Military history of England

England has a long and proud military history. It dates all the way back to the Romans when they conquered Britain. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes from the continent also helped shape England's early military history as they invaded and settled in the British isles. The Normans conquered England in 1066 and introduced a feudal system to Britain. This system relied heavily on armies of knights to defend the kingdom. In the 1200s, England embarked on its famous wars against France, known as the Hundred Years War. During this time, England developed powerful longbow archers, which proved to be an effective weapon against the French. Between the 1600s and the 1800s, England fought wars against other European countries and their colonies in the New World and the Caribbean. Its navy was also one of the most powerful in the world during this time. It won major victories against the French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleonic Wars. In the 20th century, England also played a major role in both World War I and World War II. It fought alongside its allies, such as the United States, in many battles and helped defeat Nazi Germany. Today, England is a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, commonly known as NATO, and continues to be a major military power.