Here's why:
* The Norman Conquest: In 1066, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. This led to the Norman Conquest of England.
* Norman Dominance: The Normans brought with them their language, Norman French, which became the language of the ruling class, the aristocracy, and the courts.
* English as a Second Language: While English continued to be spoken by the common people, Norman French became the prestigious language of power and administration.
This dominance of Norman French lasted for several centuries, gradually influencing English and creating a rich mix of vocabulary and grammatical structures.