<P> With the collapse of Roman rule in the early 5th century, London ceased to be a capital, and the walled city of Londinium was effectively abandoned, although Roman civilisation continued in the area of St Martin - in - the - Fields until around 450 . From around 500, an Anglo - Saxon settlement known as Lundenwic developed slightly west of the old Roman city . By about 680, the city had regrown into a major port, although there is little evidence of large - scale production . From the 820s repeated Viking assaults brought decline . Three are recorded; those in 851 and 886 succeeded, while the last, in 994, was rebuffed . </P> <P> The Vikings established Danelaw over much of eastern and northern England; its boundary stretched roughly from London to Chester . It was an area of political and geographical control imposed by the Viking incursions which was formally agreed by the Danish warlord, Guthrum and the West Saxon king Alfred the Great in 886 . The Anglo - Saxon Chronicle recorded that Alfred "refounded" London in 886 . Archaeological research shows that this involved abandonment of Lundenwic and a revival of life and trade within the old Roman walls . London then grew slowly until about 950, after which activity increased dramatically . </P> <P> By the 11th century, London was beyond all comparison the largest town in England . Westminster Abbey, rebuilt in the Romanesque style by King Edward the Confessor, was one of the grandest churches in Europe . Winchester had previously been the capital of Anglo - Saxon England, but from this time on, London became the main forum for foreign traders and the base for defence in time of war . In the view of Frank Stenton: "It had the resources, and it was rapidly developing the dignity and the political self - consciousness appropriate to a national capital ." </P> <P> After winning the Battle of Hastings, William, Duke of Normandy was crowned King of England in the newly completed Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 . William constructed the Tower of London, the first of the many Norman castles in England to be rebuilt in stone, in the southeastern corner of the city, to intimidate the native inhabitants . In 1097, William II began the building of Westminster Hall, close by the abbey of the same name . The hall became the basis of a new Palace of Westminster . </P>

Why was london chosen as the capital of england
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