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London, England - A Brief History 43AD - 1529AD

A couple of low hills in the middle of aon the north coast of France, invaded Britain
marsh don't sound like a very promising startto claim what he believed to be his
for a world class city, but that's just howinheritance: the crown of England.Once
London, England began, over two millenniavictorious, William set about getting his new
ago.And the story of its development is askingdom organized. Not only did he cause the
exciting as any thriller.There was probably awriting of the Doomsday Book -- the first
settlement of sorts when the Romans invadedrecord of the lands and property of the whole
Britain for the second and decisive time,country, he started a massive building
back in 43AD. But it was probably Romanprogram of both castles and cathedrals.One of
engineers who built the first proper bridgethe first castles constructed was the Tower
across the River Thames in order to marchof London, in the old Roman city, right on
further north. From these first steps grewthe banks of the River Thames. It became
the Roman city of Londinium.Today, the natureWilliam's royal palace and continued so until
of the London topography gives a clue to the1529. It was, by then, the reign of Henry
marshy nature of its origins. Look at any mapVIII, who, having seized the Palace of
of London and the snake-like route of theWhitehall, a little way up river, from his
Thames still betrays the meandering nature oferstwhile chum, Cardinal Wolsey, relocated to
its original marshy course. The twin hills --there. Thereafter, the Tower became a
on one of which now sits St Paul's Cathedralprison, notably for Wolsey, several of
-- rising from this marshland would haveHenry's soon to be ex-wives and any others
instantly appealed to the military eye of awho dared to contest the king's right to
Roman general as a good defensive area upondivorce at will.That shift of the monarchy
which to build a fort.As was their custom,from the old Roman city to the Westminster
the Romans would have probably used timberarea, coupled with the rising prosperity of
for their first fort, replacing that speedilyEngland, meant London started to split into
built structure later with locally quarriedtwo camps. The rich merchants in the old
stone, brought in by the river. Gradually theRoman city, steadfastly resisted any attempts
Roman city become an enclosed one, roughly aat restrictions by the government to the west
mile square. The name "Square Mile" stillin Whitehall.For the government's part, they
exists today, as the informal name for thehad to tread warily because they needed the
City of London -- now one of the world'sfinancial acumen of the City of London to
leading financial centers.Nearly a thousandprovide them with their revenue. So started a
years after the Romans, a rival to Londiniumwary mutual respect and loathing, which
arose. In 1065, the King of England, Edwardcontinues, to a certain extent, right up to
the Confessor, completed his church ofthe present day.Jon Michael is a lifelong
Westminster, on an island in the marsh, theresident of London, England and his hobby is
Isle of Thorney just west of what was, bydiscovering the hidden stories about this
now, called London.1065 was a significantfascinating world class city. Add to all that
date in the history of London -- and, indeed,the daily honing of his knowledge of London
Britain -- it being the final year of Saxonas a taxi cab driver and you need look no
rule. The following year, after the death offurther for information on the real London.
Edward, William the Conqueror, from Normandy,



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