second Barons' War]], [[Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]]'s rebels occupied London and killed 500 Jews while attempting to seize records of debts.<ref name=Mundill2010>{{Cite book |publisher = Continuum |ol = 24816680M |isbn = 9781847251862 |location = London |title = The King's Jews |url = https://archive.org/details/kingsjewsmoneyma00mund |author = Robin R. Mundill |lccn = 2010282921 |date = 2010 |oclc = 466343661 }}; see p. 88–99</ref>

London's Jewish community was forced to leave England by the [[Edict of Expulsion]] issued by [[Edward I of England|King Edward I]] in 1290. They left for France, Holland and farther afield; their property was seized, and many suffered robbery and murder as they departed.<ref name=Jacobs/>

Over the following centuries, London would shake off the heavy French cultural and linguistic influence which had been there since the times of the Norman conquest. The city would figure heavily in the development of [[Early Modern English]].
[[File:Map of London, 1300.svg|thumb|300px|London {{Circa|1300}}]]

During the [[Peasants' Revolt]] of 1381, London was invaded by rebels led by [[Wat Tyler]]. A group of peasants stormed the [[Tower of London]] and executed the [[Lord Chancellor]], Archbishop [[Simon Sudbury]], and the [[Lord Treasurer]]. The peasants looted the city and set fire to numerous buildings. Tyler was stabbed to death by the Lord Mayor [[William Walworth]] in a confrontation at [[Smithfield, London|Smithfield]] and the revolt collapsed.

Trade increased steadily during the [[England in the Middle Ages|Middle Ages]], and London grew heavily as a result. In 1100, London's population was somewhat more than 15,000. By 1300, it had grown to roughly 80,000. London lost at least half of its population during the [[Black Death]] in the mid-14th century, but its economic and political importance stimulated a quick recovery despite further epidemics. Trade in London was organised into various [[guild]]s, which effectively controlled the city, and elected the [[Lord Mayor of the City of London]].

Medieval London was made up of narrow and twisting streets, and most of the buildings were made from combustible materials such as timber and straw, which made fire a constant threat, while sanitation in cities was of low-quality.