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William the Conqueror was crowned King of England in 1066, following his famous victory at the Battle of Hastings. He granted Londoners special privileges and built a castle (now known as the Tower of London) to keep them in order. Westminster was the seat of the royal court while its neighbour, the City of London, was the trading and commercial centre. London eventually took the title of capital of England from Winchester in the 12th century. London grew steadily over the centuries, but the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed many parts of the city. Re-building work took a long time but the city thrived once again, partly due to the rise of the British Empire. London's influence drew people from other countries and it was the largest city in the world for a long period during the British domination. Today, London is still a major force as a centre of finance and learning. The International Olympic Committee recently awarded London the 2012 Summer Olympics, making it the first city to hold the Games three times. | |
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