William "the Conqueror" (William "the Conqueror") "William the Bastard" FitzRobert Duke of Normandy, King of England (1024-1087) » Family tree Den Hollander en Van Dueren den Hollander

Personal data William "the Conqueror" (William "the Conqueror") "William the Bastard" FitzRobert Duke of Normandy, King of England

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Nickname is William the Bastard.
He was born on October 14, 1024 in Château de Base-Falaise
Normandie France.
He was christened in Caen, In Saint Stephens.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1024 in Falaise, Calvados, France.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As an Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As an Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest,As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As an Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As an Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Alternative: He was christened in the year 1087 in Years of reign in Normandy.
He was baptized in adulthood in Hermenville, Rouen, Normandie, France.
He was baptized in the year 1066 in Norman Conquest, As An Adult.
Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in SGEOR-St. George Utah.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in SGEOR.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877 in St George Utah Temple, St George, Washington, Utah, Verenigde Staten.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on July 31, 1877.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on May 28, 1923.
Alternative: Baptized (at 8 years of age or later) by the priesthood authority of the LDS church on September 21, 1993.
Occupations:

on July 3, 1035 DucNormandie France in Normandie.
on December 5, 1066 KingEngland in England.
King of England, Duke of Normandy, The Conqueror of England, Duqye de Normandía, Rey de Inglaterra, William the Conqueror, King Wiliam I of England, William II, Norman Conqueror, Comte de Normandie, fought in the Norman Conquest, King of the English, Kun.

Resident:

in the year 1035: became 7th Duke of Normandy.

(Misc Event) from 1035 till September 9, 1087.
(Misc Event) in the year 1035.
(Misc Event) from June 3, 1035 till September 9, 1087Normandy France.
(Misc Event) in the year 1042.
(Misc Event) in the year 1042.
(Misc Event) in the year 1046.
(Misc Event) in the year 1047Caen
Lower-Normandy France.
(Misc Event) in the year 1052London
England.
(Misc Event) in the year 1054France.
(Misc Event) in the year 1057France.
(Misc Event) in the year 1062France.
(Misc Event) in the year 1064.
(Misc Event) in the year 1066.
(Misc Event) in the year 1066.
(Misc Event) in the year 1066England.
(Misc Event) in the year 1066.
(Misc Event) in the year 1066England.
(Misc Event) in the year 1066.
(Misc Event) on September 28, 1066 in PevenseyEngland.
(Misc Event) on October 14, 1066 in Senlac HillEngland.
(Misc Event) on October 14, 1066 in Senlac Hill.
(Misc Event) on October 14, 1066.
(Misc Event) on October 24, 1066England.
(Misc Event) from December 25, 1066 till September 9, 1087England.
(Misc Event) on December 25, 1066 in Westminster AbbeyLondon
Greater London UK.
(Misc Event) on December 25, 1066.
(Misc Event) on December 25, 1066Greater London UK.
(Misc Event) in the year 1078London
UK.
(Misc Event) December 1085 in EnglandUK.
(Misc Event) in the year 1086.
(Misc Event) August 1086 in EnglandUK.
(Misc Event) on September 9, 1087Rouen
Upper-Normandy France.
He died on September 9, 1087 in Prieuré de Saint-Gervais, he was 62 years oldRouen
Haute-Normandie France.
He is buried on November 2, 1087 in Abbatiale Saint-Étienne, Abbaye aux HommesCaen
Basse-Normandie France.
A child of Robert FitzRichard and Herleva

Household of William "the Conqueror" (William "the Conqueror") "William the Bastard" FitzRobert Duke of Normandy, King of England

He is married to Matilda.

They got married in the year 1053 at Cathédrale d'Eu, he was 28 years oldEu
Haute-Normandie France.

Child(ren):

Adela de Normandie 1066-1137
Henry 1068-1135

Notes about William "the Conqueror" (William "the Conqueror") "William the Bastard" FitzRobert Duke of Normandy, King of England

==========

# ID: I08663
# Name: William I 'The Conquerer' Of Normandy 1
# Sex: M
# Birth: 14 OCT 1024 in France, Normandy, Calvados, Falaise 2
# Death: BET 9 AND 10 SEP 1087 in Hermenbraville, Rouen, Normandie
# Burial: Abbaye De St. Etienne, Caen, Normandie
# Christening: 1066 Norman Conquest, As An Adult
# Note:

William I (of England), called The Conqueror (1027-87), first Norman king of England (1066-87) , who has been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in western European history.

Born in Falaise, France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy (die d 1035), and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, King of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, King of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders (died 1083), daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders (died 1067) and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Conquest of England

About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council ) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II (died 1073) for a Norman invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066.On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.

The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.

William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III MacDuncan (died 1093 ) to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger Fitzwilliam, Earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert (1054?-1134), who later became Robert II, Duke of Normandy.

His Achievements

One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086 .

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. He died in Rouen on September 7 and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope. William was succeeded by his third-born son, William II.

Biographic entry: B1581

"William I (of England)," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation

Father: Robert I 'The Magnificent' Of Normandy b: ABT 999 in France, Normandy
Mother: Harlette De Falaise b: ABT 1003 in France, Normandy, Calvados, Falaise

Marriage 1 Maud Peveral

Children

1. Has Children William 'The Elder' Of Nottingham Peverel b: BET 1040 AND 1053 in France, Normandy

Marriage 2 Matilda (Maud) Of Flanders b: ABT 1032 in Belgium, Flanders

* Married: 1053 in France, Normandy (Castle of Angi) 2

Children

1. Has Children Gundred De Normandie b: ABT 1063 in France, Normandy
2. Has Children Cecilia Of England b: ABT 1055 in France, Normandy
3. Has No Children Agatha b: ABT 1064 in France, Normandy
4. Has No Children William II 'Rufus' Of England b: BET 1056 AND 1060 in France, Normandy
5. Has No Children Adeliza b: BET 1055 AND 1056 in France, Normandy
6. Has Children Robert II Curthose b: 1054 in France, Normandy
7. Has No Children Richard b: BET 1054 AND 1057 in France, Normandy
8. Has No Children Matilda b: ABT 1064 in France, Normandy
9. Has Children Adela Of England b: ABT 1062 in France, Normandy
10. Has Children Henry I 'Beauclerc' Of England b: ABT SEP 1068 in Selby, Yorkshire, England
11. Has No Children Constance b: BET 1061 AND 1066 in France, Normandy

==========

William I of England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William I
King of the English (more...)

Reign 25 December 1066 – 9 September 1087
Coronation 25 December 1066
Predecessor England: Edgar Ætheling (uncrowned), Harold II
Normandy: Robert I the Magnificent
Successor England: William II Rufus
Normandy: Robert II Curthose, Duke of Normandy
Consort Matilda of Flanders
among others
Issue
Robert II, Duke of Normandy
Richard, Duke of Bernay
William II of England
Adela, Countess of Blois
Henry I of England
Detail
Titles and styles
King of the English
Duke of the Normans
Father Robert the Magnificent
Mother Herlette of Falaise
Born 1027
Falaise, France
Died 9 September 1087
Convent of St. Gervais, Rouen
Burial Saint-Étienne de Caen, France

William I of England (c. 1027[1] – 9 September 1087), also known as William the Conqueror (French: Guillaume le Conquérant), was Duke of Normandy from 1035 and King of England from 1066 to his death.

To claim the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans to victory over the Anglo-Saxon forces of Harold Godwinson (who died in the conflict) at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.[2]

His reign, which brought Norman culture to England, had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages. In addition to political changes, his reign also saw changes to English law, a programme of building and fortification, changes to the vocabulary of the English language, and the introduction of continental European feudalism into England.

As Duke of Normandy, he is known as William II. He was also, particularly before the conquest, known as William the Bastard.[3]

[edit] Early life

William was born in Falaise, Normandy, the illegitimate and only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, who named him as heir to Normandy. His mother, Herleva (among other names), who later had two sons to another father, was the daughter of Fulbert, most probably a local tanner. He also had a sister, Adelaide of Normandy, also through Robert and Herleva. Later in life the enemies of William are said to have commented derisively that William stank like a tanner shop, and the residents of besieged Alençon hung skins from the city walls to taunt him.

William is believed to have been born in either 1027 or 1028, and more likely in the autumn of the later year.[1] He was born the grandnephew of Queen Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and later of King Canute the Great.[4]

[edit] Duke of Normandy

By his father's will, William succeeded him as Duke of Normandy at age eight in 1035 and was known as Duke William of Normandy (French: Guillaume, duc de Normandie; Latin: Guglielmus Dux Normanniae). Plots by rival Norman noblemen to usurp his place cost William three guardians, though not Count Alan of Brittany, who was a later guardian. William was supported by King Henry I of France, however. He was knighted by Henry at age 15. By the time William turned 19 he was successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047, obtaining the Truce of God, which was backed by the Roman Catholic Church.

Against the wishes of Pope Leo IX, William married Matilda of Flanders in 1053 in the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Eu, Normandy (Seine-Maritime). At the time, William was about 24 years old and Matilda was 22. William is said to have been a faithful and loving husband, and their marriage produced four sons and six daughters. In repentance for what was a consanguine marriage (they were distant cousins), William donated St-Stephen's church (l'Abbaye-aux-Hommes) and Matilda donated Sainte-Trinité church (Abbaye aux Dames).

Feeling threatened by the increase in Norman power resulting from William's noble marriage, Henry I attempted to invade Normandy twice (1054 and 1057), without success. Already a charismatic leader, William attracted strong support within Normandy, including the loyalty of his half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, who played significant roles in his life. Later, he benefitted from the weakening of two competing power centers as a result of the deaths of Henry I and of Geoffrey II of Anjou, in 1060. In 1062 William invaded and took control of the county of Maine, which had been a fief of Anjou.[5]

[edit] English succession

Upon the death of the childless Edward the Confessor, the English throne was fiercely disputed by three claimants -- William, Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, and the Viking King Harald III of Norway. William had a tenuous blood claim, through his great aunt Emma (wife of Ethelred and mother of Edward). William also contended that Edward, who had spent much of his life in exile in Normandy during the Danish occupation of England, had promised William the throne when William visited Edward in London in 1052. Finally, William claimed that Harold had pledged allegiance to him in 1064. William had rescued the shipwrecked Harold from the count of Ponthieu, and together they had defeated Conan II, Count of Brittany. On that occasion, William knighted Harold, and deceived him by having him swear loyalty to William over the concealed bones of a saint.[6]

In January 1066, however, in accordance with Edward's last will and by vote of the Witenagemot, Harold Godwinson was crowned King by Archbishop Aldred. Immediately the new monarch raised a large fleet of ships and mobilized a force of militia, arranging these around the coasts to anticipate attack from several directions. Harold, after defeating his brother Tostig Godwinson and Harald Hardrada in the north, marched his army 241 miles to meet the invading William in the south. Their forces met at what is now called the Battle of Hastings where it is said that Harold Godwinson was shot through the eye with an arrow and died.

[edit] Norman invasion

Meanwhile, William submitted his claim to the English throne to Pope Alexander II, who sent him a consecrated banner in support. Then, William organized a council of war at Lillebonne and openly began assembling an army in Normandy. Offering promises of English lands and titles, he amassed at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme a considerable invasion force of 600 ships and 7,000 men, consisting of Normans, French mercenaries, and numerous foreign knights. Initially, Harold opposed William with a large army on the south coast of England and a fleet of ships guarding the English Channel.[6]
Statue of William the Conqueror, holding Domesday Book on the West Front of Lichfield Cathedral.
Statue of William the Conqueror, holding Domesday Book on the West Front of Lichfield Cathedral.

Fortuitously, however, William's crossing was delayed by weeks of unfavourable winds. William managed to keep his army together during the wait, but Harold's was diminished by dwindling supplies and falling morale with the arrival of the harvest season.[7] He also consolidated his ships in London, leaving the English Channel unguarded. Then came the news that Harald III of Norway, allied with Tostig, had landed ten miles from York. Harold was forced to head north with his army. After a victory against the forces of Earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria at the Battle of Fulford, Harald and Tostig were defeated by Harold's army at the slaughterous Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25.

Before Harold could return, the wind direction turned and William had crossed, landing his army at Pevensey Bay (Sussex) on September 28. Then he moved to Hastings, a few miles to the east, where he built a prefabricated wooden castle for a base of operations. From there, he ravaged the hinterland and waited for Harold's return from the north.[8]

[edit] Battle of Hastings

On October 13, William received news that the already weakened army led by Harold was approaching from London, and at dawn the next day, William left the castle with his army and advanced towards the enemy. Harold had taken a defensive position atop the Senlac Hill/Senlac ridge, about seven miles from Hastings, at present-day Battle, East Sussex.

The Battle of Hastings lasted all day. Although the numbers on each side were about equal, William had both cavalry and infantry, including many archers, while Harold had only foot soldiers and few if any archers.[9] Along the ridge's border, formed as a wall of shields, the English soldiers at first stood so effectively that William's army was thrown back with heavy casualties. William rallied his troops, however -- reportedly raising his helmet, as shown in the Bayeux Tapestry, to quell rumors of his death. Meanwhile, many of the English had pursued the fleeing Normans on foot, allowing the Norman cavalry to attack them repeatedly from the rear as his infantry pretended to retreat further.[10] Norman arrows also took their toll, progressively weakening the English wall of shields. A final Norman cavalry attack decided the battle irrevocably, resulting in the deaths of Harold—who was probably killed by an arrow in the eye—and two of his brothers, Gyrth and Leofwine Godwinson. At dusk, the English army made their last stand. By that night, the Norman victory was complete, and the remaining English soldiers fled in fear.

[edit] March to London

For two weeks, William waited for a formal surrender of the English throne, but the Witenagemot proclaimed the quite young Edgar Ætheling instead, without coronation though. Thus, William's next target was London, approaching proudly through the important territories of Kent, via Dover and Canterbury, inspiring fear in the English. However, at London, William's advance was beaten back at London Bridge, and he decided to march westward and to storm London from the northwest. After receiving continental reinforcements, William crossed the Thames at Wallingford, and there he forced the surrender of Archbishop Stigand (one of Edgar's lead supporters), in early December. William reached Berkhamsted a few days later where Ætheling relinquished the English crown personally and the exhausted Saxon noblemen of England surrendered definitively. Although William was acclaimed then as English King, he requested a coronation in London. As William I, he was formally crowned on Christmas day 1066, in Westminster Abbey, by Archbishop Aldred.[6]

[edit] English resistance

Although the south of England submitted quickly to Norman rule, resistance in the north continued for six more years until 1072. During the first two years, King William I suffered many revolts throughout England (Dover, western Mercia, Wales, Exeter). Also, in 1068, Harold's illegitimate sons attempted an invasion of the southwestern peninsula, but William defeated them.

For William I, the worst crisis came from Northumbria, which had still not submitted to his realm. In 1068, with Edgar Ætheling, both Mercia and Northumbria revolted. William could suppress these, but Edgar fled to Scotland where Malcolm protected him. Furthermore, Malcolm married Edgar's sister Margaret, with much éclat, stressing the English balance of power against William. Under such circumstances, Northumbria rebelled, besieging York. Then, Edgar resorted also to the Danes, who disembarked with a large fleet at Northumbria, claiming the English crown for their King Sweyn II. Scotland joined the rebellion as well. The rebels easily captured York and its castle. However, William could contain them at Lincoln. After dealing with a new wave of revolts at western Mercia, Exeter, Dorset, and Somerset, William defeated his northern foes decisively at the River Aire, retrieving York, while the Danish army swore to depart.

William then devastated Northumbria between the Humber and Tees rivers, with his Harrying of the North. This devastation included setting fire to the vegetation, houses and even tools to work the fields. He also burnt crops, killed livestock and sowed the fields and land with salt, to stunt growth. After this cruel treatment the land did not recover for more than 100 years. The region ended up absolutely deprived, losing its traditional autonomy towards England. However it may have stopped future rebellions, scaring the English people in obedience. Then, the Danish king disembarked in person, readying his army to restart the war, but William suppressed such threat with a payment of gold. Subsequently in 1071, William defeated the last rebel focus of the north through an improvised pontoon, subduing the Ely island at which the Danes had gathered. In 1072, he invaded Scotland, defeating Malcolm and gaining a temporary peace. In 1074, Edgar Ætheling submitted definitively to William.

In 1075, during William's absence, the Revolt of the Earls was confronted successfully by Odo. In 1080, William sent his half brothers Odo and Robert, who stormed Northumbria and Scotland, respectively. Eventually, the Pope protested against the excessive mistreatment which had been exerted by the Normans against the English people. Indeed, until overcoming all rebellions, William had conciliated with the English church although he persecuted it ferociously afterward.

[edit] Events

As was usual for his descendants also William spent much time (11 years, since 1072) at Normandy, ruling the islands through his writs. Nominally still a vassal state, owing its entire loyalty to the French king, Normandy arose suddenly as a powerful region, alarming the other French Dukes which reacted by attacking it persistently. As Duke of Normandy, William was obsessed with conquering Brittany, and the French King Philip I admonished him. Nonetheless, in 1086, William invaded Brittany, forcing the flight of the Duke Alan IV. A peace treaty was signed, and William betrothed Constance (who was poisoned a few years later) to Alan.

The mischief of William's elder son Robert arose after a prank of his brothers William and Henry, who doused him with filthy water. The situation became a large scale Norman rebellion. Only with King Philip's additional military support William was able to confront Robert, who had based at Flanders. During the battle in 1079, William was unhorsed and wounded by Robert, who lowered his sword only after recognizing him. The embarrassed William returned to Rouen, abandoning the expedition. In 1080, Matilda reconciled both, and William revoked Robert's inheritance.

Odo caused many troubles to William, and he was imprisoned in 1082, losing his English estate and all royal functions, except the religious ones. In 1083, Matilda died, and William became more tyrannical over his realm.

[edit] Reforms

William initiated many major changes. He increased the function of the traditional English shires (autonomous administrative regions), which he brought under central control; he decreased the power of the earls by restricting them to one shire apiece. All administrative functions of his government remained fixed at specific English towns, except the court itself; they would progressively strengthen, and the English institutions became amongst the most sophisticated in Europe. In 1085, in order to ascertain the extent of his new dominions and to improve taxation, William commissioned all his counselors for the compilation of the Domesday Book, which was published in 1086. The book was a survey of England's productive capacity similar to a modern census.

William also ordered many castles, keeps, and mottes, among them the Tower of London's foundation (the White Tower), which were built throughout England. These ensured effectively that the many rebellions by the English people or his own followers did not succeed.

His conquest also led to French (especially, but not only, the Norman French) replacing English as the language of the ruling classes for nearly 300 years.[11][12] Furthermore, the original Anglo-Saxon cultural influence of England became mingled with the Norman one; thus the Anglo-Norman culture came into being.

William is said to have eliminated the native aristocracy in as little as four years. Systematically, he despoiled those English aristocrats who either opposed the Normans or who died without issue. Thus, most English estates and titles of nobility were handed to the Norman noblemen. Many English aristocrats fled to Flanders and Scotland; others may have been sold into slavery overseas. Some escaped to join the Byzantine Empire's Varangian Guard, and went on to fight the Normans in Sicily. By 1070, the indigenous nobility had ceased to be an integral part of the English landscape, and by 1086, it maintained control of just 8% of its original land-holdings.[13] However, to the new Norman noblemen, William handed the English parcels of land piecemeal, dispersing these wide. Thus nobody would try conspiring against him without jeopardizing their own estates within the so unstable England. Effectively, this strengthened William's political stand as a monarch.

William also seized and depopulated many miles of land (36 parishes), turning it into the royal New Forest region to support his enthusiastic enjoyment of hunting.[14]

[edit] Death, burial, and succession

In 1087 in France, William burned Mantes (50 km west of Paris), besieging the town. However, he fell off his horse, suffering fatal abdominal injuries by the saddle pommel. On his deathbed, William divided his succession for his sons, sparking strife between them. Despite William's reluctance, his combative elder son Robert received the Duchy of Normandy, as Robert II. William Rufus (his third son) was next English king, as William II. William's youngest son Henry received 5,000 silver pounds, which would be earmarked to buy land. He also became King Henry I of England after William II died without issue. While on his deathbed, William pardoned many of his political adversaries, including Odo.

William died at age 59 at the Convent of St Gervais near Rouen, France, on 9 September 1087. William was buried in the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, which he had erected, in Caen, Normandy.

According to some sources, a fire broke out during the funeral; the original owner of the land on which the church was built claimed he had not been paid yet, demanding 60 shillings, which William's son Henry had to pay on the spot; and, in a most unregal postmortem, William's corpulent body would not fit in the stone sarcophagus.

William's grave is currently marked by a marble slab with a Latin inscription; the slab dates from the early 19th century. The grave was defiled twice, once during the French Wars of Religion, when his bones were scattered across the town of Caen, and again during the French Revolution. Following those events, only William's left femur remains in the tomb.

[edit] Legacy

William's invasion was the last time that England was successfully conquered by a foreign power. Although there would be a number of other attempts over the centuries, the best that could be achieved would be excursions by foreign troops, such as the Raid on the Medway during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, but no actual conquests such as William's.

As Duke of Normandy and King of England he passed the titles on to his descendants. Other territories would be acquired by marriage or conquest and, at their height, these possessions would be known as the Angevin Empire.

They included many lands in France, such as Normandy and Aquitaine, but the question of jurisdiction over these territories would be the cause of much conflict and bitter rivalry between England and France, which took up much of the Middle Ages, including the Hundred Years War and, some might argue, continued as far as the Battle of Waterloo of 1815.

[edit] Physical appearance

No authentic portrait of William has been found. Nonetheless, he was depicted as a man of fair stature with remarkably strong arms, "with which he could shoot a bow at full gallop". William showed a magnificent appearance, possessing a fierce countenance. He enjoyed an excellent health; nevertheless his noticeable corpulence augmented eventually so much that French King Philip I commented that William looked like a pregnant woman.[15]

[edit] Descendants

William is known to have had nine children, though Agatha, a tenth daughter who died a virgin, appears in some sources. Several other unnamed daughters are also mentioned as being betrothed to notable figures of that time. Despite rumours to the contrary (such as claims that William Peverel was a bastard of William)[16] there is no evidence that he had any illegitimate children,[17]

1. Robert Curthose (1054–1134), Duke of Normandy, married Sybil of Conversano, daughter of Geoffrey of Conversano.
2. Richard (c. 1055 – c. 1081), Duke of Bernay, killed by a stag in New Forest.
3. Adeliza (or Alice) (c. 1055 – c. 1065), reportedly betrothed to Harold II of England.
4. Cecilia (or Cecily) (c. 1056 – 1126), Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen.
5. William "Rufus" (c. 1056 – 1100), King of England.
6. Agatha (c. 1064 – 1079), betrothed to Alfonso VI of Castile.
7. Constance (c. 1066 – 1090), married Alan IV Fergent, Duke of Brittany; poisoned, possibly by her own servants.
8. Adela (c. 1067 – 1137), married Stephen, Count of Blois.
9. Henry "Beauclerc" (1068–1135), King of England, married Edith of Scotland, daughter of Malcolm III, King of the Scots. His second wife was Adeliza of Leuven.

[edit] Fictional depictions

William I has appeared as a character in only a few stage and screen productions. The one-act play A Choice of Kings by John Mortimer deals with his deception of Harold after the latter's shipwreck. Julian Glover portrayed him in a 1966 TV adaptation of this play in the ITV Play of the Week series.

William has also been portrayed on screen by Thayer Roberts in the film Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955), John Carson in the BBC TV series Hereward the Wake (1965), and Michael Gambon in the TV drama Blood Royal: William the Conqueror (1990).

On a less serious note, he has been portrayed by David Lodge in an episode of the TV comedy series Carry On Laughing entitled "One in the Eye for Harold" (1975), James Fleet in the humorous BBC show The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything (1999), and Gavin Abbott in an episode of the British educational TV series Historyonics entitled "1066" (2004).

[edit] References

1. ^ a b The official web site of the British Monarchy puts his birth at "around 1028", which may reasonably be taken as definitive.
The frequently encountered date of 14 October 1024 is likely to be spurious. It was promulgated by Thomas Roscoe in his 1846 biography The life of William the Conqueror. The year 1024 is apparently calculated from the fictive deathbed confession of William recounted by Ordericus Vitalis (who was about twelve when the Conqueror died); in it William allegedly claimed to be about sixty-three or four years of age at his death in 1087. The birth day and month are suspiciously the same as those of the Battle of Hastings. This date claim, repeated by other Victorian historians (e.g. Jacob Abbott), has been entered unsourced into the LDS genealogical database, and has found its way thence into countless personal genealogies. Cf. The Conqueror and His Companions by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.
2. ^ Dr. Mike Ibeji (2001-05-01). 1066 (HTML). BBC. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
3. ^ "We must see how one who started with all the disadvantages which are implied in his earlier surname of the Bastard came to win and to deserve his later surnames of the Conqueror and the Great." Edward Augustus Freeman, William the Conqueror (1888), Chapter 1 (p. 7 of the 2004 reprint by Batoche Books.
4. ^ Powell, John, Magill's Guide to Military History, Salem Press, Inc., 2001, p. 226. ISBN 0893560197.
5. ^ David Carpenter, The Struggle for Mastery: Britain 1066-1284 (2003).
6. ^ a b c Clark, George [1971] (1978). "The Norman Conquest", English History: A Survey. Oxford University Press/Book Club Associates. ISBN 0198223390.
7. ^ Carpenter, p. 72.
8. ^ Carpenter, p. 72.
9. ^ Carpenter, p. 73.
10. ^ Ibid.
11. ^ While English emerged as a popular vernacular and literary language within one hundred years of the Conquest, it was only in 1362 that King Edward III abolished the use of French in Parliament
12. ^ Alexander Herman Schutz and Urban Tigner Holmes, A History of the French Language, Biblo and Tannen Publishers, 1938. pp. 44-45. ISBN 0819601918.
13. ^ Douglas, David Charles. English Historical Documents, Routledge, 1996, p. 22. ISBN 0415143675.
14. ^ Based on William of Malmesbury's Historia Anglorum.
He was of just stature, ordinary corpulence, fierce countenance; his forehead was bare of hair; of such great strength of arm that it was often a matter of surprise, that no one was able to draw his bow, which himself could bend when his horse was in full gallop; he was majestic whether sitting or standing, although the protuberance of his belly deformed his royal person; of excellent health so that he was never confined with any dangerous disorder, except at the last; so given to the pleasures of the chase, that as I have before said, ejecting the inhabitants, he let a space of many miles grow desolate that, when at liberty from other avocations, he might there pursue his pleasures.
See English Monarch: The House of Normandy.
15. ^ Spartacus Schoolnet, retrieved 17 July 2007.
16. ^ The Conqueror and His Companions (J.R Planche 1874)
17. ^ William "the Conqueror" (Guillaume "le Conquérant").

[edit] Further reading

* Bates, David (1989) William the Conqueror, London : George Philip, 198 p. ISBN 978-0-7524-1980-0
* Douglas, David C. (1999) William the Conqueror; the Norman impact upon England, Yale English monarchs series, London : Yale University Press, 476 p., ISBN 0-300-07884-6
* Howarth, David (1977) 1066 The Year of the Conquest, London : Collins, 207 p., ISBN 0-00-211845-9
* Prescott, Hilda F.M. (1932) Son of Dust, reprinted 1978: London : White Lion, 288 p. ISBN 0-85617-239-1
* Savage, Anne (transl. & coll.) (2002) The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, London : Greenwich Editions, 288 p., ISBN 0-86288-440-3

[edit] External links
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
William I of England

* William I of England at Genealogics
* William the Conqueror, by E. A. Freeman at Project Gutenberg
* Illustrated biography of William the Conqueror
* William I of England at Find a Grave
* History House: William the Conqueror
* Jacob Abbott, William the Conqueror Baldwin Project reprint, written originally in 1849 for younger readers, but contains useful information about the life of William I and the Norman Conquest.

==========

William I (of England), called The Conqueror (1027-87), first Norman king of England (1066-87), who has been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in western European history. Born in Falaise, France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen. During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces. About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Norman invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066. On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey. The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete. William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III MacDuncan to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert, who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy. One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086. In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. He died in Rouen on September 7 and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope. William was succeeded by his third-born son, William II.

William The Conquerer
King of England 1066-1087

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(Research):William I Encyclopædia Britannica Article born c. 1028, , Falaise, Normandy died Sept. 9, 1087, Rouen William I the Conqueror (centre), detail from the Bayeux Tapestry, 11th century; in the ¼ By courtesy of the Phaidon Press, publishers of "The Bayeux Tapestry" edited by Sir ¼ byname William The Conqueror, or The Bastard, or William Of Normandy, French Guillaume Le Conquérant, or Le Bâtard, or Guillaume De Normandie duke of Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066, one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He made himself the mightiest feudal lord in France and then changed the course of England's history by his conquest of that country. William I Encyclopædia Britannica Article Early years William was the elder of two children of Robert I of Normandy and his concubine Herleva, or Arlette, the daughter of a burgher from the town of Falaise. In 1035 Robert died when returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and William, his only son, whom he had nominated as his heir before his departure, was accepted as duke by the Norman magnates and his feudal overlord, King Henry I of France. William and his friends had to overcome enormous obstacles. His illegitimacy (he was generally known as the Bastard) was a handicap, and he had to survive the collapse of law and order that accompanied his accession as a child. Three of William's guardians died violent deaths before he grew up, and his tutor was murdered. His father's kin were of little help; most of them thought that they stood to gain by the boy's death. But his mother managed to protect William through the most dangerous period. These early difficulties probably contributed to his strength of purpose and his dislike of lawlessness and misrule. Ruler of Normandy. By 1042, when William reached his 15th year, was knighted, and began to play a personal part in the affairs of his duchy, the worst was over. But his attempts to recover rights lost during the anarchy and to bring disobedient vassals and servants to heel inevitably led to trouble. From 1046 until 1055 he dealt with a series of baronial rebellions, mostly led by kinsmen. Occasionally he was in great danger and had to rely on Henry of France for help. In 1047 Henry and William defeated a coalition of Norman rebels at Val-ès-Dunes, southeast of Caen. It was in these years that William learned to fight and rule. William soon learned to control his youthful recklessness. He was always ready to take calculated risks on campaign and, most important, to fight a battle. But he was not a chivalrous or flamboyant commander. His plans were simple, his methods direct, and he exploited ruthlessly any advantage gained. If he found himself at a disadvantage, he withdrew immediately. He showed the same qualities in his government. He never lost sight of his aim to recover lost ducal rights and revenues, and, although he developed no theory of government or great interest in administrative techniques, he was always prepared to improvise and experiment. He seems to have lived a moral life by the standards of the time, and he acquired an interest in the welfare of the Norman church. He made his half brother, Odo, bishop of Bayeux in 1049 at the age of about 16, and Odo managed to combine the roles of nobleman and prelate in a way that did not greatly shock contemporaries. But William also welcomed foreign monks and scholars to Normandy. Lanfranc of Pavia, a famous master of the liberal arts, who entered the monastery of Bec about 1042, was made abbot of Caen in 1063. According to a brief description of William's person by an anonymous author, who borrowed extensively from Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, he was just above average height and had a robust, thick-set body. Though he was always sparing of food and drink, he became fat in later life. He had a rough bass voice and was a good and ready speaker. Writers of the next generation agree that he was exceptionally strong and vigorous. William was an out-of-doors man, a hunter and soldier, fierce and despotic, generally feared; uneducated, he had few graces but was intelligent and shrewd and soon obtained the respect of his rivals. New alliances. After 1047 William began to take part in events outside his duchy. In support of his lord, King Henry, and in pursuit of an ambition to strengthen his southern frontier and expand into Maine, he fought a series of campaigns against Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. But in 1052 Henry and Geoffrey made peace, there was a serious rebellion in eastern Normandy, and, until 1054 William was again in serious danger. During this period he conducted important negotiations with his cousin Edward the Confessor, king of England, and took a wife. Norman interest in Anglo-Saxon England derived from an alliance made in 1002, when King Ethelred II of England married Emma, the sister of Count Richard II, William's grandfather. Two of her sons, William's cousins once removed, had reigned in turn in England, Hardecanute (1040-42) and Edward the Confessor (1042-66). William had met Edward during that prince's exile on the Continent and may well have given him some support when he returned to England in 1041. In that year Edward was about 36 and William 14. It is clear that William expected some sort of reward from Edward and, when Edward's marriage proved unfruitful, began to develop an ambition to become his kinsman's heir. Edward probably at times encouraged William's hopes. His childlessness was a diplomatic asset. In 1049 William negotiated with Baldwin V of Flanders for the hand of his daughter, Matilda. Baldwin, an imperial vassal with a distinguished lineage, was in rebellion against the Western emperor, Henry III, and in desperate need of allies. The proposed marriage was condemned as incestuous (William and Matilda were evidently related in some way) by the Emperor's friend, Pope Leo IX, at the Council of Reims in October 1049; but so anxious were the parties for the alliance that before the end of 1053, possibly in 1052, the wedding took place. In 1059 William was reconciled to the papacy, and as penance the disobedient pair built two monasteries at Caen. Four sons were born to William and Matilda: Robert (the future duke of Normandy), Richard (who died young), William Rufus (the Conqueror's successor in England), and Henry (Rufus' successor). Among the daughters was Adela, who was the mother of Stephen, king of England. Edward the Confessor was supporting the Emperor, and it is possible that William used his new alliance with Flanders to put pressure on Edward and extort an acknowledgment that he was the English king's heir. At all events, Edward seems to have made some sort of promise to William in 1051, while Tostig, son of the greatest nobleman in England, Earl Godwine, married Baldwin's half sister. The immediate purpose of this tripartite alliance was to improve the security of each of the parties. If William secured a declaration that he was Edward's heir, he was also looking very far ahead. Between 1054 and 1060 William held his own against an alliance between King Henry I and Geoffrey Martel of Anjou. Both men died in 1060 and were succeeded by weaker rulers. As a result, in 1063 William was able to conquer Maine. In 1064 or 1065 Edward sent his brother-in-law, Harold, earl of Wessex, Godwine's son and successor, on an embassy to Normandy. William took him on a campaign into Brittany, and in connection with this Harold swore an oath in which, according to Norman writers, he renewed Edward's bequest of the throne to William and promised to support it. When Edward died childless on Jan. 5, 1066, Harold was accepted as king by the English magnates, and William decided on war. Others, however, moved more quickly. In May Tostig, Harold's exiled brother, raided England, and in September he joined the invasion forces of Harald III Hardraade, king of Norway, off the Northumbrian coast. William assembled a fleet, recruited an army, and gathered his forces in August at the mouth of the Dives River. It is likely that he originally intended to sail due north and invade England by way of the Isle of Wight and Southampton Water. Such a plan would give him an offshore base and interior lines. But adverse winds detained his fleet in harbour for a month, and in September a westerly gale drove his ships up-Channel. The Battle of Hastings. William regrouped his forces at Saint-Valéry on the Somme. He had suffered a costly delay, some naval losses, and a drop in the morale of his troops. On September 27, after cold and rainy weather, the wind backed south. William embarked his army and set sail for the southeast coast of England. The following morning he landed, took the unresisting towns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead with between 4,000 and 7,000 cavalry and infantry. William's forces were in a narrow coastal strip, hemmed in by the great forest of Andred, and, although this corridor was easily defensible, it was not much of a base for the conquest of England. The campaigning season was almost past, and when William received news of his opponent it was not reassuring. On September 25 Harold had defeated and slain Tostig and Harald Hardraade at Stamford Bridge, near York, and was retracing his steps to meet the new invader. On October 13, when Harold emerged from the forest, William was taken by surprise. But the hour was too late for Harold to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensive position. Early the next day William went out to give battle. He attacked the English phalanx with archers and cavalry but saw his army almost driven from the field. He rallied the fugitives, however, and brought them back into the fight and in the end wore down his opponents. Harold's brothers were killed early in the battle. Toward nightfall the King himself fell and the English gave up. William's coolness and tenacity secured him victory in this fateful battle, and he then moved against possible centres of resistance so quickly that he prevented a new leader from emerging. On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. In a formal sense the Norman Conquest of England had taken place. King of England William was already an experienced ruler. In Normandy he had replaced disloyal nobles and ducal servants with his own friends, limited private warfare, and recovered usurped ducal rights, defining the feudal duties of his vassals. The Norman church flourished under his rule. He wanted a church free of corruption but subordinate to him. He would not tolerate opposition from bishops and abbots or interference from the papacy. He presided over church synods and reinforced ecclesiastical discipline with his own. In supporting Lanfranc, prior of Bec, against Berengar of Tours in their dispute over the doctrine of the Eucharist, he found himself on the side of orthodoxy. He was never guilty of the selling of church office (simony). He disapproved of clerical marriage. At the same time he was a stern and sometimes rough master, swayed by political necessities, and he was not generous to the church with his own property. The reformer Lanfranc was one of his advisers; but perhaps even more to his taste were the worldly and soldierly bishops Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Coutances. William left England early in 1067 but had to return in December because of English unrest. The English rebellions that began in 1067 reached their peak in 1069 and were finally quelled in 1071. They completed the ruin of the highest English aristocracy and gave William a distaste for his newly conquered kingdom. Since his position on the Continent was deteriorating, he wanted to solve English problems as cheaply as possible. To secure England's frontiers, he invaded Scotland in 1072 and Wales in 1081 and created special defensive "marcher" counties along the Scottish and Welsh borders. In the last 15 years of his life he was more often in Normandy than in England, and there were five years, possibly seven, in which he did not visit the kingdom at all. He retained most of the greatest Anglo-Norman barons with him in Normandy and confided the government of England to bishops, trusting especially his old friend Lanfranc, whom he made archbishop of Canterbury. Much concerned that the natives should not be unnecessarily disturbed, he allowed them to retain their own laws and courts. William returned to England only when it was absolutely necessary: in 1075 to deal with the aftermath of a rebellion by Roger, earl of Hereford, and Ralf, earl of Norfolk, which was made more dangerous by the intervention of a Danish fleet; and in 1082 to arrest and imprison his half brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux and earl of Kent, who was planning to take an army to Italy, perhaps to make himself pope. In the spring of 1082 William had his son Henry knighted, and in August at Salisbury he took oaths of fealty from all the important landowners in England, whosoever's vassals they might be. In 1085 he returned with a large army to meet the threat of an invasion by Canute IV (Canute the Holy) of Denmark. When this came to nothing owing to Canute's death in 1086, William ordered an economic and tenurial survey to be made of the kingdom, the results of which are summarized in the two volumes of Domesday Book. William was preoccupied with the frontiers of Normandy. The danger spots were in Maine and the Vexin on the Seine, where Normandy bordered on the French royal demesne. After 1066 William's continental neighbours became more powerful and even more hostile. In 1068 Fulk the Surly succeeded to Anjou and in 1071 Robert the Frisian to Flanders. Philip I of France allied with Robert and Robert with the Danish king, Canute IV. There was also the problem of William's heir apparent, Robert Curthose, who, given no appanage and seemingly kept short of money, left Normandy in 1077 and intrigued with his father's enemies. In 1081 William made a compromise with Fulk in the treaty of Blancheland: Robert Curthose was to be count of Maine but as a vassal of the count of Anjou. The eastern part of the Vexin, the county of Mantes, had fallen completely into King Philip's hands in 1077 when William had been busy with Maine. In 1087 William demanded from Philip the return of the towns of Chaumont, Mantes, and Pontoise. In July he entered Mantes by surprise, but while the town burned he suffered some injury from which he never recovered. He was thwarted at the very moment when he seemed about to enforce his last outstanding territorial claim. Death William was taken to a suburb of Rouen, where he lay dying for five weeks. He had the assistance of some of his bishops and doctors, and in attendance were his half brother Robert, count of Mortain, and his younger sons, William Rufus and Henry. Robert Curthose was with the King of France. It had probably been his intention that Robert, as was the custom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. In the circumstances he was tempted to make the loyal Rufus his sole heir. In the end he compromised: Normandy and Maine went to Robert and England to Rufus. Henry was given great treasure with which he could purchase an appanage. William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buried in rather unseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built at Caen.

Source #1: ORB: The Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies
http://orb.rhodes.edu/textbooks/westciv/william.html
Copyright ©1999, Ellis L. Knox This file may be copied on the condition that the entire contents, including the header and this copyright notice, remain intact.The contents of ORB are copyright © 1995-1999 Laura V. Blanchard and Carolyn Schriber except as otherwise indicated herein.

Born 1028 at Falaise in Normandy, William was the son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Herleve, a girl of Falaise of uncertain parentage. Although illegitimate, he was, nevertheless, a direct descendant of Rolf the Viking and had a good claim to the throne. His claim was all the stronger when his father went on a pilgrimage in 1034 and died on the return trip, making William duke in 1035 at the age of 7. Before leaving, Robert brought forward William and had him recognized as his heir.
Upon hearing of Robert's death, a number of notables, including the Archbishop of .Rouen (who was Robert's brother), moved to protect and defend the young boy. His minority was a period of grim disorder. Several of those close to William were assassinated. His tutor took to sleeping in the same room with the boy in order to protect him. A number of times William had to flee in the night and hide out in peasant cottages.

When William was 18 he became duke officially, with no tutor or regent. This led immediately to a rebellion as the barons sought to test their new lord's strength. He crushed the rebellion and firmly established himself as being of age and in charge.

His early adult years were filled with wars and rebellions, including a war with King Henry of France, and with his neighbors in Brittany, Maine and Anjou. In 1049, William married Matilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders, forging an alliance between two of the most powerful northern territories.
By 1060 William had a considerable reputation as a warrior, for he was generally successful in his wars. He was a tenacious opponent, brutal at times. Many of the wars were fought against great odds, increasing both his reputation and his confidence in the field.

One result of these wars was a very large scale transfer of land, either in the form of conquered territory, or in confiscations from rebellious vassals. The duke gave these back out to those loyal to him, transforming his barons into an aristocracy that was loyal to him.

During these years William was able to make himself the arbiter of disputes, the fount of favors, and the ultimate authority in the duchy. So the barons increasingly served rather than challenged him.

Similarly, the duke ruled the Church. The nobles founded many monasteries and the archbishopric of Rouen was coterminous with the duchy. The powerful families controlled the ecclesiastical positions, and all served the duke.

In the 10thc, Vikings hit both England and Normandy very hard, devastating and dominating the area. When the Danes took England in 1013, the West Saxon royal family fled to Normandy.
The kings in exile did not forget or relinquish their claim to be the true kings of England. Edward the Confessor was the claimant, and he lived in Normandy until he became king in 1042. William was 14 at that time. The Danes and Norwegians continued to try to re-claim England over the next two decades, but without success.

There were, therefore, close ties and intertwining interests between the Danes (and the Norwegians, who inherited the Danish claims), the Saxons, and the Normans. William grew up well- acquainted with the situation.

Back in England, Edward found that his own earls were every bit as dangerous as the Vikings, and he turned to his Norman friends for succor in his struggles them. He gave fiefs to Norman lords, trying to keep the Saxon barons from becoming too strong.
In 1051 Edward, who was childless, carried this plan to its ultimate conclusion when he designated William (now aged 23) as his heir. This was a move that surprised and dismayed a number of Saxon lords who felt that one of them was the more natural choice. But Edward felt that only the Normans, who had sheltered him in his exile, were his trusted friends.

Among the Saxon earls, Godwin was the most powerful in England in the 1040s. He and his fellows almost completely dominated politics and power in this decade, and these were the ones Edward feared. Godwin's son, Harold, succeeded his father in 1053 and carried on his father's ambitions. In fact, Harold Godwinson emerged as not only the most powerful lord in England but also as the leader of the anti-Norman party, and the logical Saxon candidate for the throne. But Edward did not like the man much. Harold had several quarrels with Edward, but they always made it up again.

The Danes, too, had a claim, and through them, the Norwegians. The principal individual here was Harold Hardraada, a famous warrior related to the line of Canute. In the 1060s Hardraada gained control of both Norway and Denmark and began planning in earnest to take back England. There was much anti-Edward, anti-Norman sentiment in the north of England, where Viking influence was strong anyway, and Harold had good reason to hope for success on the battlefield.

So, by the early 1060s, Edward the Confessor was faced with three powerful forces contending for the English throne: the Normans, who could claim the throne by right of bequest; the Saxons, who claimed it by right of tradition and nationality, and who had the advantage of being on the spot; and the Norwegians, who had a better legal claim than the Saxons, but who realistically could win it only by conquest--something Vikings were rather good at.

It was not a situation that lent itself to diplomacy, but Edward was determined to make one more attempt at a peaceful solution.

In 1064 Edward asked Harold Godwinson to go to Normandy and there to confirm publicly Duke William's right of succession. Harold agreed. It may seem odd that Harold would do this, but he wasn't ready yet for open rebellion, and to refuse the king's command in this would be an act of rebellion.
Besides, he felt he could easily recant any promises he might make, once the old king was dead. A few easy promises now, and later . . . well, who knew? Moreover, Harold would meet with William as equals, and all would know who was the greater lord.

But chance played havoc with Harold's plans. In crossing the Channel, the earl was blown off course by a storm, and was cast ashore in Ponthieu. There, he was captured by Count Guy, the local lord. This sort of thing was a common enough practice, for ransoming nobles was a profitable business. Count Guy figured to hang on to his unexpected prize and extract a tidy sum for him.

Duke William, though, was Guy's lord. Instead of allowing him to hold Harold for ransom, he immediately demanded Guy release Harold into William's care. Count Guy did not dare defy William, but it must have distressed him to let his prize catch go.

William sent an armed guard to escort Harold to Caen. Instead of arriving in full dress, as a powerful baron, Harold was arriving alone and under guard, at once in William's debt for having rescued him from Count Guy and yet also uncomfortably like a prisoner being taken to court.

Nearly helpless, Harold was forced to swear an oath of fealty to William and to swear further that he would advocate William's cause in England. In return for this, William generously made the great English earl a Norman knight. Harold didn't much like William anyway, and this episode set his teeth on edge.

There is a story that, in the swearing of these oaths, Harold placed his hand on a table. He did this fully intending to break his word. Once the oath was sworn, William's men whipped off the covering or top, revealing sacred relics underneath. Swearing on relics was a very much more serious matter, and William had perpetrated the trick in order to out-fox Harold, whom he suspected of duplicity.

There is no contemporary evidence for this trick, but it fits in well with the temperment of the two men, with William always one step ahead of Harold.

In any case, Harold returned to England, having had much the worse in the encounter. Despite all, however, he was determined to be the next king of England and set about ensuring his success.

On 5 January 1066 Edward the Confessor died. On 6 January, Harold Godwinson, after having ridden all night, was crowned king in London. He claimed that Edward on his deathbed changed his will and designated him as successor and true king. He even produced a document proving it, though no one else knew of its existence.
It is just possible that Edward changed his mind, as some accounts say that Edward was out of his head toward the end. Perhaps he did so in delirium; perhaps he did so urged by councillors sympathetic to Harold; and perhaps he did no such thing and Harold's document was a forgery.

It truly did not matter. The question of succession was certainly not going to be settled by documents and lawyers. William immediately sent a protest, but he knew war would be the only way to enforce his claims, and he set preparations in motion at once.

Harold Hardraada had already been planning an invasion and was practically ready to go, when he was delayed by rebellions within his own lands and was unable to go until September.
William spent the summer building a fleet and gathering his army for the invasion. He was ready in August, but the fleet was bottled up at Saint-Valèry by contrary winds. Attack by sea was always risky and William did not dare to chance it when the winds made it difficult to land.

Harold Godwinson gathered his army in southern England (his natural power base) and did what he could to rally support. But he had supply problems, and his army was not tied to him by personal oaths of loyalty. So on September 8 he dismissed all but his personal retainers.

On 18 September, Harold Hardraada landed on the Humber River with a huge fleet and a large army, only ten days after Harold had been forced to disband the better part of his own forces. On 20 September, the Vikings won a victory over the northern earls and occupied the city of York.
Harold immediately re-gathered his army and marched north to meet the invaders. On 25 September, the Saxons and the Norwegians met at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. It was a hard-fought, day-long battle with heavy losses on both sides. Neither side had won decisively, but the Viking invasion depended on resounding victories and Hardraada had not achieved this. The following day, a second battle at Fulford destroyed the Vikings utterly. This marks the last major Viking invasion of England.

It was a brilliant victory for Harold. He had marched the length of England in record time, going into battle at Stamford Bridge with scarcely any rest. The Saxon infantry had won a decisive victory, and Hardraada himself had been killed. It seemed certain that the earl would remain king.

Then, on 27 September, the wind turned and William sailed, landing near the town of Hastings the next day.

The fact that William still had an army is a testament to his abilities as an organizer and a leader. He had managed to keep his vassals by his side, and even kept the sailors in hand, for long weeks of frustration. When the opportunity finally came, he was ready. This was most unusual for medieval armies. William immediately built some defensive works around his position at Hastings and gained control of the surrounding countryside. He knew Harold would be coming for him.

On 6 October, Harold Godwinson returned to London and sent out a call to raise more troops. His forces had suffered cruelly at Stamford Bridge and he needed all the soldiers he could raise.

But he could not wait long, for every day that passed made William stronger. On 11 October, Harold marched to Hastings, arriving the night of 13-14 October. The next morning, he gave battle.

We know rather few details about the battle itself. Harold took a position on some low hills and the Normans attacked that position. It was a hard fought battle that lasted the entire day, neither side able to get the better of the other.

As the day wore on, however, superior Norman discipline began to tell. Some of the Saxon forces began to melt away. Toward evening, Harold himself was killed by an arrow, but by the time he died the battle was clearly lost.

The story of the Battle of Hastings, and the events surrounding it, are told in the remarkable Bayeux Tapestry. Norman knights pursued Saxons well into the night, and by the next day there was no one to stand against the invader. William called his men back and set about securing his position. He had won a great battle, but he had not yet won England, and he needed to keep his army together.

William sent out news of his victory and invited the Saxon lords to recognize him as the legitimate king. He waited for five days and none did. Instead, they withdrew to their own lands, to defend their own interests.
By the end of November William controlled most of the old lands of Wessex. In December he took London. More and more lords now submitted to him, yielding to events. He was crowned king on Christmas Day, 1066.

One of his first acts was to build a fortress in London, a tactic he used in several towns. This one became famous though: the Tower of London, the Norman core of which still stands.

Now that he was a crowned king, William set about imposing his rule on England. He spent five years quelling rebellions and establishing Norman authority, building many castles and stocking them with men brought from Normandy. Those who fought with him at Hastings did very well, receiving lands all over England as fiefs.

The conqueror was thorough, and by 1073 he was able to return to Normandy. He spent most of the next twelve years there, dealing with various matters, including a rebellion of his own son in league with the French king. He returned to England in 1085 to deal with a combined Saxon revolt and Viking invasion (they had not given up, having mounted raids in 1069 and 1075).

In short, England did not fall into William's lap at Hastings. The army of Harold Godwinson was destroyed, but the Saxon English resisted the Normans for years, and Norman authority was established only through brute force. In truth, the Saxons greatly expedited the Conqueror's work, for through their rebellions many of their best leaders died or were exiled, and much Saxon wealth was confiscated by Normans.

After the conquest, William decided on another ambitious underaking--nothing less than a general inventory of his new realm. He appointed surveyors, inspectors who were empowered to visit every fief and village in England, there to record in detail the wealth and legal obligations of each.
The resulting collection of records is known as the Domesday Book, a veritable treasure for historians. It records how much land a knight held, how many villages were there, how many buildings in the village, even the number of cattle and yield of grain. Historians have long used this source to understand the social and economic structure of 11th century England. William used it to assess nicely the wealth and military strength he had at his command as king of England.

The Domesday Book is unique in the Middle Ages. No other king attempted such an inventory. No other king possessed the great authority needed to force reluctant vassals to divulge such information. The Book shows William's keen mind and powerful will at work. The fact that there were no others shows how little medieval monarchs knew of their own power.

The rebellion that brought William back to England was a serious one, in which the rebels cooperated with Viking forces. It cost William considerable effort to suppress it, and in its wake he made a new arrangement with his barons. William ordered his nobility to the Salisbury plain where they swore an oath of fealty directly to him. This relationship was unique in Europe at the time. Usually, a minor knight might hold a few acres from a baron, who in turn held the land from a count or earl, who in turn held large tracts of the king. But in 1086 William forced all his vassals to swear service directly to him for their fiefs.
Here again we see William's clear-mindedness and pragmatism. It is likely that other kings thought of doing what William did, or longed for it, but no French or German king ever had the remarkable authority and power that the Conqueror did. Indeed, even later English kings found their authority fragmented and attenuated by divided loyalties among the baronage. The Salisbury Oath was possible not only because William could conceive of it, but because he was king of a conquered people and could achieve it.

His eldest son, Robert, rebelled against him in 1078, in Normandy. Originally, Robert was to have inherited both Normandy and England. This revolt caused William to reject his oldest as a fit heir to the crown of England. Robert became duke of Normandy and William II became king of England.
This had profound implications for both nations. Had it turned out that Robert succeeded his father as both Duke of Normandy and King of England, he would have been one of the strongest monarchs in Europe. Normandy would have been a part of England and would have been pulled steadily away from French control; or, perhaps, England would have been pulled more into a French orbit.

In any event, because of the family quarrel, Normandy and England would go their separate ways.

William returned to Normandy after Salisbury, for he was at war with the King of France again. He fell ill while campaigning, and was taken to a monastery at Saint-Gervais. He died on 9 September 1087. The great lords with him quickly departed, including his son, William Rufus, hurrying back to their castles and estates, the better to guard their interests.
What happened to William after his death provides an interesting example of the vagaries of fortune.

The quick flight of the nobility left only the lesser attendants with the body, and when the servants looked around and saw no great lords about, they lost all discipline. The chronicler Orderic Vitalis says,"Observing that their masters had disappeared, [they] laid hands on the arms, the plate, the linen, and the royal furniture, and hastened away, leaving the corpse almost naked on the floor of the cell."

His body was brought to Caen. The funeral procession was interrupted when a fire broke out in the town. Those carrying the coffin put it down, rushed off to fight the fire, then returned when the fire was out to continue the procession.

The procession arrived at the cathedral at Caen finally. A lovely service was held. The eulogies were disrupted, however, when Ascelin, a local man, rose to protest that he was the owner of the ground in which the king was to be buried. He complained that he had not been paid and loudly demanded his rights. Someone came and settled him down, paid him, and the services resumed.

As the body was being placed in the stone coffin, the attendants accidentally broke one of the limbs, releasing such a foul stench that the priests had to hurry the service to an undignified close. The cathedral quickly emptied.

His memorial was beautiful, at least. Chroniclers tell us this, for it has not survived. In 1562, Calvinists completely ruined it, looting the tomb. The body disappeared at this time. Eighty years later, a new monument was built, likewise beautiful. In it was re-buried what was left of William: a thigh bone that a priest claimed had been rescued from the Calvinist sack.

The new monument was destroyed in its turn during the revolutionary riots of 1793. Today, William has only a stone slab to commemorate him. Local tradition asserts that the thigh bone is still under the slab. But it is a sorry survival for the Conqueror.

The effects of the Conquest were numerous and ran deep. One of the most immediate and most serious was the almost complete transfer of power at the top of society from Saxon to Norman hands.
William consistently sought ways and excuses to remove Saxons from power, but the Saxons themselves were most obliging. Many went into exile. Many were killed in the invasion and later rebellions. Many more were simply dispossessed. By 1086, 80% of the fiefs were in Norman hands (some held by Flemings and Bretons).

William brought with him the centralizing tendencies and techniques he had followed in Normandy. William as king held one- fifth of all land in England; this was a far greater estate than held by any French king. A quarter was held by the Church. Half the fiefs belonged to Norman lords, but their holdings were scattered rather than concentrated, so they could never become rivals to royal power. William was quite careful about this--he did not want to create another Earl of Wessex to rival the king.

One element in William's control of England was a military innovation he brought with him from France: stone castles. England had few, if any, stone castles before the Conqueror. After him, the landscape was transformed: 84 built by 1100. These castles were always given to Norman lords and many were built in areas prone to rebellion. The castles were all but impregnable and served as Norman anchors in a Saxon sea.

A long-term change was the change of language. The Normans spoke French, and French now became the language of government and the nobility. It remained so until the 15thc. Henry II, Richard the Lion-Hearted, even Edward Longshanks, all spoke French. Language was a barrier and a divide between the Norman lords and their Saxon subjects.

The Robin Hood legend has strong echoes of the division. Remember, all the bad guys in the legend are Normans, while all the good guys are Saxons. Never mind that the ultimate hero is Richard Lion-Heart, whose father was born in Anjou; the legend is filled with anachronisms, like any good legend. But the antagonism between Norman and Saxon in the Robin Hood stories reflected a real one that lasted long after the death of the Conqueror.

The Norman Conquest brought profound changes in landholding and in politics. Prior to the invasion, there were freeholders in England--nobles who held title to their own lands. William brought that to an end. The formula was nullus terre sans seigneur, a lovely phrase that combines Latin with French. It means: no land without a lord.

When he granted lands to his Norman lords, it was granted in exchange for service. When he confirmed Saxon lords in their holdings, he brought them under the same obligations. And he imposed heavy demands on his vassals, requiring of them the service of many more knights than he was able to require in Normandy, where tradition placed limits on the rights of the duke.

To illustrate: in England, 11 lords owed 60 or more knights each; 27 lords owed 25 or more; 6 bishoprics and 3 abbeys owed 40 or more. In Normandy, in contrast, only a handful of lords owed even more than 10 knights. This, too, survived for a long time. This is why, even though England was a much less populous country than France, the English king was able to field armies of comparable size. He simply had direct command of more knights.

William instituted a great expansion of the royal forest, at the expense of the nobility. He introduced the King's Council, the curia regis, which gave advice to the king and sat in judgment on nobles accused of serious crimes.

William also brought with him the Norman church, with its Romanesque church architecture and its reforming spirit. The old English church was still centered on the monastery. The new church drew its strength from the cathedrals in the towns. And he continued his Norman practice of appointing bishops as he saw fit, granting sees as rewards to selected families.

Harder to define, but no less important, the Conquest oriented England away from Scandinavia and towards France. Because of the strong Danish influence, England had had much to do with Denmark and Norway and rather little to do with France. Now, England's fate was bound up with that of France, and the consequences of this would reverberate for centuries.

Through all these changes, local government remained untouched: the shires and their reeves, the shire court, the Danegeld, the national militia. There was a gradual loss of freedom for the peasants, but also an end to slavery (which was still practiced in Saxon England). Saxon tradition therefore survived at the local level and among the peasantry, further perpetuating the rift between conquerors and conquered.

[grosenbaum.ged]

Born in Falaise France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, King of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throone. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Balwin V, cound of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule.

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes. William's horse fell and fatally injured him. He died in Rouen on 7 Sep and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope.[grosenbaum4.ged]

Born in Falaise France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, King of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throone. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Balwin V, cound of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule.

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes. William's horse fell and fatally injured him. He died in Rouen on 7 Sep and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope.[grosenbaum.ged]

Born in Falaise France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, King of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throone. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Balwin V, cound of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule.

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes. William's horse fell and fatally injured him. He died in Rouen on 7 Sep and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope.

Name Prefix: King Name Suffix: I, Of England "The Conqueror" ANCI: HIGH
!Nickname: "William the Conquerer" Came to England in 1066 from Normandy. William Moriton was the Duke of Normandy. * The illegitimate son of Roberthis mother was a baker woman. ---------------------------------- Notes: William the Conqueror was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Herleva, daughter of a wealthy Falasian; many contemporary writers referred to him as "William the Bastard". Robert died in 1035 while traveling through Asia Minor, and the young William was named Duke of Normandy. He married Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders, who bore him at least nine children, fourof which were boys. Edward the Confessor, in an effort to gain Norman supportwhile fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, had promised the throne toWilliam the Confessor in 1051. By 1066, however, Edward had reconciled with Godwin, and on his deathbed and named the Earl's son Harold as successor to the crown. William felt cheated and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to his accession in 1064. He was prepared for battlein August of 1066, but the winds were against him throughout August and most ofSeptember, prohibiting he and his troops from crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be an advantage, however, as Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England and met Harold Godwinson's forces at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Godwinson emerged victorious, but two days after the battle, William was able to land unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victoriousHarold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the Witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day 1066. The kingdom wasimmediately besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually crushed by theNormans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1071. William punished rebels by confiscating their land and giving it to Normans. The Domesday Book was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base; within the regions covered by the Domesday survey,only two native English landowners still held their land. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law. William was a feudal vassal of the king of France (a situation destined to cause great consternation between England and France), and constantly found himself at odds with King Philip. In a siege on the town of Mantes in 1087he was injured, and he died from complications of the wound on September 9. TheAnglo-Saxon Chronicle gave a favorable review of William's twenty-one year reign, but added, "His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed; ... he would say and do some things and indeed almost anything ... where the hope of money allured him." He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll from his subjects, but he laid the foundation forthe building of English history. [inglis family.and Keith .4FBK.ged.FBK.FBK.FBK.FTW] Without adducing other pro of, if reference be made to William de Jumieges, and Thierry ("Histoire de la Conquete de l'Angeleterre par les Normans"), it is plain that the birth of W illiam of Normandy may be fixed in the year 1027, or the commencement of 1028 . The former states that he was in his 60th year ("fere sexagenarius), at the time of his

Alias: KING OF /ENGLAND/ REFERENCE: 1968

Alias: William "The /Conqueror"/ REFERENCE: 2382

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BIRT DATE ca 1027

William I, the Conqueror (1O27?-1O87), was the first Norman king of England. He was born at Falaise France. He was the son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and inherited Normandy at about the age of 8 in 1035. During his youth, there were many disorders.
In 1047, William put down a great rebellion at the battle of Val-

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NOTE William I, the Conqueror (1O27?-1O87), was the first Norman king CONT es-dunes, which he won with the aid of his King Henry of France.
es-dunes, which he won with the aid of his King Henry of France.
From that time on, William ruled Normandy with an iron hand.
In 1051, King Edward the Confessor of England promised William succession to the English throne as his nearest adult heir.
Edward probably sent the promise to William through an English archbishop who passed through Normandy on his way to Rome. In 1064, Edward's brother-in-law Harold was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner. Harold promised to support William's claim to the throne in return for freedom. But Harold (Harold II) won the throne in 1066 through a deathbed grant by Edward and election by the nobles.
William immediately invaded England. His expedition had the pope's blessings, because William was expected to depose the Anglo-Saxon archbishop of Canterbury and introduce ecclesiastical reforms. Before William could sail, the king of Norway invaded northern England. King Harold hurried north and defeated Norwegian invaders at Stamford Bridge. William landed before Harold could return to defend the coast. The Normans destroyed the Anglo-Saxon army and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings.
On Christmas Day, 1066, William was crowned king. William then suppressed local rebellions. He took lands from those who resisted him, and gave them to his followers to hold in return for their military service to him. To emphasize the legitimacy of his crown, William confirmed the laws of Edward the Confessor and retained all the powers of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy. He levied DANEGELD, the only national tax on landed property in all of Europe at that time. At Salisbury in 1086, he made all the landholders, even the vassals of his barons, swear allegiance directly to him as king.
William was devout, firm in purpose, and unchanging in gaining his ends. His greatest monument is DOMESDAY BOOK, an exhaustive survey of the land, the principal landholders, the farm population, and the material and financial resources of his realm. {The World Book]

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William I #1972, the Conquerer [K: 12/1066; b ca 1027 Falaise, FRA d 1087, son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy]
HENRY I #1970, Beauclerc #1970 (K of ENG ) (youngest son)
Matilda m. Geoffrey, Count of Anjou (FRA)
Plantagenet/Angevin.
Henry II (K: 1154-1189)
Richard the Lion-Hearted (K: 1189-1199)
John (K: 1199-1216)
Henry III (K: 1216-1272)
Edward I 1239-1307 (K:1272) m1. Eleanor of Castile
m2. Margaret, sister of King Phillip IV of FRA

[v37t1235.ftw]

Facts about this person:

Fact 1December 25, 1066
Acceded:

Fact 2
Interred: St. Stephen Abbey, Caen, Normandy

[Norvell.FTW]

[Eno.ftw]

BIOGRAPHY: Acceded: 25 Dec 1066
Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started Domesday Book.

William the Conqueror was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Herleva, daughter of a wealthy Falasian; many contemporary writers referred to him as "William the Bastard". Robert died in 1035 while traveling through Asia Minor, and the young William was named Duke of Normandy. He married Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders,who bore him at least nine children, four of which were boys. Edward the Confessor, in an effort to gain Norman support while fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, had promised
the throne to William in 1051. By 1066, however, Edward had reconciled with Godwin, and on his death bed and named the Earl's son Harold as successor to the crown.William felt cheated and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to his accession in 1064. He was prepared for battle in August of 1066, but the Winds were against him through out August and most of September, prohibiting he and his troops from crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be an advantage, how ever, as Harold Hardrada,the King of Norway, invaded England and met Harold Godwinson's forces at Stamford Bridge on September
25,1066. Godwinson emerged victorious, but two days after the battle,William was able to land unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victorious Harold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, tookthe fight to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the Witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William on Christmas Day 1066. The kingdom was immediately
besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually crushed by the Normans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1071. William punished rebels by confiscating their land and giving it to Normans. The Domes day Book was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base; within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, only two native English landowners still held their land.All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law.William was a feudal vassal of the king of France (a situation destined to cause great consternation between England and France), and constantly found himself at odds with King Philip. In a siege on the town of Mantesin 1087 he was injured, and he died from complications of the wound on September 9. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gave a favorable review of William's twenty-one year reign, but added, "His anxiety for money isthe only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed; ... he wouldsay and do some things and indeed almost anything ... where the hope of money allured him." He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll from his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the building of English history.

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William Duke of Normandy and one of the greatest English kings, William I, born circa 1027, died Sept. 9, 1087, led the Norman conquest of England and provided stability and firm government in an age of great disorder. The illegitimate son of the Norman duke Robert I, he inherited Normandy in 1035, consolidating his rule in the face of baronial opposition in about 1042. He successfully faced further rebellions and after 1050 began to take an interest in acquiring land in England--perhaps given some encouragement by the English king Edward the Confessor. After Edward's death (Jan. 5, 1066), Vikings under King Harold III of Norway moved on England, and William soon followed with an invasion force of his own. The new English king, Harold II, defeated the Vikings and confronted the Normans near Hastings in October 1066. William's forces achieved a decisive victory, and on Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned King of England, founding the Anglo-Norman monarchy and realm. A highly capable, intelligent, and determined man, William I established a strongly personal monarchy. He imposed Norman institutions and personnel both on the state and on the church, and he brought England into the mainstream of continental development. Imposing royal authority directly on courts and other institutions, William ordered the inquests that resulted in the monumental DOMESDAY BOOK. He revolutionized the social, political, and military structures of England, replacing the English nobility with French nobles, thus strengthening his authority, and introducing continental FEUDALISM, a structure in which nobles held land in return for service in the royal army. As the Anglo-Saxon state was Normanized, so too was the English Church: English bishops and abbots were replaced by noted churchmen from the Continent, including LANFRANC of Bec, who became (1070) archbishop of Canterbury. The Conqueror had been a great reformer of the church in Normandy, and he continued this role in England. He established the archbishop of Canterbury as primate of the English church, held reforming councils (which he attended), and exercised not only his rights but also his responsibilities over the church. The bishops were among his closest advisors and officials. William I kept a close but cool relationship with the papacy, supporting ecclesiastical reform while carefully maintaining his control over the English church. He was succeeded as duke of Normandy by his eldest son, Robert II, and as king of England by his sons, first William II, then Henry I.

LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
(Normans conquered England in 1066. William died 1087.)
Here is set down what William, king of the English, established
in consultation with his magnates after the conquest of England:
     1. First that above all things he wishes one God to be revered
throughout his whole realm, one faith in Christ to be kept ever
inviolate, and peace and security to be preserved between
English and Normans.
     2. We decree also that every freeman shall affirm by oath and compact that he will be loyal to king William both within and without
England, that he will preserve with him his lands and honor with all
fidelity and defend him against his enemies.
     3. I will, moreover, that all the men I have brought with me, or who
have come after me, shall be protected by my peace and shall dwell
in quiet. And if any one of them shall be slain, let the lord of his
murderer seize him within five days, if he can; but if he cannot,
let him pay me 46 marks of silver so long as his substance avails.
And when his substance is exhausted, let the whole hundred in which
the murder took place pay what remains in common.
     4. And let every Frenchman who, in the time of king Edward, my kinsman, was a sharer in the customs of the English, pay what they call "scot and lot", according to the laws of the English. This decree
was ordained in the city of Gloucester.
     5. We forbid also that any live cattle shall be bought or sold for
money except within cities, and this shall be done before three
faithful witnesses; nor even anything old without surety and warrant.
But if anyone shall do otherwise, let him pay once, and afterwards
a second time for a fine.
     6. It was decreed there that if a Frenchman shall charge an Englishman with perjury or murder or theft or homicide or "ran", as the English call open rapine which cannot be denied, the Englishman may defend himself, as he shall prefer, either by the ordeal of hot iron or by
wager of battle. But if the Englishman be infirm, let him find another
who will take his place. If one of them shall be vanquished, he shall
pay a fine of 40 shillings to the king. If an Englishman shall charge
a Frenchman and be unwilling to prove his accusation either by ordeal
or by wager of battle, I will, nevertheless, that the Frenchman shall
acquit himself by a valid oath.
     7. This also I command and will, that all shall have and hold the law of the king Edward in respect of their lands and all their posessions,
with the addition of those decrees I have ordained for the welfare of
the English people.
     8. Every man who wishes to be considered a freeman shall be in pledge so that his surety shall hold him and hand him over to justice if he shall offend in any way. And if any such shall escape, let his sureties see to it that they pay forthwith what is charge against him, and let them clear themselves of any complicity in his escape. Let recourse be had to the hundred and shire courts as our predecessors decreed. And those who ought of right to come and are unwilling to appear, shall be summoned once; and if for the second time they refuse to come, one ox shall be taken from them, and they shall be summoned a third time. And if they do not come the third time, a second ox shall be taken from them. But if they do not come the fourth summons, the man who is unwilling to come shall forfeit from his goods the amount of the charge against him --
      "ceapgeld" as it is called -- and in addition to this a fine to the king.
     9. I prohibit the sale of any man by another outside the country on pain of a fine to be paid in full to me.
10. I also forbid that anyone shall be slain or hanged for any fault,
but let his eyes be put out and let him be castrated. And this command
shall not be violated under pain of a fine in full to me.
     .

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BIOGRAPHY: Acceded: 25 Dec 1066
Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started Domesday Book.

William succeeded to his father's Duchy of Normandy at the young age of 7 in 1035 and was known as Duke William II of Normandy (Fr. Guillaume II, duc de Normandie). He lost three guardians to plots to usurp his place. Count Alan of Brittany was a later guardian. King Henry I of France knighted him at the age of 15. By the time he turned 19 he was successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of King Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047. Upon the death of William's cousin King Edward the Confessor of England (January 1066), William claimed the throne of England, asserting that the childless and purportedly celibate Edward had named him his heir during a visit by William (probably in 1052) and that Harold Godwinson, England's foremost magnate and brother-in-law of the late King Edward the Confessor, had reportedly pledged his support while shipwrecked in Normandy (c. 1064). Harold made this pledge while in captivity and was reportedly tricked into swearing on a saint's bones that he would give the throne to William. Even if this story is true, however, Harold made the promise under duress and so may have felt free to break it. The assembly of England's leading notables known as the Witenagemot approved Harold Godwinson’s coronation which took place on January 5, 1066 making him King Harold II of England. In order to pursue his own claim, William obtained the support of the Pope Alexander II for his cause. He assembled a Norman invasion fleet of around 600 ships and an army of 7000 men. He landed at Pevensey in Sussex on September 28, 1066 and assembled a prefabricated wooden castle near Hastings as a base. This was a direct provocation to Harold Godwinson as this area of Sussex was Harold's own personal estate, and William began immediately to lay waste to the land. It may have prompted Harold to respond immediately and in haste rather than await reinforcements in London. King Harold Godwinson was in the north of England and had just defeated another rival, Harald III of Norway, supported by his own brother Tostig. He marched an army of similar size to William's 250 miles in 9 days to challenge him at the crucial battle of Senlac, which later became known as the Battle of Hastings. This took place on October 14, 1066. According to some accounts, perhaps based on an interpretation of the Bayeux Tapestry commemorating the Norman victory, Harold was allegedly killed by an arrow through the eye, and the English forces fled giving William victory. This was the defining moment of what is now known as the Norman Conquest. Unable to enter London, William travelled to Wallingford, was welcomed in by Wigod who supported his cause. This is where the first submissions took place including that of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The remaining Anglo-Saxon noblemen surrendered to William at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and he was acclaimed King of England there. William was then crowned on December 25, 1066 in Westminster Abbey. Although the south of England submitted quickly to Norman rule, resistance continued, especially in the North for six more years until 1072. Harold's illegitimate sons attempted an invasion of the south-west peninsula. Uprisings occurred in the Welsh Marches and at Stafford. Separate attempts at invasion by the Danes and the Scots also occurred. William's defeat of these led to what became known as The Harrying of the North (Sometimes called Harrowing) in which Northumbria was laid waste as revenge and to deny his enemies its resources. The last serious resistance came with the Revolt of the Earls in 1075. It is estimated that one fifth of the people of England were killed during these years by war, massacre, and starvation.

William I, byname WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, or THE BASTARD, or WILLIAM OF NORMANDY, French GUILLAUME LE CONQUÉRANT, or LE BÂTARD, or GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE (b. c. 1028, Falaise, Normandy--d. Sept. 9, 1087, Rouen), duke of Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066, one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He made himself the mightiest feudal lord in France and then changed the course of England's history by his conquest of that country.
Early years
William was the elder of two children of Robert I of Normandy and hisconcubine Herleva, or Arlette, the daughter of a burgher from the town of Falaise. In 1035 Robert died when returning from a pilgrimage toJerusalem, and William, his only son, whom he had nominated as his heir before his departure, was accepted as duke by the Norman magnates and his feudal overlord, King Henry I of France. William and his friends had to overcome enormous obstacles. His illegitimacy (he was generally known as the Bastard) was a handicap, and he had to survive the collapse of law and order that accompanied his accession as a child.
Three of William's guardians died violent deaths before he grew up, and his tutor was murdered. His father's kin were of little help; most of them thought that they stood to gain by the boy's death. But his mother managed to protect William through the most dangerous period. These early difficulties probably contributed to his strength of purpose and his dislike of lawlessness and misrule.
Ruler of Normandy.
By 1042, when William reached his 15th year, was knighted, and began to play a personal part in the affairs of his duchy, the worst was over. But his attempts to recover rights lost during the anarchy and to bring disobedient vassals and servants to heel inevitably led to trouble. From 1046 until 1055 he dealt with a series of baronial rebellions,mostly led by kinsmen. Occasionally he was in great danger and had torely on Henry of France for help. In 1047 Henry and William defeateda coalition of Norman rebels at Val-ès-Dunes, southeast of Caen. It was in these years that William learned to fight and rule.
William soon learned to control his youthful recklessness. He was always ready to take calculated risks on campaign and, most important, tofight a battle. But he was not a chivalrous or flamboyant commander. His plans were simple, his methods direct, and he exploited ruthlesslyany advantage gained. If he found himself at a disadvantage, he withdrew immediately. He showed the same
qualities in his government. He never lost sight of his aim to recover lost ducal rights and revenues, and, although he developed no theory of government or great interest in administrative techniques, he was always prepared to improvise and experiment. He seems to have liveda moral life by the standards of the time, and he acquired an interest in the welfare of the Norman church. He made his half brother, Odo,bishop of Bayeux in 1049 at the age of about 16, and Odo managed to combine the roles of nobleman and prelate in a way that did not greatlyshock contemporaries. But William also welcomed foreign monks and scholars to Normandy. Lanfranc of Pavia, a famous master of the liberal arts, who entered the monastery of Bec about 1042, was made abbot of Caen in 1063.
According to a brief description of William's person by an anonymous author, who borrowed extensively from Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, he was just above average height and had a robust, thick-set body. Though he was always sparing of food and drink, he became fat in later life. He had a rough bass voice and was a good and ready speaker. Writers of the next generation agree that he was exceptionally strong and vigorous. William was an out-of-doors man, a hunter and soldier, fierceand despotic, generally feared; uneducated, he had few graces but wasintelligent and shrewd and soon obtained the respect of his rivals.
New alliances.
After 1047 William began to take part in events outside his duchy. Insupport of his lord, King Henry, and in pursuit of an ambition to strengthen his southern frontier and expand into Maine, he fought a series of campaigns against Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. But in 1052 Henry and Geoffrey made peace, there was a serious rebellion in easternNormandy, and, until 1054 William was again in serious danger. Duringthis period he conducted important negotiations with his cousin Edward the Confessor, king of England, and took a wife.
Norman interest in Anglo-Saxon England derived from an alliance made in 1002, when King Ethelred II of England married Emma, the sister of Count Richard II, William's grandfather. Two of her sons, William's cousins once removed, had reigned in turn in England, Hardecanute (1040-42) and Edward the Confessor (1042-66). William had met Edward during that prince's exile on the Continent and may well have given him some support when he returned to England in 1041. In that year Edward was about 36 and William 14. It is clear that William expected some sort ofreward from Edward and, when Edward's marriage proved unfruitful, began to develop an ambition to become his kinsman's heir. Edward probably at times encouraged William's hopes. His childlessness was a diplomatic asset.
In 1049 William negotiated with Baldwin V of Flanders for the hand ofhis daughter, Matilda. Baldwin, an imperial vassal with a distinguished lineage, was in rebellion against the Western emperor, Henry III, and in desperate need of allies. The proposed marriage was condemned asincestuous (William and Matilda were evidently related in some way) by the Emperor's friend, Pope Leo IX, at the Council of Reims in October 1049; but so anxious were the parties for the alliance that before the end of 1053, possibly in 1052, the wedding took place. In 1059 William was reconciled to the papacy, and as penance the disobedient pairbuilt two monasteries at Caen. Four sons were born to William and Matilda: Robert (the future duke of Normandy), Richard (who died young), William Rufus (the Conqueror's successor in England), and Henry (Rufus' successor). Among the daughters was Adela, who was the mother of Stephen, king of England.
Edward the Confessor was supporting the Emperor, and it is possible that William used his new alliance with Flanders to put pressure on Edward and extort an acknowledgment that he was the English king's heir. At all events, Edward seems to have made some sort of promise to William in 1051, while Tostig, son of the greatest nobleman in England, Earl Godwine, married Baldwin's half sister. The immediate purpose of this tripartite alliance was to improve the security of each of the parties. If William secured a declaration that he was Edward's heir, he was also looking very far ahead.
Between 1054 and 1060 William held his own against an alliance between King Henry I and Geoffrey Martel of Anjou. Both men died in 1060 and were succeeded by weaker rulers. As a result, in 1063 William was able to conquer Maine. In 1064 or 1065 Edward sent his brother-in-law, Harold, earl of Wessex, Godwine's son and successor, on an embassy to Normandy. William took him on a campaign into Brittany, and in connection with this Harold swore an oath in which, according to Norman writers, he renewed Edward's bequest of the throne to William and promised to support it.
When Edward died childless on Jan. 5, 1066, Harold was accepted as king by the English magnates, and William decided on war. Others, however, moved more quickly. In May Tostig, Harold's exiled brother, raided England, and in September he joined the invasion forces of Harald III Hardraade, king of Norway, off the Northumbrian coast. William assembled a fleet, recruited an army, and gathered his forces in August at the mouth of the Dives River. It is likely that he originally intended to sail due north and invade England by way of the Isle of Wight and Southampton Water. Such a plan would give him an offshore base and interior lines. But adverse winds detained his fleet in harbour for a month, and in September a westerly gale drove his ships up-Channel.
The Battle of Hastings.
William regrouped his forces at Saint-Valéry on the Somme. He had suffered a costly delay, some naval losses, and a drop in the morale of his troops. On September 27, after cold and rainy weather, the wind backed south. William embarked his army and set sail for the southeast coast of England. The following morning he landed, took the unresisting towns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead with between 4,000 and 7,000 cavalry and infantry.
William's forces were in a narrow coastal strip, hemmed in by the great forest of Andred, and, although this corridor was easily defensible, it was not much of a base for the conquest of England. The campaigning season was almost past, and when William received news of his opponent it was not reassuring. On September 25 Harold had defeated and slain Tostig and Harald Hardraade at Stamford Bridge, near York, and wasretracing his steps to meet the new invader. On October 13, when Harold emerged from the forest, William was taken by surprise. But the hour was too late for Harold to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensive position. Early the next day William went out to give battle. He attacked the English phalanx with archers and cavalry but saw his army almost driven from the field. He rallied the fugitives, however, and brought them back into the fight and in the end wore down his opponents. Harold's brothers were killed early in the battle. Toward nightfall the King himself fell and the English gave up. William's coolness and tenacity secured him victory in this fateful battle, and he then moved against possible centres of resistance so quickly that he prevented a new leader from emerging. On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. In a formal sense the Norman Conquest of England had taken place.
King of England
William was already an experienced ruler. In Normandy he had replaceddisloyal nobles and ducal servants with his own friends, limited private warfare, and recovered usurped ducal rights, defining the feudal duties of his vassals. The Norman church flourished under his rule. He wanted a church free of corruption but subordinate to him. He would not tolerate opposition from bishops and abbots or interference from the papacy. He presided over church synods and reinforced ecclesiastical discipline with his own. In supporting Lanfranc, prior of Bec, against Berengar of Tours in their dispute over the doctrine of the Eucharist, he found himself on the side of orthodoxy. He was never guilty ofthe selling of church office (simony). He disapproved of clerical marriage. At the same time he was a stern and sometimes rough master, swayed by political necessities, and he was not generous to the church with his own property. The reformer Lanfranc was one of his advisers; but perhaps even more to his taste were the worldly and soldierly bishops Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Coutances.
William left England early in 1067 but had to return in December because of English unrest. The English rebellions that began in 1067 reached their peak in 1069 and were finally quelled in 1071. They completedthe ruin of the highest English aristocracy and gave William a distaste for his newly conquered kingdom. Since his position on the Continent was deteriorating, he wanted to solve English problems as cheaply as possible. To secure England's frontiers, he invaded Scotland in 1072 and Wales in 1081 and created special defensive "marcher" counties along the Scottish and Welsh borders.
In the last 15 years of his life he was more often in Normandy than in England, and there were five years, possibly seven, in which he didnot visit the kingdom at all. He retained most of the greatest Anglo-Norman barons with him in Normandy and confided the government of England to bishops, trusting especially his old friend Lanfranc, whom he made archbishop of Canterbury. Much concerned that the natives should not be unnecessarily disturbed, he allowed them to retain their own laws and courts.
William returned to England only when it was absolutely necessary: in1075 to deal with the aftermath of a rebellion by Roger, earl of Hereford, and Ralf, earl of Norfolk, which was made more dangerous by the intervention of a Danish fleet; and in 1082 to arrest and imprison hishalf brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux and earl of Kent, who was planningto take an army to Italy, perhaps to make himself pope. In the springof 1082 William had his son Henry knighted, and in August at Salisbury he took oaths of fealty from all the important landowners in England, whosoever's vassals they might be. In 1085 he returned with a largearmy to meet the threat of an invasion by Canute IV (Canute the Holy)of Denmark. When this came to nothing owing to Canute's death in 1086, William ordered an economic and tenurial survey to be made of the kingdom, the results of which are summarized in the two volumes of Domesday Book.
William was preoccupied with the frontiers of Normandy. The danger spots were in Maine and the Vexin on the Seine, where Normandy bordered on the French royal demesne. After 1066 William's continental neighbours became more powerful and even more hostile. In 1068 Fulk the Surly succeeded to Anjou and in 1071 Robert the Frisian to Flanders. PhilipI of France allied with Robert and Robert with the Danish king, Canute IV. There was also the problem of William's heir apparent, Robert Curthose, who, given no appanage and seemingly kept short of money, left Normandy in 1077 and intrigued with his father's enemies. In 1081 William made a compromise with Fulk in the treaty of Blancheland: Robert Curthose was to be count of Maine but as a vassal of the count of Anjou. The eastern part of the Vexin, the county of Mantes, had fallen completely into King Philip's hands in 1077 when William had been busywith Maine. In 1087 William demanded from Philip the return of the towns of Chaumont, Mantes, and Pontoise. In July he entered Mantes by surprise, but while the town burned he suffered some injury from which he never recovered. He was thwarted at the very moment when he seemed about to enforce his last outstanding territorial claim.
Death
William was taken to a suburb of Rouen, where he lay dying for five weeks. He had the assistance of some of his bishops and doctors, and inattendance were his half brother Robert, count of Mortain, and his younger sons, William Rufus and Henry. Robert Curthose was with the Kingof France. It had probably been his intention that Robert, as was thecustom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. In the circumstanceshe was tempted to make the loyal Rufus his sole heir. In the end he compromised: Normandy and Maine went to Robert and England to Rufus. Henry was given great treasure with which he could purchase an appanage.William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buried in rather unseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built at Caen.

King William "inherited" the English throne as heir to Edward the Confessor, with, after the battle of Hastings, substantial support from the remaining English nobility. Until 1071 the reign was spent suppressing English rebellions. After that date, by which time much of the English nobility had been eliminated, William had mainly Continental problems to deal with. The conquest of much of Wales was undertaken in the years 1070 to 1085. When William died the chronicles generally agreed that he was a good, but stern king. It had been possible during his reign for a man to walk with his pockets full of gold from one end of William's realm to the other with no-one touching him through their fear of the king.

William I, the Conqueror (1066-1087 AD) Born: 1027 Died: September 9, 1087 Parents: Robert I, Duke of Normandy and Herleva of Falasia Significant Siblings: none Spouse: Mathilda (daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders) Significant Offspring: Robert, William Rufus, Henry, and Adela Contemporaries: Edward the Confessor (King of England, 1047-1066); Harold Godwinson (King of England, 1066); Henry I (King of France, 1031-1060); Philip I (King of France, 1060-1108); Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085); Lanfranc (Archbishop of Canterbury) William, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, spent his first six years with his mother in Falaise and received the duchy of Normandy upon his father's death in 1035. A council consisting of noblemen and William's appointed guardians ruled Normandy but ducal authority waned under the Normans' violent nature and the province was wracked with assassination and revolt for twelve years. In 1047, William reasserted himself in the eastern Norman regions and, with the aid of France's King Henry I, crushed the rebelling barons. He spent the next several years consolidating his strength on the continent through marriage, diplomacy, war and savage intimidation. By 1066, Normandy was in a position of virtual independence from William's feudal lord, Henry I of France and the disputed succession in England offered William an opportunity for invasion. Edward the Confessor attempted to gain Norman support while fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, by purportedly promising the throne to William in 1051. (This was either a false claim by William or a hollow promise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarily hereditary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy and barons.) Before his death in 1066, however, Edward reconciled with Godwin, and the witan agreed to Godwin's son, Harold, as heir to the crown - after the recent Danish kings, the members of the council were anxious to keep the monarchy in Anglo-Saxon hands. William was enraged and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to him in 1064. Prepared for battle in August 1066, ill winds throughout August and most of September prohibited him crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be advantageous for William, however, as Harold Godwinson awaited William's pending arrival on England's south shores, Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England from the north. Harold Godwinson's forces marched north to defeat the Norse at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Two days after the battle, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victorious Harold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight south to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. After hours of holding firm against the Normans, the tired English forces finally succumbed to the onslaught. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized Anglo-Saxon resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day 1066. The kingdom was immediately besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually and ruthlessly crushed by the Normans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1072. William punished rebels by confiscating their lands and allocating them to the Normans. Uprisings in the northern counties near York were quelled by an artificial famine brought about by Norman destruction of food caches and farming implements. The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically altered the course of English history. Rather than attempt a wholesale replacement of Anglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practices with native custom. By disenfranchising Anglo-Saxon landowners, he instituted a brand of feudalism in England that strengthened the monarchy. Villages and manors were given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return for military service and monetary payments. The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriff was greatly enhanced: sheriffs arbitrated legal cases in the shire courts on behalf of the king, extracted tax payments and were generally responsible for keeping the peace. "The Domesday Book" was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base. Within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, the dominance of the Norman king and his nobility are revealed: only two Anglo-Saxon barons that held lands before 1066 retained those lands twenty years later. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law. Although he began the invasion with papal support, William refused to let the church dictate policy within English and Norman borders. He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. He died September 9, 1087 from complications of a wound he received in a siege on the town of Mantes. "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" gave a favorable review of William's twenty-one year reign, but added, "His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed; . . .he would say and do some things and indeed almost anything . . .where the hope of money allured him." He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll from his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the economic and political success of England.

[s2.FTW]

Ruled 1066-1087.

"William was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy and a second cousin of Edward the Confessor. When Edward died childless, the English crown was offered to Harold Godwinson, although it had previously been promised to William. Feeling cheated, he led a Norman army across the English Channel and defeated Harold at Hastings in 1066.

"William was a powerful man who had grown up fearing for his life and trusting no one. He imposed a harsh rule on the English, introducing the feudal system and listing the nation's wealth in the Domesday Book so that he could tax it heavily. He was merciless to anyone who stood in his way. But he was also a fine administrator who reintroduced law and order to a land that had been in chaos for centuries. Feared rather than loved, he left the country in very good shape when he died in 1087."

From Nicholas Best, "The Kings and Queens of England" (Boston: Bullfinch, 1995).

The second cousin of Edward the Confessor and upon Edward's bequest, the most justified claimant to the English crown upon Edward's death. Although Harold II had fallen at Hastings, Saxon-English hopes of retaining the throne had not, and these hopes were placed upon the shoulders of Edgar Aetheling. William was in no mood to tolerate any further delay from what he saw as his rightful crown and in a systematic, devastating, act of attrition he ordered his troops to burn and kill in the shires of south and south eastern England. The Saxon generals had no moral option but to surrender to such an onslaught. William was duly crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey.

William was the illegitimate son of Robert the Devil (or the Magnificent), Duke of Normandy, and the daughter of a commoner. Protocol forbade a marriage between the two and thus branded William a bastard. He was not alone in being the son of his mother, Herleva, and indeed his two half-brothers, Odo and Robert, supported him in single combat at the Battle of Hastings.

William's claim to the throne of England and his subsequent invasion were fully supported by noblemen of not only Normandy but also Brittany and Flanders. These allies were as equally well rewarded upon his victory by gifts of land and titles. These and all other lands within the English realm were recorded in the famous Domesday Book in 1085.

William was not loved by the Saxons and it is not surprising when one considers the freedoms and basic human rights they lost under the Norman rule. There were many rebellions but they were generally poorly co-ordinated and were easily stamped out by William. Invasions by the Welsh and the Danish were just as smartly defeated and for the 21 years of his reign there was only one master
of England, William the Conqueror.

William was married to Matilda of Flanders and had no less than 10 children; Robert, Richard, Cecily, William, Adeliza, Constance, Adela, Agatha, Matilda and Henry. In a death fit for a warrior king, William died whilst in combat against the French near the town of Rouen. His body lies in the Normandy town of Caen.

Source: http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/willconq.htmlRuled 1066-1087.

"William was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy and a second cousin of Edward the Confessor. When Edward died childless, the English crown was offered to Harold Godwinson, although it had previously been promised to William. Feeling cheated, he led a Norman army across the English Channel and defeated Harold at Hastings in 1066.

"William was a powerful man who had grown up fearing for his life and trusting no one. He imposed a harsh rule on the English, introducing the feudal system and listing the nation's wealth in the Domesday Book so that he could tax it heavily. He was merciless to anyone who stood in his way. But he was also a fine administrator who reintroduced law and order to a land that had been in chaos for centuries. Feared rather than loved, he left the country in very good shape when he died in 1087."

From Nicholas Best, "The Kings and Queens of England" (Boston: Bullfinch, 1995).

The second cousin of Edward the Confessor and upon Edward's bequest, the most justified claimant to the English crown upon Edward's death. Although Harold II had fallen at Hastings, Saxon-English hopes of retaining the throne had not, and these hopes were placed upon the shoulders of Edgar Aetheling. William was in no mood to tolerate any further delay from what he saw as his rightful crown and in a systematic, devastating, act of attrition he ordered his troops to burn and kill in the shires of south and south eastern England. The Saxon generals had no moral option but to surrender to such an onslaught. William was duly crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey.

William was the illegitimate son of Robert the Devil (or the Magnificent), Duke of Normandy, and the daughter of a commoner. Protocol forbade a marriage between the two and thus branded William a bastard. He was not alone in being the son of his mother, Herleva, and indeed his two half-brothers, Odo and Robert, supported him in single combat at the Battle of Hastings.

William's claim to the throne of England and his subsequent invasion were fully supported by noblemen of not only Normandy but also Brittany and Flanders. These allies were as equally well rewarded upon his victory by gifts of land and titles. These and all other lands within the English realm were recorded in the famous Domesday Book in 1085.

William was not loved by the Saxons and it is not surprising when one considers the freedoms and basic human rights they lost under the Norman rule. There were many rebellions but they were generally poorly co-ordinated and were easily stamped out by William. Invasions by the Welsh and the Danish were just as smartly defeated and for the 21 years of his reign there was only one master
of England, William the Conqueror.

William was married to Matilda of Flanders and had no less than 10 children; Robert, Richard, Cecily, William, Adeliza, Constance, Adela, Agatha, Matilda and Henry. In a death fit for a warrior king, William died whilst in combat against the French near the town of Rouen. His body lies in the Normandy town of Caen.

Source: http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/willconq.html

Basic Life Information

Duke of Normandy 1035-1087 and King of England 1066-1087.
Died early in the morning on Thursday, September 9, 1087 at Hermentrube, Near Rouen, France.
Interred at the Monastery of St. Stephen, Caen, Normandy which he had founded.
http://www.robertsewell.ca/normandy.html#gen10

He was the natural son of Robert the 1st (6th Duke of Normandy) and Herleva (aka Arletta?) de Falaise; he inherited Normandy from his father and went on to conquer England.

Conquering England

William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that, in 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distant cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold William's right to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper. Furthermore, William had the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval. William took seven months to prepare his invasion force, using some 600 transport ships to carry around 7,000 men (including 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across the Channel. On 28 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised fortifications at Hastings. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, Harold undertook a forced march south, covering 250 miles in some nine days to meet the new threat, gathering inexperienced reinforcements to replenish his exhausted veterans as he marched.

At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October, Harold's weary and under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the forces brought across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Harold's troops were equal in number (they included the best infantry in Europe equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had the battlefield advantage of being based on a ridge above the Norman positions. The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumour spread that William had been killed; William rode among the ranks raising his helmet to show he was still alive. The battle was close-fought: a chronicler described the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon defence as 'one side attacking with all mobility, the other withstanding as though rooted to the soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him. William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, both of which the English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harold was killed - hit by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a mounted knight. Two of his brothers were also killed. The demoralised English forces fled. In 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built on the site of the battle, with the high altar occupying the spot where Harold fell. The ruins of Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, which grew up around it, remain.
http://www.thepeerage.com/p10203.htm#i102022

Marriage and Children

William married Matilda of Flanders in 1053 at the Cathedral of Notre Dame d'Eu, Normandy

William and Mathilda had the following children:
Robert (II) Curthose, Duke of Normandy (1054 - 1134)
Richard, Duke of Bernay (1055 - 1075, died without issue)
Cecilia, Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen (1056 - 1127)
Adeliza, who became a nun (born 1055)
William (II) Rufus, King of England from 1087 to 1100 born 1056/60
Constance, (1066 - 1090) who married Alan IV, Count of Brittany
Adela, (1067 - 1137) who married Stephen, Count of Blois, their son:
Stephen, King of England 1135 - 1154
Agatha (born about 1064)
Matilda
Henry (I) Beauclerc

http://www.robertsewell.ca/normandy.html#gen10

Appearance

William matured into a tall, thick set man with dark hair, which receeded from his forehead early. His voice was rasping and guttural. William undoubtedly possessed considerable powers of leadership and courage. He was devout and inspired loyalty in his followers, but could also be ruthless and cruel.

William of Malmesbury provides us with a detailed description of the king in his Historia Anglorum:-
'He was of just stature, ordinary corplulence, fierce countenance; his forehead was bare of hair; of such great strength of arm that it was often a matter of surprise, that no one was able to draw his bow, which himself could bend when his horse was in full gallop; he was majestic whether sitting or standing, although the protuberance of his belly deformed his royal person; of excellent health so that he was never confined with any dangerous disorder, except at the last; so given to the pleasures of the chase, that as I have before said, ejecting the inhabitants, he let a space of many miles grow desolate that, when at liberty from other avocations, he might there pursue his pleasures.

His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed. This he sought all opportunities of scraping together, he cared not how; he would say and do some things and indeed almost anything, unbecoming to such great majesty, where the hope of money allured him. I have here no excuse whatever to offer, unless it be, as one has said, that of necessity he must fear many, whom many fear.'
http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/normans.htm

Death

The last year of William's life was spent fighting in Normandy, in battle for the Vexin, a much disputed territory, which lay between Normandy and France. Amongst those opposing him was his rebellious eldest son, Robert, nicknamed Curthose by his father, due to his short legs.
On 9th September, 1087, whilst riding through the smouldering ruins of the sacked town of Mantes, in what must have appeared to him as like an act of divine retribution, William was thrown from his horse when it trod on burning ashes and sustained severe abdominal injuries.

The King, now aged fifty nine and mortally injured, was carried to the convent of St. Gervais in Rouen, the Norman capital. There he summoned his younger sons, William and Henry, to his deathbed. Robert Curthose remained at the court of France.

England was bequeathed to his second surviving and favourite son, William Rufus and despite his bitter differences with Robert Curthose, he left Normandy to him. To Henry, the youngest son, later destined to inherit all his dominions, he left 5,000 silver pounds. He is reported to have ruminated on and repented of his many sins, transgressions and cruelties at the end. He tried to salve his conscience, before preparing to meet his maker and fearing for his immortal soul, he ordered all the treasure he possessed in Rouen to be given to the church and the poor and forgave his enemies. William the Conqueror died on 9th September, 1087, having ruled England for 21 years.

William was buried in the monastery of St.Stephen at Caen in Normandy, an abbey he had previously founded as an act of repentence for his consanguineous marriage to Matilda of Flanders. The body was broken as it was lowered into the sepulchre, made too short by the stonemasons and the ceremony was interrupted by a dispossessed knight. A stone slab with a Latin inscription, in the abbey church of Caen today marks the burial place of the first Norman King of England. His grave has since been desecrated twice, in the course of the French Wars of Religion his bones were scattered across Caen, and during the tumultuous events of the French Revolution, the Conqueror's tomb was again despoiled.

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/normans.htm

[elen.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #4579, Date of Import: Jun 15, 2003]

King of England, was the natural son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, and was born at Falaise, in 1027. He was brought up at the court of the King of France, and succeeded to the duchy at the age of eight. But during his minority there were frequent revolts of the nobles, and his authority was not fully established for many years. On the death of Edward the Confessor, King of England, William made a formal claim to the crown, alleging a bequest in his favour by Edward, and a promise which he had extorted from Harold. His claim being denied he at once prepared for an invasion of England, effected a landing at Pevensey, September 28, 1066, while Harold was engaged in opposing the Norwegians in the north, and fortified a camp near Hastings. The decisive battle of Hastings (or, more properly, Senlac) was fought on Saturday, October 14, 1066 Harold was defeated and slain, and the Norman Conquest was commenced. William's rival, Edgar Atheling, was supported by some of the leading men for a short time, but they all made sub mission to William at Berkhampstead, and on the following Christmas-day he was crowned at Westminster by Aldred, archbishop of York, a riot occurring, in which some lives were lost and some houses burnt.

The first measures of the new king were conciliatory, but served merely for a show for a short time. The inevitable conflict was not long deferred. Early in 1067 William went to Normandy, leaving the government of his new dominions in the hands of Odo, bishop of Bayeux, and William Fitz-Osbern. Tidings of revolt in various quarters recalled him, and be was occupied through most of his reign in the conquest of the country. Of the military events the most terribly memorable is his campaign in the north in 1069 when he mercilessly devastated the whole district beyond the Humber with fire and slaughter, so that from York to Durham not an inhabited village remained, and the ground for more than sixty miles lay bare and uncultivated for more than half a century afterwards. The order established was that of death; famine and pestilence completing what the sword had begun. This campaign was followed in 1071 by the attack on the fortified camp of Hereward, the resolute and unconquered chieftain, in the Isle of Ely.

The settlement of the country was as cruel as the conquest. The English were dispossessed of their estates, and of all offices both in church and state; William assumed the feudal proprietorship of all the lands, and distributed them among his followers, carrying the feudal system out to its fullest development; garrisoned the chief towns, and built numerous fortresses; re-established the payment of Peter's-pence, indignantly refusing, however, to do homage to the Pope; and converted many districts of the country into deer parks and forests. The most extensive of these was the New Forest in Hampshire, formed in 1079. He ordered a complete survey of the land in 1085, the particulars of which were carefully recorded, and have come down to us in the ?Domesday Book?.

According to tradition the ?Curfew Bell? was introduced by the Conqueror; and the attempt was made to supersede the English by the Norman French language, which was for some time used in official documents. In his latter years William was engaged in war with his own sons, and with the King of France; and in August, 1087, he burnt the town of Mantes. Injured by the stumbling of his horse among the burning ruins, he was carried to Rouen, and died in the abbey of St. Gervas, 9th September. He was buried in the cathedral of Caen, where a monument was erected to him by his son William II. This monument perished during the Huguenot wars. William married, while Duke of Normandy, his cousin Matilda, daughter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders, by whom he had four sons, two of whom, William and Henry, became kings of England, and several daughters. The building of the Tower of London was begun by William I. about 1080. Battle Abbey was also built by him in commemoration of his victory at Hastings. A statue of William I. was erected at Falaise, in 1853. ?Domesday Book? has been recently reproduced by the photozincographic process, under the direction of Sir H. James.(year =1867)

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated
and
killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The
Norman
conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of
feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for
pledges
of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if
harsh
rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started
Domesday Book.

http://www15.pair.com/cir/uk/warwick.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Compton's:

William I (born 1027, ruled 1066-87), called William the Conqueror, was
an illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy. His mother was a
tanner's daughter. William succeeded his father when he was only 7
years old. At 24 he had made himself the mightiest feudal lord in all
France by various conquests, but his ambition was not satisfied. He
laid plans to become king of England also. He was coronated at
Westminster Abbey, Christmas Day 1066.
William married Matilda, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders,
in 1053. She was descended from the old Anglo-Saxon line of kings.
Among their children were four sons: Robert, future duke of Normandy;
Richard, who died as a youth; William Rufus, who succeeded his father
as king of England; and Henry, who succeeded William Rufus. One
daughter, Adela, became the mother of England's King Stephen.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton's NewMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Lincoln Castle, Lincolnshire
http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/castles/linccastle.html

This 1st Norman King had to invade England to claim his crown in 1066 at the
Battle of Hastings, then on into London where he was crowned King on
Christmas Day, 1066, in Westminster Abbey. Harold, Earl of Wessex, was slain
at the battle. By 1070, the Norman Conquest was concluded. In 1087, during a
campaign against Philip of France, William was fatally injured when his horse
fell on him. William I is generally considerated as one of the outstanding
figures in western European history.

William I of England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

William I (c. 1028 – 9 September 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087, and as Guillaume II was Duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087. Known alternatively as William of Normandy (Fr. Guillaume de Normandie), William the Conqueror (Fr. Guillaume le Conquérant) and William the Bastard (Fr. Guillaume le Bâtard), he was the illegitimate and only son of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, the daughter of Fulbert, a tanner. Born in Falaise, Normandy, now in France, William succeeded to the throne of England by right of conquest by winning the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and suppressing subsequent English revolts, in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.

No authentic portrait of William has been found. He was described as a big burly man, strong in every sense of the word, balding in front, and of regal dignity.

Contents [hide]
1 Early life history
2 Conquest of England
3 William's reign
4 Death, burial, and succession
5 Children of William and Matilda
6 Honours
7 Further reading
8 External links

[edit]
Early life history
William was born the grandnephew of Queen Emma, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and later of King Canute.

William succeeded to his father's Duchy of Normandy at the young age of 7 in 1035 and was known as Duke William I of Normandy (Fr. Guillaume II, duc de Normandie). He lost three guardians to plots to usurp his place. Count Alan of Brittany was a later guardian. King Henry I of France knighted him at the age of 15. By the time he turned 19 he was himself successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of King Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047.

He married his cousin Matilda of Flanders, against the wishes of the pope in 1053 at the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Eu, Eu, Normandy (now in Seine-Maritime). He was 26, she was 22. Their marriage produced four sons and six daughters (see list below).

His half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain played significant roles in his life. He also had a sister, Adelaide of Normandy.

[edit]
Conquest of England
Main article: Norman Conquest
Upon the death of William's cousin King Edward the Confessor of England (January 1066), William claimed the throne of England, asserting that the childless and purportedly celibate Edward had named him his heir during a visit by William (probably in 1052) and that Harold Godwinson, England's foremost magnate, had reportedly pledged his support while shipwrecked in Normandy (c. 1064). Harold made this pledge while in captivity and was reportedly tricked into swearing on a saint's bones that he would give the throne to William. Even if this story is true, however, Harold made the promise under duress and so may have felt free to break it.

The assembly of England's leading notables known as the Witenagemot approved Harold Godwinson’s coronation which took place on January 5, 1066 making him King Harold II of England. In order to pursue his own claim, William obtained the Pope's support for his cause. He assembled a Norman invasion fleet of around 600 ships and an army of 7000 men. He landed at Pevensey in Sussex on September 28, 1066 and assembled a prefabricated wooden castle near Hastings as a base. This was a direct provocation to Harold Godwinson as this area of Sussex was Harold's own personal estate, and William began immediately to lay waste to the land. It may have prompted Harold to respond immediately and in haste rather than await reinforcements in London.

King Harold Godwinson was in the north of England and had just defeated another rival, King Hardrada of Norway supported by his own brother Tostig. He marched an army of similar size to William's 250 miles in 9 days to challenge him at the crucial battle of Senlac, which later became known as the Battle of Hastings. This took place on October 14, 1066. According to some accounts, perhaps based on an interpretation of the Bayeux Tapestry commemorating the Norman victory, Harold was allegedly killed by an arrow through the eye, and the English forces fled giving William victory.

This was the defining moment of what is now known as the Norman Conquest. The remaining Anglo-Saxon noblemen surrendered to William at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and he was acclaimed King of England there. William was then crowned on December 25, 1066 in Westminster Abbey.

Although the south of England submitted quickly to Norman rule, resistance continued, especially in the North for six more years until 1072. Harold's illegitimate sons attempted an invasion of the south-west peninsula. Uprisings occurred in the Welsh Marches and at Stafford. Separate attempts at invasion by the Danes and the Scots also occured. William's defeat of these led to what became known as The Harrying of the North (Sometimes called Harrowing) in which Northumbria was laid waste as revenge and to deny his enemies its resources. The last serious resistance came with the Revolt of the Earls in 1075. It is estimated that one fifth of the people of England were killed during these years by war, massacre, and starvation.

[edit]
William's reign
English Royalty
House of Normandy

William I
Children
Robert Curthose
William Rufus
Adela of Blois
Henry Beauclerc
William II
Henry I
Children
Empress Matilda
William Adelin
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Stephen

William initiated many major changes. In 1085, in order to ascertain the extent of his new dominionans and maximize taxation, William commissioned the compilation of the Domesday Book, a survey of England's productive capacity similar to a modern census. He also ordered many castles, keeps, and mots, among them the Tower of London, to be built across England to ensure that the rebellions by the English people or his own followers would not succeed. His conquest also led to Norman replacing English as the language of the ruling classes, for nearly 300 years.

The signatures of William I and Matilda (beside the first two large Xs) on the Accord of Winchester from 1072.William is said to have deported some of the Anglo-Saxon landed classes into slavery through Bristol. Many of the latter ended up in Umayyad Spain and Moorish lands. Ownerships of nearly all land, and titles to religious and public offices in England were given to Normans. Many surviving Anglo-Saxon nobles emmigrated to other European kingdoms.

[edit]
Death, burial, and succession
He died at the age of 60, at the Convent of St Gervais, near Rouen, France, on September 9, 1087 from abdominal injuries received from his saddle pommel when he fell off a horse at the Siege of Mantes. William was buried in the St. Peter's Church in Caen, Normandy. In a most unregal postmortem, his corpulent body would not fit in the stone sarcophagus, and burst after some unsuccessful prodding by the assembled bishops, filling the chapel with a foul smell and dispersing the mourners. [1]

William was succeeded in 1087 as King of England by his younger son William Rufus and as Duke of Normandy by his elder son Robert Curthose. This led to the Rebellion of 1088. His youngest son Henry also became King of England later, after William II died without a child to succeed him.

[edit]
Children of William and Matilda
Some doubt exists over how many daughters there were. This list includes some entries which are obscure.

Robert Curthose (c. 1054–1134), Duke of Normandy, married Sybil of Conversano, daughter of Geoffrey of Conversano
Adeliza (or Alice) (c. 1055–?), reportedly betrothed to Harold II of England (Her existence is in some doubt.)
Cecilia (or Cecily) (c. 1056–1126), Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen
William Rufus (1056–1100), King of England
Richard (1057-c. 1081), killed by a stag in New Forest
Adela (c. 1062–1138), married Stephen, Count of Blois
Agatha (c. 1064–c. 1080), betrothed to (1) Harold of Wessex, (2) Alfonso VI of Castile
Constance (c. 1066–1090), married Alan IV Fergent, Duke of Brittany; poisoned, possibly by her own servants
Matilda (very obscure, her existence is in some doubt)
Henry Beauclerc (1068–1135), King of England, married (1) Edith of Scotland, daughter of Malcolm III, King of Scotland, (2) Adeliza of Louvain
[edit]
Honours
William I was ranked #68 on Michael H. Hart's list of the most influential figures in history.

[edit]
Further reading
David Bates, William the Conqueror (1989) ISBN 0752419803
David Howarth, "1066 The Year of the Conquest" ISBN 0140058505
Anne Savage, "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles" ISBN1-85833-478-0, pub.CLB, 1997
[edit]
External links
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
William I of EnglandWilliam the Conqueror Chronology World History Database
History of William I's life and reign. Official web site of the British Monarchy
William the Conqueror. by E. A. Freeman (1823-1892). Ebook published via Gutenberg Project.

Preceded by:
Edgar Ætheling King of England
1066–1087 Succeeded by:
William II
Preceded by:
Robert the Magnificent Duke of Normandy
1035–1087 Succeeded by:
Robert Curthose

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Brian Tompsett, Leo van de Pas. Source: *Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europaeischen Staaten* 4 vol., Marburg, 1953, 1975, by W.K. Prinz von Isenburg. *Burke's Guide to the Royal Familiy*, London, 1973. *Nachkommen Gorms des Alten*, 1978, by S. Otto Brenner. *Europaeische Stammtafeln*, J.A. Stargardt Verlag, Marburg. It was speculated that Matilda/Gundred of Normandy (1053-1085), might have been a daughter to William the Conqueror and married to William, 1. Earl of Surrey+Warenne. This is not so as proven by Early Yorkshire Charters by Clay vol.viii, pp1-26,40-129. (1949), Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol.xxxi, pp97-113 (1934), Archaeoligical Journal, vol.iii, pp1-26 (1846), Archaeological Journal, vol.xli, pp300-312 (1884), Archaeologia vol.xxxii pp108-125 (1847), English Historical Review vol III pp 680-701 (1889), The Complete Peerage vol XIIp1, pp.491 note d, ditto pp.494 note j. (With other words, Schwennicke is not infallible.) William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William's birth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded the barons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years, whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithful to Matilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edward promise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelances from all over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but the winds of the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For while William cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, who arrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Two days later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscated and given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not gone un-noticed by either France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, including one where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money for this war could be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another dispute with the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to the Church of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated
and
killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The
Norman
conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of
feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for
pledges
of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if
harsh
rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started
Domesday Book.

http://www15.pair.com/cir/uk/warwick.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Compton's:

William I (born 1027, ruled 1066-87), called William the Conqueror, was
an illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy. His mother was a
tanner's daughter. William succeeded his father when he was only 7
years old. At 24 he had made himself the mightiest feudal lord in all
France by various conquests, but his ambition was not satisfied. He
laid plans to become king of England also. He was coronated at
Westminster Abbey, Christmas Day 1066.
William married Matilda, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders,
in 1053. She was descended from the old Anglo-Saxon line of kings.
Among their children were four sons: Robert, future duke of Normandy;
Richard, who died as a youth; William Rufus, who succeeded his father
as king of England; and Henry, who succeeded William Rufus. One
daughter, Adela, became the mother of England's King Stephen.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton's NewMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lincoln Castle, Lincolnshire
http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/castles/linccastle.html

This 1st Norman King had to invade England to claim his crown in 1066 at the
Battle of Hastings, then on into London where he was crowned King on
Christmas Day, 1066, in Westminster Abbey. Harold, Earl of Wessex, was slain
at the battle. By 1070, the Norman Conquest was concluded. In 1087, during a
campaign against Philip of France, William was fatally injured when his horse
fell on him. William I is generally considerated as one of the outstanding
figures in western European history.

THE CONQUEROR
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.

Everybody knows that William II, Duke of Normandy, invaded England, defeated Harold near Hastings, and established himself on the throne of this kingdom. Most persons of ordinary education are cognizant of many other facts connected with his history and that of his Queen Matilda: - the unauthenticated tale of his courtship; the conspiracies against him both in Normandy and England; the revolt of his son Robert; the compilation of Domesday; the fatal injury at Mantes; his death, and the disgraceful scenes which followed it. Hume and Henry, Turner and Lingard, one or all of our national historians are to be found on the shelves of every English gentleman's library. I am not going to fight the battle over again, nor repeat the often told story of the Conquest and its consequences. It is a personal and domestic, not a general or political, history I am writing, and the great public events of the reign of William the Conqueror will be only alluded to in support or contradiction of statements which are disputable, or when newly discovered or hitherto neglected details can add to their interest or contribute to their illustration.
There are two recently published works which it may be thought have anticipated to a great degree the observations I am about to make respecting the Conqueror: Mr. Cobbe's "History of the Norman Kings of England," [History of the Norman Kings of England, by Thomas Cobbe, Barrister-at-Law. 8vo. Lond. 1869] and Mr. Freeman's "History of the Norman Conquest." ["History of the Norman Conquest, by Edward A. Freeman, M.A. 4 vols. 8vo. London, 1870. The same observations may apply to the late Sir F. Palgrave's still earlier "History of Normandy and England," published in 1864, an unfinished work, as fanciful as it is fascinating.] Over a portion of the ground of both I shall naturally have to go; but there are only five chapters of the first which bear slightly upon my subject, and the four massive volumes already issued of the latter, valuable as they must undoubtedly prove to the historical student as an exhaustive collection and minute examination of the principal contemporary authorities, have nothing in common with my less pretentious pages beyond the obvious fact of being indebted to the same sources of information.
While, as I have already remarked, the name and fame of William the Conqueror are familiar to all, our national historians are uncertain of the date of his birth; divided in opinion as to the social position of his mother and her parents; at issue respecting the name of her father and the period of her marriage; puzzled by the story of William's courtship of Matilda, which the most incredulous cannot furnish fair evidence of being purely apocryphal; equally unable to prove or disprove the previous marriage of Matilda and the parentage of the mysterious Gundrada; and totally ignorant of the order of birth of the undoubted children of William, and even of the exact names and number of the female portion of them. Strange as this may appear to many of my readers, such is nevertheless the case, as I found on examination of the materials requisite for the compilation of this memoir.
William "the Great," "the Elder," "the Bastard," or "the Conqueror," undoubtedly died in September, 1087, and according to a contemporary historian [Ordericus Vitalis] he was at that period close upon sixty, in which case he must have been born in 1027 or 1028; but by the same historian he is made to assert upon his death-bed that he was sixty-four, which would place the date of his birth in 1023 or 1024, and there are not wanting authorities to corroborate his own - if it be his own - statement, as I shall show to all whom it may concern in the following chapter, it being undesirable to enter into dry discussions of dates in the body of the memoir.
His father was Robert I, Duke of Normandy, styled by some "the Magnificent," from his liberalities and love of splendour; "the Jerusalemite," in consequence of his pilgrimage; and by others less courteously "the Devil," though wherefore or at what period has not been satisfactorily ascertained. From a passage in "L'Estoire de Seint Ædward le Rei," it would appear there was a tradition in the family of Rollo, of one of his descendants (Richard I?) having beaten and bound his Satanic majesty,
"E Duc Richard de'apres li vint,
Ki li diable ateint e tint
E le venqait e le lia."
Robert was the second son of Richard II, Duke of Normandy, by his wife Judith, daughter of Conan le Tort (the Crooked), Count of Rennes, and sister of the half blood to Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany; and it was during the lifetime of his father, and while Robert was only Count of the Hiemois, and it may be in his nonage that he first saw Herleve, Harlett, or Arlot (for it is written in all manner of ways), daughter of a burgess of Falaise, an accident the results of which were the subjugation of England and the succession of a line of kings unsurpassed for valour and power by the greatest sovereigns in Europe.
"The trade of Herleve's father," says the most recent writer on the subject, "seems to be agreed on at all hands. He was a burgess of Falaise, and a tanner." [Freeman; History of the Norman Conquest, vol. ii. p. 61I]
Why particularly a tanner, I am at a loss to discover. By the Norman chroniclers he is called in Latin Pelletarius and Pelleciarius [Guill. de Jumièges, "Parentes matris ejus, pelliciarii existiterant" whence the modern word pelisse, from the French pelice, pelisson] and in French Pelletier and Parmentier , never by any authority Tanneur or Coriarius. Pelletier signifies a furrier, skinner, or fellmonger, and Parmeniier a tailor. [Permentarius seu Parmentarias ex Paramentarius qui vestes parat, id est ornat nostris olim Parmentier qui hodie, tailleur d'habits. Ducange in voce. "Parmentier, or taylor," Cotgrave. One MS. reads "Pantonnier," which is simply an abusive epithet, signifying "a lewd, stubborn, saucy knave." Ibid.] Now the insult offered to William at Alencon, where a skin was hung out and beaten to the cry of "La Pel, la Pel al Parmentier," in allusion to his maternal origin, is more applicable to the trade of a dealer in furs or leather than to a tanner. The vendor of furs must have been of some importance in those days, when garments lined or trimmed with fur were worn by both sexes and all classes; from the princely ermine, the sumptuous sable, the vair and minie-vair of the nobility to the humble budge or lambskin of the citizen or artizan. Leather must also have been in great demand, for not only were leathern jackets and leggings worn by workmen, but archers and the common soldiery were equipped with leathern Jaques; that is, coats made of what is called "jacked leather," and the Anglo-Saxons we find wearing helmets made of the same material. The furrier, skinner, or leather-seller would then, as in the present day, not only sell the materials but the robes, mantles, or vestments, the jaques, or coats of which they were made, or with which they were lined and ornamented, and "Parmentier" (tailor) would be considered probably in the eleventh century a more contemptuous allusion to the maternal descent of the chivalrous young duke than "Pelletier," furrier, or skinner. It is true that at Falaise there were in former times many tanneries, of which only three of importance remained in 1830 (Galeron,"Histoire de Falaise," p. 121); but we learn from Wace that in the eleventh century it was equally well known as the abode of furriers or skinners: "U peletiers aveit asez" (Roman de Rou, l. 9462), and it by no means follows that the father of Herleve should of necessity have been of the former "unsavory calling." There is no reason that a tanner should be less respectable than a furrier, [All authorities do not agree as to the "obloquy" attached to the leather trade insisted on by Sir F. Palgrave. "The tanners, the furriers, the goldsmiths, and the jewellers' arts, so far as they relate to dress, will appear to have been practised with great success by the Normans, and so far as we can judge from record, with as much honour as profit." - Strutt: Dress and Habits of the People of England, vol. i. part 3, cap. I] and the distinction may be thought by some of little consequence, particularly as in the eleventh century the trades might have been combined; but it would be interesting to ascertain the origin of the English designation, which is certainly not justified by either the French or the Latin versions of the story.
And who were the parents of Herleve, whatever may have been their occupation? Here, again, we meet with nothing but contradictions: Fact and Fiction, like the old powers of light and darkness, struggling for mastery. That her father was a burgess of Falaise in some way of trade is incontestable. Sir Francis Palgrave (Hist. of Norm.), upon the authority of Alberic de Troisfontaines, says he was a brewer as well as a tanner, a combination of crafts prohibited in England. But what was his name? By one he is called Fulbert and Robert; by another Richard, with the sobriquet or descriptive appellation of Saburpyr, which has yet to be explained; while a third names him indifferently "Herbert or Verperay." [Ducarel: Ant. Ang.-Norm. Galeron, Histoire de Falaise (1830), p. 81, has "La Fille de Vertprey."] Her mother, as the wife of Richard, is named Helen, and represented as a descendant of the royal Anglo-Saxon family; while, as the wife of Robert, she is said to be one Dodo or Duxia, who came with her liusband from the neighbourhood of Liège and settled at Falaise.
The narrator of this last version also tells us that Count Robert saw the daughter of his provost or bailiff dancing, and fell in love with her, but that the daughter of the tanner was substituted for her. Another story is that it was Herleve herself whom he first saw dancing; and the third version is that Robert, returning from hunting, saw Herleve washing linen in the brook which runs through the dell below the castle; while the tradition popular in the place itself is that he observed her so occupied from a window of the castle, which is still pointed out to the tourist, as well as the very apartment in which William was born, though it is doubtful if any portion whatever of the original structure is in existence, or that he could possibly have discerned her from it in any case. Whether any grains of truth will ever be picked out of this bushel of fable I will not presume to say.
There is nothing improbable in either of the former stories, but as they differ one from another, no dependence can be placed on any one of them. Count Robert, a young, gay, voluptuous prince, would not be many days in Falaise without knowing by sight every girl with any pretension to beauty in his little capital. He is just as likely to have seen Herleve at mass or in the market, in the streets of Falaise, or in the shop of her father, probably his own furrier, for according to certain local documents it would seem that William was born in a house belonging to his grandfather in the old market-place of that town, and that he was baptized in the parish church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. [Langevin: Recherches Historiques sur Falaise, 1814. The site on which the present building stands is described in old documents as "Le manoir du Duc Guillaume." Galeron, Histoire de Falaise, p. 93.] This fact is curiously corroborative of the story told by Wace in the Roman de Rou of the infamous William Talvas, Seigneur of Belesme, who being one day in the streets of Falaise, was accosted by a burgess, and laughingly invited to enter a house (not the castle, observe), in which the infant William was being nursed, and look upon the child of his liege lord, Talvas being a feudatory of the Count. That he did so, and cursed the babe, adding prophetically, "for by thee and by thy descendants great mischief will be worked to me and mine." The grandfather's house being in the market-place strengthens my belief in his calling, as a dealer in furs and skins would be likely to have his shop there; while, if simply a tanner, he would more probably have resided on the banks of the brook in the dell, where the tanneries are at present. All we can tolerably rely on is, that Robert, while only Count of the Hiemois, became enamoured of the daughter of a burgess of Falaise, that he made her his mistress, and had by her two children: William, who succeeded him, and Adelaide, or Adeliza, who eventually married Enguerrand, Count of Ponthieu, and has been an awful stumbling-block in the paths of the genealogists (vide p. 121).
Herleve is said to have been extremely beautiful, and was not yielded to the young Count by her father without considerable reluctance. The proposal, made to him by "a discreet ambassador,'' was received with the greatest indignation; but on consulting, we are told, his brother, who was a holy hermit in the neighbouring forest of Govert or Gouffern, a man of great sanctity,
"Ne fust un suen frere, un seint hom
Qui ont de grand relligion.
Qu'en Govert ont son armitage."
Benoît de Sainte-More.
[Nouvelle Histoire de Normandie, par M. le Baron de la Frenay.] and who expressed his opinion that nothing could be refused to their liege lord (an acknowledgment of the "droit de seigneur" savouring more of policy than piety), his scruples were overcome, and Herleve was surrendered to the Count, by whom, we are told, she was treated with all affection and respect, as his wife, according to the old Danish custom which still lingered in Normandy, whereby such connections were not regarded in the disreputable light they are at the present day. According to Benoît, the girl was exceedingly proud of her position, insisted on riding to the castle on a palfrey, and refused to enter it by a wicket. "Since the Duke has sent for me, why are his doors closed against me? Throw open the gates, beaux amis !" And her commands were immediately obeyed.
Upon Robert's succession to the dukedom on the death of his elder brother Richard, in 1027, the father of Herleve was appointed his chamberlain, having therefore the care of the robes which he had probably made. Her brother Walter was also attached in some capacity to his person. Their residence in the market-place, we may presume, was now exchanged for an official one, either at Falaise or Rouen, and Herleve and her children were no doubt installed in the ducal apartments. The gossip of the day informs us that William, immediately on being born, was placed on the straw or rushes with which, according to the custom of that period, the chamber was strewn, and clasped a quantity of it so firmly in his arms, that, coupled with the story that Herleve had dreamed - she saw a tree arise from her body, the branches of which spread out till they overshadowed all Normandy - the nurse was induced to exclaim, "What a great lord wilt thou be! Much wilt thou conquer and obtain. Quickly hast thou filled thy hands and thine arms with the first stuff thou couldst lay hold of." "The Duke," adds the same chronicler, "loved the child as much as if he had been born in wedlock, and caused him to be as richly and as nobly cared for." [Benoît de Sainte-More; Roger de Hoveden]
A stronger proof of his affection was soon to be displayed. After Duke Robert had ruled Normandy some seven or eight years, he called together at Fécamp the chief persons in his dominions, announced to them his intention to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and his desire to settle the succession previously to undertaking a perilous journey from which he might never return. His auditors, amongst whom was his uncle Robert, Archbishop of Rouen and Count of Evreux, who had himself pretensions to that succession, strongly opposed his proposition. To leave Normandy under such circumstances would be ruin to it. The Duke was conjured to remain at home and protect the duchy from the inroads of the Bretons and Burgundians. [If this be true, neither Guy Count of Burgundy nor Alain Count of Brittany could surely have been present, as asserted by writers.] Robert, however, was not to be dissuaded from his purpose. "Seigneurs," he said, "you speak truly. I have no direct heir, but I have a little boy, who, if it please you, shall be your Duke, acting under the advice of the King of France, who will be his protector. He is little, but he will grow. I acknowledge him my son. Receive him and you will do well. It may please God that I shall return. If not, he will have been brought up amongst you. He will do honour to his culture, and, if you will promise to love and loyally serve him, I will leave him in my place."
As there were no short-hand writers in those days, no "interviewers," nor any of those means of obtaining and transmitting to the public verbatim reports of the speeches or conversations of important personages, we must take with a considerable quantity of salt the orations placed in their mouths by even contemporary chroniclers. Suffice it to say, therefore, that the boy was sent for, and, whether heartily or not, the whole assemblage took the oath of allegiance and did homage to the youthful William, then between seven and eight years of age.
Duke Robert lost no time in setting out on his pilgrimage, conducting on the way his son to Paris, where he caused him to do homage to the King for the Duchy of Normandy, and received personal assurance of the royal protection.
We hear nothing of Herleve after the birth of William until she appears as the lawful wife of a Norman knight named Herluin de Conteville, [Père Anselm, vol. ii, p. 470, has the following astounding marginal note: -" D'autres le nomment Gilbert de Crepon"! There may be "more in this than meets the eye" at present.] of whom little is known beyond the fact that he was a widower, father of a son named Ralph, on whom William is said to have bestowed large domains, besides heaping honours and possessions on Herluin, both in Normandy and England, though no one knows what or where. He held the honour of Sainte Marie Eglise, a portion of the Comté of Mortain, but whether the gift of the Conqueror to him, or a family possession, does not appear. He had a castle there, and founded in its neighbourhood the Abbey of Grestain, in which he and his wife were buried. There is tolerably sufficient evidence that, as I have already stated, Herleve had by Duke Robert a daughter, named Adeliza, or Adelaide, of whom I shall have much to say anon; but the date of Herleve's marriage to Herluin is uncertain, William of Malmesbury stating it to have taken place before the death of Robert, while the monk of Jumièges, a contemporary, asserts the contrary. My own opinion is that the contemporary chronicler is in this instance wrong. He either knew nothing, or suppressed his knowledge of Robert's lawful marriage with Estrith, sister of Canute the Great, and widow of UIf, a distinguished Dane, who was murdered by order of his brother-in-law in 1025. Robert is said to have ill used and repudiated her, at what exact period is unknown; but he had no issue by her, which might possibly be one cause of his displeasure. It seems to me most probable that the marriage of Herleve and Herluin was consequent on that of Duke Robert with Estrith, and shortly after the birth of Adeliza her second child, who at the period of the pilgrimage could not have been more than six, William being only between seven and eight.
At the time, therefore, of the Council of Fecamp Herleve would be with her husband, which may account for her not being mentioned by any historian in connection with that event, or associated in any way with the care or education of her son. Gilbert Comte d'Eu, was appointed his guardian, and Alain Count of Brittany, governor of Normandy during the Duke's absence; the latter act being a politic one, as Alain could not with honour harass a province committed to his charge.
Duke Robert died on his return from Jerusalem at Nikaia in Bithynia, poisoned, as it is reported, by Raoul, surnamed Mouin, and no sooner did the intelligence reach Normandy than the young heir to the duchy was subjected to all imaginable dangers and distresses.
Thurkild or Thorold, as he was indifferently called, Lord of Neufmarché-en-Lions, to whose special care his person and education were confided, and Gilbert Comte d'Eu, his guardian, were murdered by assassins hired by Raoul de Gacé, son of Archbishop Robert. [See vol. ii p. 3] Osbern de Crepon, son of Herfast, his Dapifer (steward of the household), was slain by William de Montgomeri at Vaudreuil, while sleeping in the very chamber of his young sovereign; and Alain Count of Brittany poisoned in 1040, while besieging the castle of Montgomeri, whose lord, Roger, the first we know of that name, and father of the above William, had been already banished Normandy. The guilt of this deed was thrown upon Alain's own subjects by the Normans, and bandied back by them to their accusers. Duke William himself was long afterwards charged with the crime, which, considering he was at that time a mere child, was a slander unworthy refutation, but no doubt engendered by the ill-fame of his subsequent treacheries. "Often by night," William is reported to have said, "I was secretly taken from the chamber of my palace by my uncle Walter, through fear of my own relations, and conducted to the dwellings and retreats of the poor, that I might escape from discovery by the traitors who sought my death."
This uncle Walter was the brother of his mother, Herleve, who, as well as her father, Fulbert - if such was his name - was taken into the service of Duke Robert as soon as he succeeded to the duchy; but we hear no more of Fulbert the chamberlain, nor of Walter, save that he subscribed the foundation-charter of the Abbey of Fontenay, and had a daughter named Matilda married to Raoul Taisson 2nd. (Vide vol. ii p. 105.)
It would be extremely interesting if we could ascertain the amount of authority Orderic Vital possessed for the long account he makes the Conqueror give of himself on his death-bed, and from which I have made the above quotation. Prone as our ancient chroniclers are to compose orations for the illustrious personages whose deeds they record, I cannot wholly discredit this "last dying speech and confession" of William the Conqueror. It is just possible that the King might have said "words to that effect," as Orderic phrases it, and that some one in attendance blessed with a good memory may have subsequently written down or repeated them with tolerable fidelity to Orderic himself. At all events, there is nothing in the discourse that is not fairly borne out by contemporary evidence, and, if not veritably an autobiography, has such strong claims on our consideration, that I at first determined to print a translation of it "in extenso;" but the narrative is interlaced with so many long-winded passages of self-accusation, professions of penitence, pious ejaculations, and recitals of what he had done for the Church, that I felt it would be wearisome to the general reader, and therefore I have only cited such portions of it as may throw light upon the incidents of his childhood, or tend to the verification of dates.
The lawful protectors and faithful servants of the young Duke having been slaughtered or poisoned, his authority was set at nought by his turbulent vassals. "The feuds against him were many, and his friends few. Most were ill inclined towards him: even those whom his father loved, he found haughty and evil disposed. The barons warred upon each other. The strong oppressed the weak, and he could not prevent it, for he lacked the power to do justice to all. So they burned and pillaged the villages, and robbed the villagers, injuring them in many ways." [Ord. Vit.] Roger de Toeni, a collateral descendant of the line of Rollo, refused all allegiance to the illegitimate grandson of the Furrier of Falaise, and commenced ravaging the lands around him, especially those of Humphrey de Vielles. The spoiler was, however, defeated in a sanguinary combat by Roger de Beaumont, son of Humphrey, and paid for his aggression with his own life and those of two of his sons, Halbert and Elinance. [Ibid.] A guardian being still needed for the young Duke, a council was summoned, and with William's consent Raoul de Gacé, the murderer of bis former guardian, Count Gilbert, was, strange to say, selected to succeed his victim as tutor to the boy, and commander-in-chief of his army. It is fairly presumable that policy alone could have dictated this choice, as in the case of Alain of Brittany it appears "a practical appeal to the honour of a possible rival," [Freeman: Norman Conquest] Raoul being a nephew of Richard II, and consequently having claims on the succession.
It is not my intention, as I have already stated, to recapitulate in these pages all the well-known events of this period, which properly belong to the general histories of Normandy and England. It is to the personal acts of the Conqueror I confine myself in this chapter; but in the lives of his companions I shall frequently have to mention many important incidents of his reign in which he was not individually concerned.
We learn from William of Malmesbury that the young Duke was knighted by his liege lord and protector, Henry, King of France, at the earliest period prescribed by the laws of chivalry, which, according to the Council of Constance wherein they are mentioned, appears in the eleventh century to have been the age of twelve - the education for knighthood commencing at seven, and princes being allowed to dispense with the probationary stages of page and squire.
Orderic makes him say, "At the time my father went into voluntary exile, intrusting to me the Duchy of Normandy, I was a mere youth of eight years of age, and from that day to this I have always borne the weight of arms," which accords with the above calculation; and as there is no record of his having visited King Henry within ten years after doing homage to him on the occasion he alluded to, it seems probable that he received the "accolade" on his first appearance in the field, when, in conjunction with that monarch, he summoned his own Castle of Tillières to surrender, to preserve peace with Henry, who represented it as a standing menace to France. William would have been at that time about twelve years old.
Shortly after this, Turstain, surnamed Goz, who commanded in the Hiemois, raised the standard of rebellion, and had the audacity to garrison the Castle of Falaise itself against the Duke. William, incensed by the personal insult of making his native town the head-quarters of a revolt against him, assembled his forces, and under the guidance of his guardian, Raoul de Gacé, laid siege to the place. A breach was soon made in the outer walls; but night coming on prevented the assault, and before morning Turstain, foreseeing his inability to defend the castle, sought a parley, and was allowed life and liberty on condition of perpetual exile.
As William advanced in age and stature, says Wace, he waxed strong, for he was prudent and took care to protect himself on all sides, and began to display qualities which increased his popularity with his subjects, who felt he was born to rule. The first day he put on armour and vaulted on his destrier (war-horse) without the assistance of the stirrup, was one of rejoicing throughout his dominions. His proficiency in all military exercises, the soundness of his judgment, his love of justice and his devotion to the Church, are loudly vaunted by his principal panegyrist, Guillaume de Poitiers, but could not reconcile the proud descendants of Rollo to the sway of a base-born boy, whose grandfather had been a tradesman. Guy of Burgundy, son of his aunt Judith, who had been brought up with him from infancy, who had received knighthood at his hands, and to whom he had given Vernon and Brionne, conspired against him with the Viscounts of the Bessin and the Cotentin, offering to share the duchy with them if they would assist him to depose his cousin, whose gifts of a portion of the duchy he evidently considered bribes to induce him to forego his claim to the whole as grandson of Duke Richard II.
The plot was deeply laid, and the Duke's escape almost miraculous. He was passionately fond of hunting, and had been sojourning for some days at Valognes, partly for that pleasure and partly for business. One night, after a good day's sport, when he had dismissed his companions and betaken himself to rest, he was roused "in the season of his first sleep" by his court-fool or jester, Galet or Galot, who, beating the walls with a staff ["Un pel," most probably the staff of his office, a baton with a fool's head, called a bauble.] he wore slung about his neck, shouted, "Open! open! open! ye are dead men else: where art thou, William? Wherefore dost thou sleep? Up! up! If thou art found here thou wilt die! Thine enemies are arming around thee! If they find thee here thou wilt never leave the Cotentin, or live till the morning!" William arose hastily, and in nothing hut his shirt and drawers, with a capa (short hood and cloak) thrown over his shoulders -- not stopping even to look for his spurs -- leaped on his horse and rode for his life all night, unattended, as it would seem, by friend or servant, fording the river Vire, by favour of an ebbing tide, and landing safely near the church of St. Clement, in the province of Bayeux; but the city itself was in the hands of his enemies, and he was therefore compelled to avoid it. After a brief halt in the church, and a fervent prayer to God for help in his extremity, he resumed his flight, taking a road between Bayeux and the sea, and just before sunrise reached Rie, where he found the lord of the place, one Hubert, standing at the gate of his own hostel or castle, "scenting the morning air." He was about to pass him when Hubert, recognising his Sovereign in such disorder and with his horse in a foam, exclaimed, "How is it, fair sir, you travel thus?" "Hubert," said the Duke, "dare I trust you?" "Of a truth," answered Hubert, "most assuredly! Speak! and speak boldly!" "I will have no secrets from you then," said William; "my enemies pursue me, with intent to take my life. I know they have sworn to slay me!" Thereupon the loyal vassal prayed the Duke to alight and enter his castle, while he procured him a good fresh horse; then calling three of his sons, "Mount! mount!" he cried; "behold your lord! Leave him not till you have lodged him safely in Falaise." Then giving them minute instructions as to the road they should take, and warning them to avoid all towns, he bade them God-speed; and after their departure remained upon his bridge (drawbridge) awaiting the arrival of the Duke's pursuers. "He looked out over valley and over hill," says the old Norman poet, "and listened anxiously," but not for long. The conspirators came galloping up, and seeing Hubert they halted, and taking him apart inquired eagerly if he had seen the Bastard pass, and conjured him to tell them which road he had taken. "He passed but now," answered Hubert; "you may soon overtake him; but stay, I will go with you and be your guide, for I should like to strike the first blow at him, and be assured I will if we come up with him." Leading them of course by a totally different route, and by round-about ways, he gave time to William to cross the ford of Folpendant and reach Falaise -- in a sad plight it is true, but, as Wace observes naively, "what mattered that so that he was safe?"
There was great alarm the next day, for no one knew what had become of the Duke. The road from Valognes was covered with his fugitive followers, who believed him to have been murdered, or to have perished in his attempt to cross the Vire, and men cursed heartily one Grimoult du Plessis, whom they rightly suspected of being the principal traitor, for having foully made away with his lord.
William, scarcely knowing whom he could trust, and not feeling himself strong enough to attack the rebellious Viscounts, who now openly espoused the cause of Guy of Burgundy and commenced seizing the revenues of the duchy wherever they could lay hands on them, resolved to appeal to the King of France, who had promised his father to protect him, and solicit his assistance to put down the rebellion. He found the King at Poissy. Henry's conduct towards his young liegeman had latterly been anything but friendly. On this occasion, however, either from a qualm of conscience or more probably from a desire to prevent the aggrandisement of the house of Burgundy, he responded favourably and promptly to the appeal, and at the head of a strong force -- principally cavalry -- marched into Normandy and formed a junction with the army of the Duke at Val-es-Dunes between Caen and Argence, in the neighbourhood of which the enemy had taken up their position (A.D. 1047).
Previous to the commencement of the action King Henry observed a body of horse drawn up by themselves at some distance from the rebel forces, and asked the Duke, "Who are they with lances and gonfanons and in rich harness that stand aloof from either powers? Know you anything of their intentions? To which side will they hold when the battle begins?" "Sire," answered William, "I believe to my side, for their leader is Raoul Tesson, who has no cause of quarrel or anger with me."
And so it proved. Raoul Taisson was seigneur de Cingueleiz, and one of the most powerful barons in the country. Although William had given him no cause of offence, he had by some influence been drawn into the conspiracy, and had sworn to smite the Duke wherever he met with him. He had brought with him to the field upwards of one hundred and twenty knights, but at the sight of William he felt some compunction, and delayed joining the rebel forces. The Viscounts made him great promises, but his own knights besought him not to make war upon his liege lord. They represented to him that he could not deny that he was the Duke's "man." That he had done homage to him before his father and his barons, and that disloyalty to him would render him unworthy of fief and barony. Their remonstrances decided the hesitating Raoul. "You say well, sirs," he answered, "and so shall it be." Then commanding them to stand fast where they were, he spurred across the plain alone, shouting his war-cry, "Tur aie" or "Turie," for there is a curious controversy about it (though, considering he was Lord of Thury-en-Cingueleiz, there need be none), and riding up to the Duke laughingly, struck him slightly with his glove, saying, "What I swore to do I have done; I have now acquitted myself of my oath to smite you wherever I found you, and from this time forth I will do you no other wrong or felony." William briefly thanked him, and Raoul rode back to his people. Now this is a very early mention of gloves, which do not appear on the hands of either the civil or military personages in illuminations of the 11th century, or in the Bayeux Tapestry. We know, however, that during the reign of Ethelred (A.D. 979-1016) five pairs of gloves were presented to him by a society of German merchants for the protection of their trade, which is a proof of their great rarity. I have seen two instances of females being represented with a glove or rather muffler on one hand, having a thumb but no fingers, like the earliest mail gauntlets, which in the 12th century were simply the extremities of the sleeves of the hauberk, out of which the hand could be slipped through an oval opening at the palm. The Norman hauberk, however, at the date of the Battle of Val-es-Dunes, had no such terminations -- the sleeves being loose and not reaching even to the wrists, sometimes barely to the elbow. The hands of the warriors in the Bayeux Tapestry (a work of some twenty or thirty years later) are all bare, even when they carry hawks, and the Norman poet has in more than one instance introduced the fashions of his own time in his graphic descriptions. I do not throw any doubt upon the incident, but simply question the instrument, as such statements are too often inconsiderately quoted as proofs of the existence of a fashion or article of attire at a period much earlier than there is any authority for placing it. Some nineteen years later we hear again of gloves, those of Conan Duke of Brittany having been poisoned most conveniently for the Conqueror, when he was preparing for the descent upon England.
Their use at that period may from their rarity have been limited to princely and noble personages, but the absence of them in the Bayeux Tapestry is too remarkable to be passed without notice.
Pardon, therefore, kind reader, this digression. We will return to the battle.
The fight commenced. On one side the shout arose of "Montjoie!" the war-cry of the French, and "Dex aie!" (God aid); which was that of Normandy, answered by Renouf de Bricasard with "Saint Sever! Sire Saint Sever!" and by Hamon-aux-Dents with "Saint Amant! Sire Saint Amant!" William, for the first time in hand-to-hand combat, made desperate efforts to reach the perjured Viscounts, who were pointed out to him, but he does not appear to have been able to close with them. Encountering, however, one of Renouf's vassals named Hardé, a native of Bayeux, and renowned for Ins prowess, he drove his sword into his throat, where it was unprotected by armour, and Hardé fell from his horse dead.
King Henry fought bravely, but had not fared so well. Twice, if not thrice, he had been unhorsed and in great peril. The first time by a nameless knight of the Cotentin -- a circumstance long commemorated in a popular rhyme: --
"From Cotentin came the lance
Which unhorsed the King of France,"
and a second time by Hamon-aux-Dents, Lord of Thorigny, Maissi, and Creulli; but both paid with their lives for the honour of the deed. The unknown knight being unhorsed in turn by one of the king's followers, and trampled to death by the heavy horses of the French cavalry, and Hamon-with-the-Teeth in like manner mortally wounded and carried off dead on his shield to Esquai, where they buried him in front of the church. [Rom. de Rou. The "Chroniqne de Normandie" gives to Guillesen, the uncle of Hamon, the honour of having first unhorsed the King.]
Raoul Taisson had remained aloof and stationary till after the first shock of the contending armies, then, at the head of his company, dashed into the mêlée on William's side, and fought gallantly against the rebels. "I know not how to recount his high deeds," says the chronicler, "nor how many he overthrew that day." A panic seized the Viscount of the Bessin, and throwing away his lance and shield, he fled for his life "with outstretched neck," as Wace graphically describes it, followed by the most faint-hearted of his people. Neel de Saint-Sauveur, Viscount of the Cotentin, called for his valour and high bearing "Noble Chef de Faucon," still bravely contended against increasing odds; but at length, exhausted by his exertions, and seeing the struggle hopeless, reluctantly and regretfully quitted the field, and the rout became general. Such numbers were driven into the river Orne, where they were either drowned or killed by their pursuers, that the mills of Borbillion are said to have been stopped by the dead bodies.
Wace, whom I have followed almost verbatim in this account of the Duke's first general action, says nothing of the part taken therein by the principal mover of the rebellion, Guy of Burgundy, nor by the arch-traitor Grimoult du Plessis, only that the former fled to Brionne, botly pursued by William, where in his castle he sustained a siege for three years. He was eventually forced to surrender all the lands the Duke had given him in Normandy, and subsequently retired to his native country, while Grimoult was seized and imprisoned at Rouen, where he confessed his felonious attempt on the Duke's life at Valognes, accusing as an accomplice a knight named Salle, the son of Huon. Salle challenged Grimoult to a trial by battle, and a day was appointed for the combat; but in the morning Grimoult was found dead in his dungeon, and was buried in his fetters.
The victory of Val-es-Dunes greatly increased the power and popularity of the Duke of Normandy, now of full age and approved valour and ability. He had very shortly an opportunity of returning the obligations he was under to the French king for the ready and important assistance he had rendered to him in the suppression of that serious rebellion.
A war had broken out between King Henry and Geoffrey Martel, Count of Anjou, and William marched with a powerful force to the aid of his suzeraine. So daring, we are told, was his conduct, and so brilliant the feats of arms which distinguished him in this expedition, though they are not particularized, that he was highly lauded by the king, who nevertheless cautioned him against the extreme rashness with which he exposed his valuable life.
The Count of Anjou revenged himself by marching into Normandy and occupying and garrisoning Alencon, one of the Duke's border fortresses. William in turn entered the state of Maine, of which Geoffrey was now virtually the sovereign, in the capacity of guardian of its Count Hugh, who was a minor, and besieged Domfront. But treason still lurked about the Norman prince. Intelligence was conveyed to the Angevine commander in Domfront, by some Norman noble unnamed, that William had left the main body of his army on a foraging expedition, attended by only fifty men-at-arms, and the direction he had taken. Three hundred horse and seven hundred foot were immediately despatched to intercept and capture him. There can be no doubt that the numbers are greatly exaggerated, but it may be perfectly true that William, with his fifty followers, put to flight a formidable force, pursuing them to the very gates of the town, and taking one prisoner with his own hand.
William of Poitiers, the contemporary biographer and enthusiastic panegyrist of "the Conqueror," who had thus early begun to deserve that title, tells also a story connected with this siege of Domfront, which is probable enough, and too characteristic of the manners of the age to be omitted, were it only "ben trovato."
Tidings having been brought to the Duke that the Count of Anjou was on his march with a considerable force to raise the siege, he despatched Roger de Montgomeri and William, son of that Osbern the Dapifer who was murdered at Vaudreuil, with, according to Wace's version, a third knight named William, the son of Thierry, to meet Geoffrey and demand an explanation of his conduct. The Count informed them that it was his intention to be before Domfront the next morning, where he would meet the Duke, and, that William might recognize him, he would be on a white horse and bear a gilded shield. The envoys answered that he need not give himself the trouble to travel so far. William would meet him on the road in the morning, armed and mounted in such wise as they described to him. William kept his word; but the Count appears to have thought better of it, and had retreated before daybreak, to the great disappointment of the Normans.
It is singular that this story should have been quoted some years ago to prove that heraldic insignia were known and borne in the eleventh century, when the evidence it affords us is exactly to the contrary. Had such personal distinctions existed at that period,"the Normans," as Mr. Freeman has justly observed, "could hardly have needed to be told what kind of shield Geoffrey would carry."
Leaving a sufficient force before Domfront, William marched suddenly by night upo)n Alencon, his own disloyal town, which had opened its gates to his enemy. The hostile garrison here insulted the Duke by hanging out skins or furs, and shouting "La Pel! La Pel al parmentier!" which, as I have already observed, was twitting him with his maternal descent from a tailor.
Stung to the quick, the grandson of the tailor swore "by the splendour of God," -- his habitual oath, -- that the limbs of men who had so mocked him should be lopped like the branches of a tree; and he kept his cruel oath. He took the town by assault, and two-and-thirty of the defenders had their hands and feet cut off, and cast over the castle walls, as a terrible warning to those who still held the castle. It was not in vain. The garrison surrendered, on condition that their lives and limbs should be spared. Hurrying back to Domfront, whither the tidings of the fate of Alencon had preceded him, he received the almost immediate submission of that fortress, the garrison only stipulating for the retention of their weapons as well as their limbs. Domfront became a border fortress of Normandy, in addition to Alencon on the southern frontier of the duchy; and William, after marching triumphantly through Maine, and fortifying the Castle of Ambrières, returned, covered with laurels, to Rouen.
Flushed with conquest, and feeling secure for the first time of his paternal dominions, the Duke of Normandy, at the urgent request of his councillors, looked about him for a wife, and appears as early as 1049 to have made overtures for the hand of Matilda, daughter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders; for at the Council of Rheims, held on the 1st of October in that year, the marriage was prohibited. The whole story of Matilda's early life, of her indignant rejection and subsequent acceptance of the hand of William of Normandy, because, forsooth, she thought he must be a man of great courage and high daring who could venture to come and beat her in her father's own palace, [Badouin d'Avennes] is so involved in mystery that a volume might be written on this subject alone. Is there any truth whatever in the popular story of her brutal treatment by William? Which of the versions, if any, is to be trusted; and }f there be the least foundation for it, when did the outrage, unpardonable under any circumstances, take place? Matilda, it is evident by her resentment of another's refusal of herself, and her vindictive conduct towards the culprit when she had become Queen of England, was not of a forgiving nature. Could such a woman ever have lived upon such terms of affection as we are told she did with a husband, who, regardless of her sex and her rank, had publicly insulted and assaulted her, as not even, in that still barbarous age, the lowest ruffian in his senses would have done? What was her offence? She, the grand-daughter of a king of France, legitimately descended on both sides from the greatest sovereigns in Europe, had naturally objected to become the wife of the base-born grandson of a tradesman of Falaise. Supposing this part of the story to be true, which has at least probability in its favour, can it be believed that when William, some time after his offer had been courteously declined by Count Baldwin, learned by report the reason Matilda had given for her refusal, that even ailowing for the violence of his temper and the ferocity of his nature as evidenced by those who had insulted him at Alencon, would have traveled from Normandy to Lille in Flanders, forced his way into the chamber of the Count's daughter, dragged her about it by her hair, and, dashing her on the floor, spurned and trampled upon her as she lay at his feet? -- or, according to another account, intercepted her on her way home from church at Bruges, and brutally beat her and wounded her with his spurs? The spurs of that day, be it remembered, were not rowelled, but made with one spear-shaped point, which might have inflicted on a female a mortal wound! As indeed he is stated, with equal truth, to have done on a later occasion, when irritated at being detained by Matilda after he had mounted his horse, he struck at her with his heel so that the spur ran into her breast and she died! -- some seventeen years before she did die.
Another story of her death having been caused by his cruelty towards her, will be told in its proper place. Here I have only to repeat that such a "courtship," despite the slanderous old proverb --
" A woman, a spaniel, and a walnut-tree,
The more you beat them the better they be,"
could never have been forgiven by such a woman as Matilda of Flanders. Prudence, however, might have counselled the submission both of father and daughter under some circumstances; and I shall return to this subject in my investigation of another mystery connected with this highly eulogized lady, observing only that the consent of both father and daughter must have been obtained in 1049, or the papal inhibition would have been unnecessary.
In 1051 William visited England, accompanied by an imposing retinue, and was received with great honour and affection by King Edward the Confessor. It was at this period some promise was apparently given to the Duke of Normandy respecting the succession to the English throne, though the precise fact has never been successfully established.
William returned to Normandy only to find his rights again disputed and his rule defied by members of his own family. After suppressing a revolt by William, surnamed Busac, the son of the half-brother of his grandfather, Duke Richard "the Good," and banishing him from Normandy, a serious conspiracy and most alarming coalition demanded the exercise of all his courage and ability. Secretly instigated by his uncle, Malger, Archbishop of Rouen, and openly abetted by Henry, King of France, alternately the friend and foe of his valorous vassal; William of Arques, Count of Talou, brother of the primate, raised the standard of rebellion against his nephew and liege lord in 1053, claiming the duchy as the legitimate son of Richard II. The Duke was again at Valognes when this new outbreak was reported to him. With his usual promptitude he immediately took horse, and outstripping his small escort reached Arques with only six followers. Fortunately, however, he encountered in its neighbourhood a force comprising three hundred knights, who had marched of their own accord from Rouen on receipt of the tidings. William, undismayed by their report of the strength of the enemy, exclaimed "They will fly at my sight!" and perceiving, as he spoke, the Count returning to the castle from some expedition at the head of a considerable body of troops, he at once set spurs to his horse, and galloping up the hill with his few hundred followers charged the rebels so furiously that they speedily gave way and fled for safety into the fortress, pursued to the very gates by the Duke, who but for the rapidity with which they were closed against him would have entered with the runaways and crushed the revolt at a blow.
My narrative being limited to an account of the personal sayings and doings (" les Gestes et Faictes," as the old chroniclers call them) of the Conqueror, I leave the subsequent siege and surrender of Arques, the banishment of the Count of Talou, and temporary pacification of the duchy to the historians of Normandy. The gallant exploit above recorded is the only one I have found related of the Duke in connection with this rebellion.
During the brief lull that succeeded this storm, the marriage of William and Matilda appears to have taken place, whether in defiance of the pontifical inhibition or after its removal is not quite clear; neither are the grounds on which it was issued, though generally understood to have been nearness of kin. It is remarkable, however, that Pope Leo IX, who prohibited the marriage, was at this moment a captive in the power of the Normans at Benevento, and his authority might have been set at nought or a dispensation extorted from him. At all events, Count Baldwin conducted his daughter to Eu in Normandy, where the long-delayed and forbidden marriage was celebrated, and the fair Duchess of Normandy thence proceeded with her husband to Rouen, where they were received with every demonstration of joy.
The treacherous and dissolute Archbishop Malger, in an extraordinary fit of virtuous indignation, excommunicated the newly married pair for having dared to disobey the commands of the Church. It does not appear, however, to have much affected the illustrious culprits. Nevertheless, Duke William did not forget it when two years later he was called upon to pronounce sentence on his unworthy uncle, found guilty in solemn council at Lisieux of all kinds of crimes and offences, including, of course, the study and practice of the black art. He deposed him from his see, and banished him to the Channel Islands, "where," says Wace, "he led the life that best pleased him." Magic or witchcraft formed generally one of the "counts in the indictment" of any criminal in that age of ignorance and gross superstition, and he was accused of having "a private devil" on his establishment ("un deable privé"), whom many had heard speak, but no one had ever seen. This familiar spirit was named "Toret," or "Toiret," which Monsieur Pluquet says is the diminutive of Thor, or Thur, the Scandinavian deity; while Sir Francis Palgrave contends it is pure high Dutch, and simply signifies Folly. (Query: If the cards called Torot, and used by the gipsies in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries to tell fortunes with, derived their appellation from the same root, whichever it may be?)
Whether or not the ex-primate was indebted to this invisible friend for the information he communicated to his boatmen when sailing, during his exile, off the French coast, is not recorded; but he warned them to be careful, as he knew for certain that one of the persons on board would die that day, though he could not say which, nor from what cause. They listened to him, but thought no more about it. It was summer, the day was hot, and Malger was seated near the rudder, without his drawers or hose. They were just entering some port, when, suddenly rising or changing his position, his feet became entangled in his clothes, and he fell overboard, head foremost. His body was found, after some search, between two rocks, and carried to Cherbourg, where he was buried.
To return, however, to the Conqueror. But a few months of domestic peace were allowed him. A new and formidable league was entered into against him by his old enemy, the Count of Anjou, and his old friend, the jealous and capricious King of France. The Duke of Normandy was his vassal, but was becoming so powerful that he might one day be his master, or, at least, an independent sovereign and dangerous neighbour. In 1054 the hostile army entered the duchy in two divisions. The left, under the command of the King himself, marching by Mantes, to attack Evreux and Rouen; the right, by Aumale, to Mortemer, a spot now celebrated as the scene of one of the fiercest conflicts of the eleventh century, terminating in the complete defeat and destruction of this portion of the invading army, so many prisoners being taken that there was not a prison in all Normandy which was not full of Frenchmen. The principal details of the battle of Mortemer will be found in subsequent chapters, devoted to some who were leaders in the victorious army. William was encamped meanwhile on one bank of the Seine, watching the French King, who had taken up a position on the other. The joyful tidings were quickly communicated to him, and, after thanking God "with clasped hands and tears in his eyes," he determined to send to King Henry the news of the battle himself, but in so mysterious a manner that it should increase his dismay and distress.
The device appears to us now as absurdly childish, but it seems to have produced the desired effect. A messenger, Ralph de Toeni (as Orderic makes William himself tell us), the grandson of that Roger who was one of the first to refuse allegiance to William in his childhood, was intrusted with its execution. In the dead of the night he approached the royal quarters, and climbing a tree, or, according to others, mounting some eminence, overhanging the King's tent, he shouted,"Frenchmen! Frenchmen! arise, arise! Prepare for flight -- ye sleep too long! Away, and bury your friends who have been slain at Mortemer!"
The King, who heard this cry, was greatly alarmed and astonished. No attempt appears to have been made to capture the audacious bearer of this terrible intelligence, but an inquiry was made throughout the camp to ascertain whether any one had heard a rumour of such a disaster having befallen the other division of the army. While the King was in consultation with his officers, fugitives from the field of battle arrived and confirmed the fatal news. The French, panic struck, decamped with all speed, setting fire to their tents and huts, and with the King made the best of their way homeward. The Duke, always careful to preserve an appearance of respect for his feudal obligations, declined to pursue him, saying, "Let him go; he has had quite enough to trouble and cross him."
True, for the time he had, but not sufficient to make him wiser for the future. He had made a truce with William, and pledged himself not to interfere again in any quarrel between the Duke and his implacable enemy, Geofirey Martel; nevertheless, he declared that he would sooner perjure himself than not have his revenge for the battle of Mortemer. In the following August, while the corn was yet standing, he burst once more into Normandy, ravaging the Hiemois and overrunning the whole country of the Bessin as far as the sea, burning the towns and villages, and plundering the inhabitants without mercy.
The news of this sudden and unprovoked inroad reached the Duke at Falaise, and grieved him sorely. He called to arms all the forces in his dominions, even the countrymen ("villeins," as they are termed in the language of that day), and who responded to the call loyally with pikes and clubs and any weapons they could arm themselves with. It was, in fact, a levée en masse to repel an invader. But the policy of the Duke was not to give battle to the enemy on their first entrance into his dominions, but to bide his time, and fall on them when least expected on their return. He contented himself with strengthening and garrisoning all his castles and fortified places, and waited patiently till, laden with plunder and flushed with the success of their unopposed march through one half of the country, they at length faced about, and were preparing to cross the river Dive to carry fire and sword into the other half. Duke William, who had received most accurate information of every step the marauders had taken or intended to take, led his forces through the valley of Bavent, unperceived by the enemy, and as soon as his feudal lord, the King and the vanguard of his army had crossed the river at Varaville, rushed upon the rearguard and the long train of baggage-waggons which were slowly following the main body. "Then," says Wace, "began a fierce mêlée -- many blows of spears and swords. The knights charged with their lances, the archers shot with their bows, and the villeins laid about them with their iron-shod staves, driving the French along the causeway, which was long and in bad repair, and they being encumbered by their plunder, and consequently impeded in their progress, broke their ranks and were thrown into utter confusion. The great press was at the bridge, which, being old, gave way under the weight of the crowd and the force of a remarkably high tide, and fell in with all that were upon it. In every direction armour was to be seen floating and men plunging and sinking, none but good swimmers having a chance of life. Cries of despair arose from the numbers who by the fall of the bridge were left without means of escape. They rushed along the bank of the river, seeking for fords and flinging away their arms and booty, cursing themselves for having taken it, the Normans pursuing and sparing none, till all who had not crossed the bridge were drowned, slain, or made prisoners. From the height of Bastebourg the King looked down on Varaville and Cabourg. He saw the marshes and the valleys which lay stretched out before him, the swollen river, and the broken bridge. He marked the struggles of his soldiers, the numbers seized and bound or struggling in the water. He could help or save none. "He was speechless with sorrow and indignation; his limbs trembled, his face burned with rage. With a heavy heart he returned to France, and never again bore shield or spear" -- " whether as penance or not," adds the poet, "I do not know." Henry was, in fact, advanced in age at this time, and died two years after his return to Paris.
Mr. Freeman remarks that Wace is the only author who mentions a bridge, Benoît de Sainte-More and others only speaking of a ford. He therefore considers that Wace is in error, and describes the locality as it was in his time. It may be so, but I cannot hold that the argument is conclusive without some evidence to show that there was no old wooden bridge existing at the date of the battle of Varaville. The breaking of the bridge appears to me like a piece of local information, and the unusual rising of the tide which he relies upon would assist in its destruction as well as render the fords impassable. The Prebend of Bayeux is more to be trusted on such a point than any other chronicler.
About this time, also, that arch-disturber of every neighbour's peace, Geofirey Martel, of whose intrigues we hear so much, and of his personal prowess so little, passed away, and Duke William was relieved from the ceaseless machinations and maraudings of two powerful enemies.
William's acquisition of the county of Maine, partly by bequest and partly by force of arms, curiously as it illustrates his crafty policy more fully developed in his subsequent conquest of England, is another portion of the history of Normandy, the details of which belong to the annalist rather than the biographer. I shall only refer hereafter to two circumstances in connection with it, one of which affects the Conqueror's family, and the other some of his followers.
We have now arrived at the date of Harold's appearance in Normandy; and here again, beyond the well-known facts of his being driven on the coast of Ponthieu, imprisoned by its Count Wido (Guy), and released at the instance of the Duke of the Normans, of his oath on the relics, and his promise to marry one of William's daughters, all of which have been told over and over in every history of England, we are left on several points in utter ignorance, both as to motives and circumstances, which might have had a most important influence on the events recorded.
Three different versions of Harold's voyage are given, having no agreement with each other beyond the fact of his having sailed from Bosham in Sussex, and by accident or mistake landed in the dominions of Count Wido. That curious relic, the Bayeux Tapestry, which minutely represents his embarkation, supports, I think, the statement of William of Malmesbury, that Harold was simply bent on a sporting expedition, and had no mission to Normandy or any intention of visiting its duke, but was driven by contrary winds on the coast of Ponthieu, where, according to the barbarous custom, not specially of that country, but of the whole coast from Brittany to Flanders, called "the law of Langan," he was seized and imprisoned for the sake of ransom. Not only on this point, but on nearly all the principal circumstances connected with Harold's sojourn in Normandy, such contradictory statements are confidently made by the only writers who could possibly have known anything of the facts, that we in the nineteenth century can really place no reliance on the details with which any one of them has furnished us; and the nature of this work forbids a critical examination, which could only result in the expression of an individual opinion as to probabilities, and neither conclusively settle a single question in debate nor have any interest for the general reader. The expedition to Brittany, in which Harold accompanied Duke William, does not appear to have been signalised by any personal exploit. The time and place wherein the Duke gave arms to Harold, and Harold is asserted to have taken an oath of some description to him, are variously recorded, and we have nothing certain in the way of stirring incident till we arrive at the memorable year 1066 and the invasion of England.
Wace graphically describes the effect produced on William by the tidings of the death of King Edward the Confessor, and the assumption of the crown by Harold. The Duke was hunting in the park of Quevily, near Rouen. He had his bow in his hand, which he had just bent, when "a sergeant" (man-at-arms), who had come from England, approached him and imparted to him privately the news. He immediately quitted the park in great anger, impatiently untying and tying repeatedly the laces or cords of his mantle. He spoke to no man, and no man ventured to speak to him. Crossing the Seine in a boat, he entered his palace and sat down moodily on a bench in the hall, covering his face with his cloak and leaning his head against a column, restlessly turning himself from one side to the other. His attendants wondered what ailed him, and inquired anxiously of his seneschal, William of Breteuil, who entered the hall "humming a tune," -- a trait of character which curiously reminds us of the whisthng of an eminent personage at a critical moment of the late siege of Paris, -- if he could explain the cause of their master's emotion. The Duke looking up, "the bold son of Osbern" told him that it was useless to attempt concealing the news he had heard, for it had already spread throughout the city, and was known to every man in Rouen; that instead of mourning he should up and be doing, cross the sea and dethrone the usurper.
We may pretty well be assured that the Duke had come to that determination in his own mind already, and required no prompting from any one.
After a select council, which was attended by the chief men in the duchy, including William's half-brothers Odo and Robert and Eudo al Chapel who had married the Duke's half-sister Muriel, a general one was called at Lillebonne. The Duke laid his case before them, and notwithstanding the hesitation of some and the actual dissent of others, the personal influence of the prince prevailed, and the promise of each baron to provide a certain number of ships and soldiers was, there and then, entered in a book. Of these barons and their contingents, their deeds and their fate, I have to speak separately, and in lieu of a repetition of the often-told tales of the muster at the mouth of the Dive, the landing at Pevensey, and the decisive battle of Hastings, I shall select from the general account such incidents only as are strictly connected with the person of the Conqueror, to whom this chapter is dedicated.
In the "Mora," the splendid ship said to have been presented to him by his duchess, favoured by a south wind, for which he had waited long and anxiously, first beside the Dive and secondly at St. Valery, piloted by Stephen the son of Airard, the Duke of Normandy led his enormous fleet -- enormous taking it even at the lowest calculation, which, according to Wace, who says he heard it from his father, was nearly seven hundred sail -- from the confluence of the Somme to the coast of Sussex, and on the morning of Thursday, 28th of September, cast anchor, and the whole army immediately disembarked in good order and without the slightest opposition.
Old and well-worn as the story is, I must not omit it. William, in descending from his ship, missed his footing and fell full length upon the sand. Anticipating the effect of such an evil omen on his superstitious followers, he exclaimed, "By the splendour of God, I have taken seisin of England! -- 1 hold its earth in my hands!" Hearing which a soldier pulled a piece of thatch from a cottage on the beach, and offered it to the Duke as seisin not only of the land, but of all it contained. "I accept it," said William, "and may God be with me!"
Wace tells us that two vessels foundered, it might be from overlading. In one of them was lost a clerk, who was supposed to possess the gift of prophecy, and had declared that William's voyage would be prosperous, and that Harold would yield to him without a blow. "A poor prophet was he," observed the Duke, when he heard of his being drowned, "who could not foretell the time and cause of his own death. Weak would be the man who believed in the predictions of such an astrologer."
On the morning of Saturday, the 14th of October, the Duke, having heard mass and received the Communion, advanced with his whole army from Hastings to Telham Hill, whence they could observe the English forces encamped on the rising ground, called by Orderic, Senlac. [Notwithstanding the protest of Mr. M. A. Lower, I have kept the name given by Orderic to the site of the present village of Battle, as it must have been so called in his time; and the tradition recorded by William of Neuburgh, that "on the spot where the greatest slaughter was made there exuded after every gentle shower real, and, as it were, recent blood -- as though the voice of so much Christian gore shed by the hands of Christian brethren still cried to the Lord from the ground that had drunk it in," certainly favours the derivation of the word from Sanguelac, the origin of the tradition being evidently the redness of the chalybeate springs in that locality, which still retains in the various forms of "Saint lake," "Saint lache," "The lake," and "Battle lake," some memory of the name given to it by the Normans.]
At Telham, or Hetheland, as it was then called, another well-known incident occurred. In putting on his hauberk William, or his armour-bearer, mistook the back of it for the front. As in the case of his fall on the sands, he quickly and cleverly represented the omen as one of happy import, and laughingly reassured his alarmed attendants by declaring it to be a sign that from a duke he should be turned into a king. Mounting a noble Spanish warhorse, which Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville, had brought to him as a present from a king who highly esteemed him, William rode to the head of his forces, and learning from an officer, who had been sent to reconnoitre the enemy, that Harold's standard was planted on the summit of the hill facing him, vowed that, if God gave him the victory, he would build a monastery to His honour on the spot where that standard was now waving. A monk of Marmoutier, who heard him, requested the monastery should be dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, and William signified his assent thereto.
I have previously stated that I would not fight the battle of Hastings over again. There is scarcely any conflict recorded in English history the general features of which are so familiar to all of us, and nothing specially new in the details has been discovered by recent writers. The ground has been gone over, literally as well as figuratively, foot by foot, by the local historian, Mr. Mark Anthony Lower, and by the latest narrator of the Norman Conquest, Mr. Edward Freeman, both of whom have laboured assiduously and successfully in the work of identification of places, and minute topographical description of the principal positions occupied by the rival hosts. My business is solely with the personal exploits performed on them, and I shall therefore have to refer frequently to the battle in my separate notices of the most celebrated leaders of the invading army, restricting myself in this chapter to those of the Conqueror only. In the Bayeux Tapestry we behold him armed in his hauberk, which was not the coat of chain mail of the thirteenth century, but the geringhed byrnie of the eleventh and twelfth, consisting of iron rings, not linked together and forming a garment of themselves, but sewn or strongly fastened flat upon a tunic of leather or of quilted linen, buckram, canvas, or some strong material descending to the midleg, and which, being open in the skirts both before and behind for convenience in riding, gave it the appearance of a jacket with short breeches attached to it, if, indeed, such was not actually the case in some instances. The sleeves were loose, and reached only just below the elbow. The legs were defended simply by bands of leather bound round the hose crosswise. The helmet was sharply conical, with a back-piece to protect the neck, and a single bar in front defending the nose. William is depicted in the Tapestry lifting his helmet by this nasal, in order to reassure his soldiers, a report of his being killed having caused them to waver at a critical moment of the combat. "Behold me," he exclaimed, "I live, and by God's grace I will conquer."
[Benoît says -- "Son chef désarma en la battaille
E del heaume et de la ventaille." By ventaille (avant-taille) he must mean the nasal, as there appears no other protection for the face until some time after the Conquest, when a great variety of ventailles were introduced.]
Armed with lance and mace, or rather warclub, the latter slung, as we find in another instance, at his saddle-bow, bearing his long, kite-shaped shield, and bestriding his noble Spanish steed, the Duke of the Normans no doubt deserved the eulogy of Haimon, Viscount of Thouars, who declared a warrior so well armed had never been seen under heaven, and that the noble Count would be a noble king. Thus armed and equipped, and with the relics round his neck on which Harold is reported to have sworn, William sought the Saxon king as eagerly as at Val-es-Dunes he had sought the rebel viscounts, Renouf and Neel, and similarly in vain. He was intercepted by Harold's brother Gurth, who, casting a javelin at him, killed his horse. The rider fell with it, but, unwounded himself, was on his feet in an instant, and rushing at Gurth, felled him with one blow of his terrible club.
He then summoned a knight of Maine to dismount and give him his horse. The knight disloyally refused to assist his sovereign. The Duke, incensed at his conduct, unseated him by force, and mounting the horse returned to the charge. This second horse was also killed under him by a Saxon, who is described by a writer, supposed to be Guy, Bishop of Amiens, as "filius Hellocis" (the son of Hello or Helloc?), and who shared the same fate as Gurth. Count Eustace of Boulogne then offered his horse to the Duke, and again he plunged into the thickest of the fight. A blow from a Saxon axe beat in his helmet and nearly unhorsed him; a spear-thrust he parried, and slew the assailant.
These are the particular deeds recorded of him, and we may fairly give him credit for many others, without believing the astounding assertion of the supposed Guy of Amiens, that William killed during that day two thousand Saxons with his own hand!
On the spot where Harold had fallen -- his brain pierced through the eye by a chance arrow -- where the standards of "the Dragon" and "the Fighting Man" had been so gallantly defended -- under the branches it may be of "the ancient apple-tree" which gave the first name to the battle -- a space was cleared of the thickly-heaped dead, the standard of the Normans planted, and the tent of the Conqueror pitched for the night. There, after he had thanked God for giving him the victory, food and wine were brought to him. He was divested of his armour, and his shield and helmet, battered by many blows, were shown to the surrounding soldiers, who with shouts compared him to all the paladins of Charlemagne; and there William, despite the remonstrances of Walter Giffard, feasted and slept amidst the piles of the dead and the groans of the dying! A butcher supping in his reeking slaughterhouse might equally excite our disgust, but his hands would at least be unstained with the blood of his fellow-creatures.
It is not my intention to follow the Conqueror step by step through his devastating progress towards London, nor does it accord with the plan of this work to enter into the details of the general political events of the reign of the first Norman King of England. I pass over, for the present, his coronation, with its attendant tumult and firing of houses by his savage soldiery, his visit to Normandy in 1067, and that of Matilda to England the following year. Of the various revolts and conspiracies against him I shall have to speak in my sketches of the principal actors in them. I shall also have occasion to refer in them to other of his expeditions to Normandy and his campaigns in the north of England, where he "made a wilderness, and called it peace," a quotation I admit worn threadbare, but never more applicable than to the subjugator of England.
I hasten at once to the period when the star of William began to pale, when victory no longer waited on his standard, and domestic discords added to the bitterness of defeat.
His eldest son, Robert, whom he had formerly associated with his mother in the government of Normandy, and subsequently named as his successor to that duchy, was excited to rebellion by the state of poverty and dependence in which he was kept by his suspicious and avaricious father. He claimed immediate possession of Normandy and Maine, and a share of the realm of England.
To the King's remonstrances and lectures, he answered petulantly, that he did not come to hear sermons, of which he had heard enough from the tutors who taught him grammar; and on William's peremptory refusal to grant his requests retired in dudgeon, and shortly afterwards, incensed by an ill-timed frolic of his younger brothers, William and Henry, who threw some water upon him from an upper story of a house in which they were playing at dice, he broke out into open rebellion, and with a small band of adherents, made an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Castle of Rouen.
Matilda's secret support of this disobedient son, to whom she sent large supplies of money and jewels, caused serious quarrels between her and her husband. This rash, ungovernable young man, whose personal appearance was far from prepossessing - as he is described by contemporary writers as heavy-faced, corpulent, and with legs so short and devoid of symmetry that his father gave him the name of Gambaron, in other words, Court-heuse - Swas his mother's favourite. She is reported to have declared that were hS dead and buried, she would gladly give her own life to resuscitate him.
Robert, supported by Philip, King of France, was besieged in the Castle of Gerberoi by William in person, and in a sally, the Conqueror received from his own son the first wound he had ever met with in all the battles he had fought. Of this personal encounter there are as many different versions as there arp narrators. The most popular is, that Robert was unconscious of the person he had wounded and unhorsed until the King's voice revealed the startling fact, when he immediately dismounted, and expressing his contrition and imploring pardon for his unintentional crime, placed him on his own horse and led him safely from the field. One writer says William's fury was so great that he heaped curses on his son's head, which no entreaties could ever induce him to revoke. Another, in flat contradiction, asserts that he was so touched by the respect and remorse of Robert that he forgave him on the spot, and thenceforth held him in great esteem.
That some sort of family reconciliation did take place appears evident from a charter granted in 1082 by William and his Queen to the Church of the Holy Trinity at Caen, to which are affixed the signatures of the three sons -- Robert, William, and Henry. This charter is also remarkable for the fact that, amongst the lands granted to the church is Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, which was part of the manor of Michinhampton, previously held by Brihtric Meaw, whom Matilda had so unjustly deprived of all his estates in revenge for his having slighted her early affection. "Hell hath no fury like a woman foiled," says an old dramatist, and this still mysterious story might be adduced in support of the assertion. I shall have to recur to it hereafter.
On the 2nd of November, 1083, Queen Matilda died, after a lingering illness, at Caen, in Normandy, and was buried in the church of her own foundation. A story was circulated in the reign of her son, Henry I, concerning the immediate cause of her decease, which may be classed with that of her wooing by William. Matilda is reported to have discovered an intrigue between her husband and the daughter of a priest, and in her jealousy had the girl hamstrung, which so exasperated William that he beat her, or caused her to be beaten to death with a horse's bridle. [William of Malmesbury, Book III]
Four years afterwards William himself followed her to the grave. Is it necessary to recapitulate the oft-repeated story of the coarse jest of Philip, King of France, on the increasing corpulence of the Conqueror, of William's furious retort, of his burning of Mantes, the stumbling of his steed on the hot embers and consequent fatal injury of the rider?
He was borne on a litter to Rouen. But the noise of the city was too great for him, and by his own directions he was conveyed to the Priory attached to the Church of St. Gervaise, standing on a hill to the west of the town. There, attended by Gilbert Maminot, Bishop of Lisieux, Guntred, Abbot of Jumièges, and others well skilled in medicine, he lingered some six or seven weeks, and then conscience-stricken on the approach of death, he is said to have uttered that remarkable "discourse" which I have alluded to, and quoted from in the early part of the chapter, wherein he confesses himself to have been the barbarous murderer of many thousands, both old and young, and tremblingly recounts, as a set-off, that he has erected and endowed seventeen convents of monks and six of nuns during his government of Normandy.
He had already given that duchy to his eldest son Robert, a grant which he seems to have regretted, but could not amend. "I know for certain," he observed, "that the country which is subject to his dominion will be truly wretched. He is a proud and silly prodigal, and will have long to suffer severe misfortune" -- a singular proof of "the great esteem" in which the King held his son after the affair at Gerberoi! "I appoint no one my heir to the Crown of England," he continued, "for I did not attain that high honour by hereditary right, but I wrested it from the perjured King Harold, in a desperate battle, with much effusion of human blood, and it was by the slaughter and banishment of his adherents that I subjugated England to my rule." He expressed, however, a hope that his son William, who from his earliest years had been always attached to him, would succeed to the throne, and enjoy a prosperous reign.
"And what do you give me, my father?" exclaimed Henry, his youngest surviving son. "Five thousand pounds of silver from my treasury," replied the King. "But what shall I do with this money, having no corner of the earth which I can call my own?" rejoined the young Prince. "My son," said the dying Monarch, "be contented with your lot, and trust in the Lord. Suffer patiently your elder brothers to precede you. Robert will have Normandy, and William England; but you will in turn succeed to all the dominions which belong to me, and you will surpass your brothers in wealth and power." This prophetic declaration throws a little doubt upon the authenticity of this otherwise most interesting narrative. Orderic outlived King Henry I; and the seventh book, in which the above discourse appears, was written after that monarch's death, when the prediction had been fulfilled or might be safely invented. Nevertheless, words are put into William's mouth which deserve consideration, and those whom it may concern are referred to the following chapter. On Thursday, 9th of September, at sunrise, the King, awaking from a tranquil sleep, heard the sound of the great bell of the Cathedral of Rouen, and inquiring the cause, was told by the attendants that it was tolling for primes in the Church of St. Mary. Then the King, lifting up his hands, said, "I commend myself to Mary, the Holy Mother of God, my heavenly Mistress, that by her blessed intercession I may be reconciled to her well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ," and instantly expired.
Although prepared for the event, the suddenness of its occurrence startled and astonished his attendants, who, says the chronicler, "became as men who had lost their wits." Notwithstanding, the wealthier of them had wit enough to mount their horses and depart in haste to secure their property, while the servants observing that their masters had disappeared, laid hands on the arms, the plate, the robes, the linen, and all the royal furniture, and made off with their plunder, leaving the corpse of the Conqueror almost naked on the floor, "from the hour of primes to that of tierce."
Later in the day the Archbishop of Rouen, attended by the clergy and the monks, went in procession to St. Gervaise, and after the customary prayer for the dead, ordered the body to be conveyed to Caen for sepulture in the Abbey of St. Stephen, which William had founded; but not one of his relations or retinue was present to take charge of the corpse. At length a knight named Herluin, undertook the office for the love of God and the honour of his country. He caused the body to be embalmed at his own expense, and then carried in a hearse to the port, where it was placed on board a vessel in the Seine, and brought by water and land to Caen. But the misadventures of the remains of the once great and dreaded Conqueror were not to end here. An alarming fire broke out in the city as the funeral procession was on its way to the abbey, and mourners, clergy, and laity rushed to look after the safety of their own houses and assist in extinguishing the flames, leaving only a few monks to accompany the hearse to the gates of St. Stephen's. When the company had reassembled, mass was said, and Gilbert, Bishop of Evreux, ascending the pulpit, pronounced a long panegyric on the deceased sovereign, extolling his valour, justice, and piety, the severity with which he punished robbers and oppressors, and the protection he afforded to the defenceless poor, upon which a man named Ascelin, the son of Arthur, stepped forward and in a loud voice said: "The ground whereon you stand was the courtyard of my father's house, which that man for whom you are bidden to pray, when he was yet but Duke of Normandy, took forcible possession of, and in defiance of all justice by an exercise of tyrannical power he founded this abbey. I therefore lay claim to this land and demand its restitution, and in God's name forbid the body of the spoiler being covered with earth which is my property and buried in my inheritance."
This awkward commentary on the character of the rigid administrator of justice, the chastiser of robbers, and the protector of the defenceless poor, caused considerable confusion and consternation in the assembly, more particularly when the testimony of the neighbours ofAscelin proved in support of his claim.
He was conferred with in private. Sixty shillings were paid to him on the spot, and a proportionable price agreed upon for the purchase of the rest of the property. William of Malmesbury says that Prince Henry was present, and paid "the brawler" a hundred pounds of silver to quiet his audacious demands.
Yet another mishap! - on lowering the corpse into the stone coffin which had already been placed in the grave, they were obliged to use some force, as the masons had made it too short. The consequence was, that the king being very corpulent, the bowels burst, and an intolerable stench, which the clouds of incense failed to subdue, caused a precipitate retreat of the mourners, and brought the funeral ceremonies to an abrupt conclusion. How this could occur with a body which had been embalmed I do not understand. The process must have been very hastily and unskilfully performed, or, what is more likely, omitted altogether.
This miserable close of the history of a mighty monarch has been moralized upon sufficiently. Never more efficiently than by his contemporary Orderic Vital. I leave the Conqueror in his grave, undazzled by his brilliant achievements in the field - admitting the astuteness of his policy, and regretting that in the whole of his life I have been unable to discover the least trait of magnanimity, the least indication of one truly humane or generous feeling. That he was not cruel for cruelty's sake is about the praise which may be accorded to the burglar who would find no particular pleasure in picking a lock if he could get nothing by it, but would not hesitate to commit murder if it were necessary for the security of his booty. Can an instance be cited of his having considered the interest of any one but himself, or refraining from any gratification that would entail loss or injury to others? "He loved the tall deer as though he were their father," and for the paternal pleasure of hunting and slaying them, he ruthlessly laid waste the lands and utterly ruined thousands upon thousands of the hapless people to whom he should have been a father, putting out the eyes of those who killed hart or hind within his forests! Courteous and debonnair to those who implicitly obeyed his behests or were instrumental to his far-sighted policy, he was "stark" to all who opposed him. Like Sheridan's Sir Anthony, he was compliance itself when he was not thwarted. No one more easily led - when he had his own way.
The favours conferred by him on his own family failed in nearly every instance to secure their affection or fidelity, and such remarkable ingratitude can only be accounted for by the distrust the recipients of his bounty entertained of the motives of their benefactor. To the same cause may fairly be attributed the otherwise inexplicable tergiversations of his feudal lord, Henry, King of France, one day his generous protector, and the next his bitter enemy.
His liberalities to his followers were cheaply bestowed at the expense of others, and not only unavoidable rewards for important services rendered, but excellent securities for their future good behaviour, as he could seize at his pleasure the broad lands they held of him, every acre of which he caused to be measured and valued, the number and condition of every human being, and the live stock upon their lands ascertained and recorded, so that not a rood of land nor a living soul, nor a pig, could escape his clutches, if, upon any pretence whatever, he thought fit to take possession of them. To this masterpiece of policy we are indebted for the great survey of England, known as Domesday Book, the worth of which to the student of English history is not lessened by the cause of its compilation.
His rigid administration of justice appears like a grim satire on the supreme contempt of it he exhibited in his own conduct. Indignation at the slightest infringement of the monopoly of murder, robbery, and wrong doing vested in his own person. Even the reputation for conjugal fidelity so eagerly claimed for him by his apologists, rests upon a very fragile foundation, and as we learn from William of Malmesbury, was circumstantially denied in his time. The same writer, while he considers it folly - good, easy man, - to believe such stories about "so great a king," unwittingly deprives the boasted continence of the Conqueror of any claim to rank amongst "his other virtues," whatever they may have been, by informing us that even in his youth he was so insensible to the allurements of beauty, that the gossip of the day attributed his indifference to a defect of Nature, and not to a sense of morality. "Love! his affections did not that way tend." Notwithstanding all the sentimental descriptions of his conjugal affection, I question whether he ever loved any one in the world but himself. With a will of iron he possessed a heart of stone, and the damning proof that he had not been able to secure the attachment of a single fellow-creature of any class is patent by the fact of his body being ignominiously stripped and utterly deserted the moment he was no longer to be feared.
But is there any real foundation for the stereo-typed assertion of that connubial fidelity and felicity which has been so greatly vaunted by modern writers; that uxorious devotion which is claimed for him as the "One virtue," which must be allowed to him "linked with a thousand crimes," of which it is admitted he was guilty?
The wife, whose loss he is said to have deplored so deeply, though crowned in England, was immediately sent back to Normandy, and from that day to the hour of her death was never again allowed to set foot in her doating husband's kingdom. With the exception of his hasty and brief visits to Normandy, rendered imperative by political events, the affectionate and faithful husband saw nothing of the beloved partner of his bosom for sixteen years! The Queen of England was compelled to be merely the vice-regent of the Duchy of Normandy. The latter portion of their married life was notoriously one constant scene of altercation, occasioned by Matilda's surreptitious support of her favourite son, Robert Court-heuse, against the father, who disliked and despised him, and the presence of William at her death-bed was purely accidental, as he happened to be at that moment in Normandy. The hypocrite, who had shed crocodile tears over the head of the conveniently murdered Edwin, has forfeited all claim to be considered a sincere mourner under any circumstances, unless they unfavourably affected his individual interests, and therefore the recorded long lamentation for the loss of his wife, if unfeigned, must be estimated according to the political importance he attached to her existence at that period.
Where is the slightest evidence of his affection? And now as regards his fidelity. There is certainly no conclusive evidence that William Peverel was the natural son of William of Normandy by the daughter of Ingleric, as stated in the reign of Elizabeth, not only by Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, but "the learned Gamden," who was a conscientious historian as well as a herald.
I perfectly agree with Mr. Freeman that "the uncorroborated assertions of a herald are not materials for history." I will go further, and contend that the uncorroborated assertions of any writer are not to be implicitly relied on, and though Mr. Freeman is not bound to believe the herald, his uncorroborated assertion to the contrary is of no greater value, - much less, indeed, when the characters of Glover and Camden are taken into consideration, who were the last men in the world to invent such a story, and had beyond doubt what they considered sufficient authority for their statements. That they did not cite it, is to be deplored; but such omissions were too common in those days; and the absence of any possible motive for their fabricating such a story must relieve them at least of the responsibility.
That scandals were in general circulation respecting the Conqueror as early as the thirteenth century is acknowledged by William of Malniesbury; and if we are to discredit the statement of Glover and Gamden as regards Peverel, and the report of Matilda's jealousy of the daughter of another priest recorded by Malmesbury, what answer is to be made to Pere Anselm and other writers who set down a natural daughter of King William as the wife of Hugh du Château-sur-Loir? Who was really the father of Thomas Archbishop of York, who, in 1081, in presence of King William, of Matilda his Queen, and their sons Robert and William, Archbishop Lanfranc, and other important personages, signed himself "Regis filius"? (Olivarius Vredius, Gen. Com. Fland. Prob. Tab. 3.) He and his brother Sampson, afterwards Bishop of Worcester, were two young clerks sent by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, to Liége, for their education. Thomas, a simple canon of Bayeux at the time of the Conquest, was, on the first opportunity, placed on the archiepiscopal throne of York! Brompton vaguely calls him the son of a priest; and we learn from an obituary appended to the "Liber Vitae Dunelmensis," in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, a MS. of uncertain date, that the names of his parents were Osbert and Muriel; ["Liber Vitæ Dunelm.," ed. Surtees Soc., pp. 139-40. Vide also tho notice of William Peverel, vol. ii., in which I have more fully discussed the subject.] but the Archbishop calls himself "son of the King" to the King's face? Has Vredius or his printer made a blunder? Did Thomas actually declare himself "Regis filius"?
A marvellous example of the successfulness of success, the long series of victories and advantages obtained by him threw a glory round his name as a king, in the blaze of which his crimes as a man were altogether overlooked, or but dimly discernible, by later historians; while his bounties to the Church, which he eagerly enumerated on his miserable death-bed, his enrichment and foundation of abbeys and convents, and the distribution of the enormous wealth he had wrung from his English subjects amongst the churches throughout his dominions, secured for him the few words of praise with which the old clerical chroniclers qualify their honest condemnation of his general conduct. In the present age we can only look upon them as the bribes which the superstition of those days, assiduously fostered by the priesthood, who reaped the benefit of them, induced the most atrocious criminals to believe would avert the anger of Heaven.
I must again observe, this is a personal and not a political history. I have dealt with the man, and not with the monarch, and if my estimate of his character be considered unfair, I can only appeal to the facts on which it is founded, his own confessions as reported by Orderic, and the testimony of chroniclers of his own age, who wrote while his sons Rufus and Henry were still on the throne, and who, much as they are to be commended for their frankness, could scarcely fail being influenced by considerations of the existing circumstances and the possible danger of stronger denunciation.
In future chapters further proof will be given incidentally of the cruelty, treachery, and rapacity of "this grasping and suspicious tyrant, hated alike by both nations, and harassed by enemies from his hearth to his utmost frontier," [Cobbe: History of the Norman Kings of England.] who, while justifying, by permission of an inscrutable Providence, the epithet of Conqueror, in its familiar acceptation, singularly throughout his career, from the moment he clutched the rushes in his infant grasp to the day he seized the crown of England, proved still more clearly his claim to the title, "Conquæstor" in its stricter sense of "Acquirer." [Vide Ducange in voce. The word was so understood in Normandy. Certain parishes on the left bank of the Ept, annexed by Hugh de Gournay to his domains, in the 12th century, were distinguished as "Les Conquets Hue de Gournay." - De la Marie. Recherches Hist.]
CHAPTER II: THE FAMILY OF THE CONQUEROR
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.

I introduce here the few observations I have to make on the uncertain and disputed points in the history of William the Conqueror, his queen and family, to which I alluded at the commencement of the former chapter, in lieu of placing them as an appendix at the end of the volume, as they principally turn on questions of date, and those who care to discuss them would naturally desire to do so before passing to other subjects. The less curious reader can "skip and go on."
The first and most important date open to controversy is that of the birth of William--most important because it affects all the rest.
The latest investigators place it in 1027 or 1028, and one (Mons. Deville) endeavours to fix it exactly to the month of June or of July in the former year.
Were it a question of only a few weeks or a few months I should not have thought it necessary to moot it here; but it is one of years, and of much more consequence than it appears at first sight.
The calculations of the upholders of the dates 1027-28 are founded on: -
1. The contract of marriage of Duke Richard II and Judith, the parents of Robert, said to be dated in 1008. According to this date, Robert being their second son, would hardly have been born before 1010, and could be only seventeen or eighteen at the birth of William, and consequently his passion for Herleve was that of a boy of sixteen or seventeen at the utmost.
2. A charter granted by Robert previous to his departure on pilgrimage to Jerusalem dated in the ides of January, 1035, and as it is agreed on all hands that William was between seven and eight years old when his father left Normandy, that would place his birth in 1027-28.
3. The cartulary recently discovered at Falaise recording William's birth and baptism therein 1027.
4. The statement of Guillaume de Jumièges that William was not quite sixty at his death in 1087.
A sort of collateral substantiation of the date of the pilgrimage I find also in the story told by the author of the "Gesta Consulum Andegavensium," of the meeing of Duke Robert with Fulk Nera, Count of Anjou, at Constantinople in 1035, and their travelling thence to the Holy Land together, escorted by some merchants of Antioch, who had offered to be their guides. Robert becoming fatigued was carried in a litter by four Moors. A Norman pilgrim returning from Jerusalem, meeting his sovereign with this equipage, asked if he had any message to send to his friends. "Tell them," said the Duke, "that thou sawest me borne to Paradise by four devils." But it is to be observed that Fulk was also a pilgrim to the Holy Land in 1028, and that the compiler of "L'Art de Vérifier les Dates" remarks that the work I have quoted "ne mérite pas beaucoup de créance."
On the other hand we have also to consider the statement of William himself, who, according to Orderic, declared on his death-bed that he was sixty-four, which would make him born in 1023; that he was eight years old when his father went into what he calls voluntary exile, and that he had ruled the duchy fifty-six years, thus placing the death of Robert in 1031. That date is supported by the perfectly independent testimony of the Saxon Chronicle, which becomes more trustworthy in the eleventh century, wherein we read, "A° 1031. . . . and Robert, Earl of Normandy, went to Jerusalem and there died, and William, who was afterwards king in England, succeeded to Normandy, though he was but a child." The words I have printed in italics, however, detract from the value of the evidence; as they must have been written at least thirty-five years after the event, and perhaps much later.
The Peterborough and Canterbury chronicles follow the Saxon, and Roger of Wendover and Matthew of Westminster are merely copyists of the earlier writers.
I have seen too many errors in the dates of charters and other MSS., arising from clerical or typographical carelessness, to pin my faith upon any copy, printed or other, even when the original document is undoubtedly genuine, and therefore hesitate to accept the date accorded to the contract of marriage of Richard and Judith, particularly as there are several obvious inaccuracies in the copy printed in Martene (Thesaurus Novus Anecdotorum, vol. i.).
Judith was the only child of Conan le Tort, Count of Rennes, by his second wife Ermengarde, daughter of Geoffrey Grisegonelle, married according to the "Chroniques de Mont St. Michel" in 9 70. Conan was slain at the battle of Conquereux in 992. Now, if these dates can be at all relied on, what age was Judith likely to be in 1008, if not married till then? At what period of the two-and-twenty years of her parents' married life was she born? If in the ordinary course of nature, she must have been five- or six-and-thirty in 1008!
Judith died in 1017, the mother of five children: Richard, Robert, Guillaume, Alix (also called Judith), and Eleanore; and if only married in 1008 her eldest son Richard could scarcely have been born before 1009, and Robert, as already remarked, 1010. Whether Guillaume or Alix was their third child is uncertain, but before 1025 Alix was the wife of Renaud, son of Otto-Guillaume, Count of Burgundy, who, having fallen into the power of Hugues, Bishop of Auxerre and Count of Chalons, was strictly confined in prison by that prelate. Richard II, Duke of Normandy, thereupon sent his sons, Richard and Robert, with an army to relieve their brother-in-law, and Count Hugues was compelled to present himself with a saddle on his back (the usual custom at that period) and crave mercy at the hands of the sons of the Duke of Normandy.
Now, doubting that young warriors were mere boys of fifteen and sixteen years of age in 1025 (Richard, the eldest, dying in 1027, and leaving a natural son named Nicholas, who was Abbot of St. Ouen in 1042), I cannot bring myself to believe in the "extreme youth" of Robert, as pointed out by Mons. Deville, and without presuming to fix an exact date, believe that both Richard and Robert were nearly of full age at the death of their father, whether that event occurred in 1026 or 1027.
Leaving, therefore, the precise period of the birth of William the Conqueror still undecided, the weight of evidence inclining rather to 1027, let us hasten to the consideration of the equally vexed question concerning the number and ages of his family, consisting undoubtedly of four sons, and presumably of five or six daughters. [Freeman: Nor. Con., vol. v. [. 468, note4.]
Notwithstanding the various and conflicting dates suggested for the marriage of William and Matilda, ranging from 1047 to 1053, I think we may consider it sufficiently proved that it was solemnized at the close of 1053 or beginning of 1054, and that Robert, their first child, was born in the course of the latter year.
Their second child I take to have been Adeliza, eldest daughter, born apparently in 1055, being seven years old in 1062, when betrothed to Harold, and dead before 1066, as her decease was the undeniable answer of the Saxon king to one of William's charges of broken faith.
Cecilia must have been the third child, as she was clearly born in 1056, dedicated to the service of God by her father and mother at the consecration of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen, 18th June, 1066, was elected abbess on the death of Matilda, the first abbess, in 1112, and died on the 30th of July, 1125, in the seventieth year of her age.
The fourth child appears to have been Richard, born 1057-58, who, with his younger brother, William (fifth child), born 1060, witnessed the consecration of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Caen in 1066.
Richard was killed in the New Forest by accident during the reign of his father in England; and his brother William, surnamed Rufus, who succeeded the Conqueror as King of England, met his death, as is well known, A.D. 1100, in the same forest, doomed apparently to be fatal to the progeny of the heartless despot who had sacrificed to his passion for the chase the homes and hearths of thousands of his unfortunate subjects.
The sixth child I take to be Constance, born in 1061, married to Alain, Duke of Brittany, in 1086, and who died, poisoned by her own servants, according to some writers, on the 13th of August, 1094, at the early age of thirty-three.
Mrs. Green, notwithstanding she places her birth "most likely about 1057," subsequently tells us, upon the authority of no less than four chronicles, that she died in 1094 " when she had scarcely attained her thirty-third year." If the latter statement is to be depended upon, she must have been born in 1061, and the probabilities are all in favour of that date. Miss Strickland, by a curious inadvertency, makes Constance die some years before her mother, "after seven years' unfruitful marriage." The marriage having taken place three years after her mother's death!
The seventh child I believe to have been Adela, born circa 1062, married, at Chartres in 1080, to Stephen, Count of Blois and Chartres, and deceased in 1137, in tbe seventy-fourth year of her age.
Agatha, believed by Mrs. Green to be also Matilda, whose name appears in Domesday, the eighth and last child born in Normandy, circa 1064, was promised to Edwin, the Saxon Earl of Chester, in 1067, when only three years old, and after his death contracted to Alfonso 1, King of Castile and Galicia. She died on her journey to Spain, having, as the story goes, prayed she might not live to be married, and by unceasing genuflections caused a horny substance to form on her knees.
More incredible is the sentimental account of "blighted hopes" and "crushed affections" indulged in by Mrs. Green, as the child was but three years old when she first saw the "fair-haired Saxon," seven when her "lover" was murdered, and scarcely fifteen when she was contracted to Alfonso; for she must have been dead in 1080, as in that year the Castilian monarch married the daughter of the Duke of Burgundy.
This is of course according to my calculation, which I by no means presume to be irrefutable, and also applies solely to Agatha, leaving it to others to identify her with Matilda "filiae regis," whose chamberlain (Geoffrey) held lands in Hampshire of the King for service rendered to his said daughter. That there was a Matilda, daughter of King William, is undeniable, not only from the entry in Domesday, but from her being named with her sisters Adelaide and Constance in an encyclical letter to the nuns of the Holy Trinity at Caen in 1112. But as the survey was only begun in 1085, and completed in 1086, it will be difficult, I think, to prove that Agatha, who must have been dead in 1080, was the same daughter as Matilda, supposed to be living five or six years later.
Henry, afterwards King Henry 1, the youngest of the whole family, was the only child born in England, and the date of his birth is generally acknowledged to be 1068, his mother having come over from Normandy for her coronation in that year. Now let us see when it would be possible that a tenth child, if not a twin, could have been born to William by his duchess, and of sufficient age to have a chamberlain appointed to her before 1085.
1.Robert, born 1054.
2.Adeliza, born 1055; dead before 1066.
3.Cecilia, born 1058.
4.Richard, born 1057-58.
5.William, born 1060.
6.Constance, born 1061.
7.Adela, born 1062.
8.Agatha, born 1064; dead before 1080.
9.Henry, born 1068.
The ingenious theory that Matilda was no other than the mysterious Gundrada, the former name being simply a translation of the latter, is negatived by the fact that Gundrada died wife of William de Warren in 1085, while the survey was in the course of compilation. That one daughter should have been named after her mother is most natural. That the King had a daughter so named, and that she was apparently living in 1085, must be conceded; but that she was the same person as Agatha "the inexorable logic of facts" positively contradicts. There is just the possibility of its being Constance, who survived her mother, and was married to Alain, Duke of Brittany, as before stated, in 1086. She is said to have been the favourite daughter and companion of Queen Matilda, and for nearly six years the only princess at Court. At the period of her niother's death she would have been twenty-three, and previous to her marriage would no doubt have had a chamberlain and other officers appointed for her service. That she was ever called Matilda there is no evidence yet discovered; but there is no daughter of Matilda's more likely to have been so. But then we have to get over the awkward fact of Matilda and Constance being separately named in the encyclical letter of 1112. ["Matildem Anglorum reginam, nostri cœnobii fondatricem, Adelidem, Mathildem Constantiam, filias ejus." Also in the Bouleau des Morts of the same Abbey we read: - "Orate pro nostria Mathilde Regina et Willielmo ejus filio atque pro filiabus ejus Adelide, Mathilde, Constancia." -- Recherches sur le Domesday, p. 234.] Matilda is consequently, as Mr. Freeman truly describes her, "without a history." The vexed question of Gundrada will be discussed in the chapter comprising the biography of her husband, William, Earl of Warren and Surrey, and in connection with it the presumed widowhood of Matilda of Flanders, and her passion for Brihtric Meaw.

Biography of William the Conqueror

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated
and
killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The
Norman
conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of
feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for
pledges
of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if
harsh
rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started
Domesday Book.

http://www15.pair.com/cir/uk/warwick.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Compton's:

William I (born 1027, ruled 1066-87), called William the Conqueror, was
an illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy. His mother was a
tanner's daughter. William succeeded his father when he was only 7
years old. At 24 he had made himself the mightiest feudal lord in all
France by various conquests, but his ambition was not satisfied. He
laid plans to become king of England also. He was coronated at
Westminster Abbey, Christmas Day 1066.
William married Matilda, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders,
in 1053. She was descended from the old Anglo-Saxon line of kings.
Among their children were four sons: Robert, future duke of Normandy;
Richard, who died as a youth; William Rufus, who succeeded his father
as king of England; and Henry, who succeeded William Rufus. One
daughter, Adela, became the mother of England's King Stephen.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton's NewMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lincoln Castle, Lincolnshire
http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/castles/linccastle.html

This 1st Norman King had to invade England to claim his crown in 1066 at the
Battle of Hastings, then on into London where he was crowned King on
Christmas Day, 1066, in Westminster Abbey. Harold, Earl of Wessex, was slain
at the battle. By 1070, the Norman Conquest was concluded. In 1087, during a
campaign against Philip of France, William was fatally injured when his horse
fell on him. William I is generally considerated as one of the outstanding
figures in western European history.

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated
and
killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The
Norman
conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of
feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for
pledges
of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if
harsh
rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started
Domesday Book.

http://www15.pair.com/cir/uk/warwick.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Compton's:

William I (born 1027, ruled 1066-87), called William the Conqueror, was
an illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy. His mother was a
tanner's daughter. William succeeded his father when he was only 7
years old. At 24 he had made himself the mightiest feudal lord in all
France by various conquests, but his ambition was not satisfied. He
laid plans to become king of England also. He was coronated at
Westminster Abbey, Christmas Day 1066.
William married Matilda, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders,
in 1053. She was descended from the old Anglo-Saxon line of kings.
Among their children were four sons: Robert, future duke of Normandy;
Richard, who died as a youth; William Rufus, who succeeded his father
as king of England; and Henry, who succeeded William Rufus. One
daughter, Adela, became the mother of England's King Stephen.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton's NewMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lincoln Castle, Lincolnshire
http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/castles/linccastle.html

This 1st Norman King had to invade England to claim his crown in 1066 at the
Battle of Hastings, then on into London where he was crowned King on
Christmas Day, 1066, in Westminster Abbey. Harold, Earl of Wessex, was slain
at the battle. By 1070, the Norman Conquest was concluded. In 1087, during a
campaign against Philip of France, William was fatally injured when his horse
fell on him. William I is generally considerated as one of the outstanding
figures in western European history.

!DESCENT: Frederick Lewis Weis and Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr., Ancestral Roots
of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700, 7th ed., at 108
(1992). Line 121-24.

He was the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, daughter of a wealthy Falasian; many contemporary writers referred to him as "William the Bastard". Robert died in 1035 while traveling through Asia Minor, and the young William was named Duke of Normandy.
He married Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders, who bore him at least nine children, four of which were boys.
Edward the Confessor, in an effort to gain Norman support while fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, had promised the throne to William the Confessor in 1051. By 1066, however, Edward had reconciled with Godwin, and on his deathbed and named the Earl's son Harold as successor to the crown. William felt cheated and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to his accession in 1064. He was prepared for battle in August of 1066, but the winds were against him throughout August and most of September, prohibiting he and his troops from crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be an advantage, however, as Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England and met Harold Godwinson's forces at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Godwinson emerged victorious, but two days after the battle, William was able to land unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victorious Harold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the Witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day 1066.
The kingdom was immediately besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually crushed by the Normans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1071. William punished rebels by confiscating their land and giving it to Normans. The Domesday Book was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base; within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, only two native English landowners still held their land. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law.
William was a feudal vassal of the king of France (a situation destined to cause great consternation between England and France), and constantly found himself at odds with King Philip. In a siege on the town of Mantes in 1087 he was injured, and he died from complications of the wound on September 9.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gave a favorable review of William's twenty-one year reign, but added, "His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed; ... he would say and do somethings and indeed almost anything ... where the hope of money allured him." He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll from his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the building of English history.

["The British Monarchy", www.royal.gov.uk]

The victory of William I, 'the Conqueror' (1066-1087), Duke of Normandy, at Hastings and his subsequent coronation in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 did not give him complete control of England. Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushed and castles built to control the country (including a fortress at Windsor, and the White Tower at the Tower of London). The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given to William's followers in return for military service by a certain number of knights, so that the tenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to the King. This firmly established the feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the Domesday Book, to record land holdings for the assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods in Normandy to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions and French invasions. William died in 1087 in Normandy, leaving his duchy to his eldest son, Robert, and England to his next surviving son, William Rufus.

Born around 1028, William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, and Herleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Falaise. Known as 'William the Bastard' to his contemporaries, his illegitimacy shaped his career when he was young. On his father's death in 1035, William was recognised by his family as the heir - an exception to the general rule that illegitimacy barred succession. His great uncle looked after the Duchy during William's minority, and his overlord King Henry I of France, knighted him at the age of 15.
From 1047 onwards, William successfully dealt with rebellion inside Normandy involving his kinsmen and threats from neighbouring nobles, including attempted invasions by his former ally King Henry I of France in 1054 (the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer) and 1057. William's military successes and reputation helped him to negotiate his marriage to Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders. At the time of his invasion of England, William was a very experienced and ruthless military commander, ruler and administrator who had unified Normandy and inspired fear and respect outside his duchy.

William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that, in 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distant cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold William's right to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper. Furthermore, William had the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval. William took seven months to prepare his invasion force, using some 600 transport ships to carry around 7,000 men (including 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across the Channel. On 28 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised fortifications at Hastings. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, Harold undertook a forced march south covering 250 miles in some nine days to meet the new threat, gathering inexperienced reinforcements to replenish his exhausted veterans as he marched.

At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October, Harold's weary and under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the forces brought across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Harold's troops were equal in number (they included the best infantry in Europe equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had the battlefield advantage of being based on a ridge above the Norman positions.

The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumour spread that William had been killed; William rode among the ranks raising his helmet to show he was still alive. The battle was close-fought: a chronicler described the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon defence as 'one side attacking with all mobility, the other withstanding as though rooted to the soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him.

William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, both of which the English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harold was killed - hit by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a mounted knight. Two of his brothers were also killed. The demoralised English forces fled. (In 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built on the site of the battle, with the high altar occupying the spot where Harold fell. The ruins of Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, which grew up around it, remain.)

William was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey. Three months later, he was confident enough to return to Normandy leaving two joint regents (one of whom was his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was later to commission the Bayeux Tapestry) behind to administer the kingdom. However, it took William six years to consolidate his conquest, and even then he had to face constant plotting and fighting on both sides of the Channel. In 1068, Harold's sons raided the south-west coast of England (dealt with by William's local commanders); there were uprisings in the Welsh Marches, Devon and Cornwall. William appointed earls who, in Wales and in all parts of the kingdom, undertook to guard the threatened frontiers and maintain internal security in return for land.

In 1069, the Danes, in alliance with Prince Edgar the Aetheling (Ethelred's great grandson) and other English nobles, invaded the north and took York. Taking personal charge, and pausing only to deal with the rising at Stafford, William drove the Danes back to their ships on the Humber. In a harsh campaign lasting into 1070, William systematically devastated Mercia and Northumbria to deprive the Danes of their supplies and prevent recovery of English resistance. Churches and monasteries were burnt, and agricultural land was laid to waste, creating a famine for the unarmed and mostly peasant population which lasted at least nine years. Although the Danes were bribed to leave the north, King Sweyn of Denmark and his ships threatened the east coast (in alliance with various English, including Hereward the Wake) until a treaty of peace was concluded in June 1070.

Further north, where the boundary with Scotland was unclear, King Malcolm III was encroaching into England. Yet again, William moved swiftly and moved land and sea forces north to invade Scotland. The Treaty of Abernethy in 1072 marked a truce, which was reinforced by Malcolm's eldest son being accepted as a hostage.

William consolidated his conquest by starting a castle-building campaign in strategic areas. Originally these castles were wooden towers on earthen 'mottes' (mounds) with a bailey (defensive area) surrounded by earth ramparts, but many were later rebuilt in stone. By the end of William's reign over 80 castles had been built throughout his kingdom, as a permanent reminder of the new Norman feudal order.

William's wholesale confiscation of land from English nobles and their heirs (many nobles had died at the battles of Stamford Bridge and Senlac) enabled him to recruit and retain an army, by demanding military duties in exchange for land tenancy granted to Norman, French and Flemish allies. He created up to 180 'honours' (lands scattered through shires, with a castle as the governing centre), and in return had some 5,000 knights at his disposal to repress rebellions and pursue campaigns; the knights were augmented by mercenaries and English infantry from the Anglo-Saxon militia, raised from local levies. William also used the fyrd, the royal army - a military arrangement which had survived the Conquest. The King's tenants-in-chief in turn created knights under obligation to them and for royal duties (this was called subinfeudation), with the result that private armies centred around private castles were created - these were to cause future problems of anarchy for unfortunate or weak kings. By the end of William's reign, a small group of the King's tenants had acquired about half of England's landed wealth. Only two Englishmen still held large estates directly from the King. A foreign aristocracy had been imposed as the new governing class.

The expenses of numerous campaigns, together with an economic slump (caused by the shifts in landed wealth, and the devastation of northern England for military and political reasons), prompted William to order a full-scale investigation into the actual and potential wealth of the kingdom to maximise tax revenues. The Domesday survey was prompted by ignorance of the state of land holding in England, as well as the result of the costs of defence measures in England and renewed war in France. The scope, speed, efficiency and completion of this survey was remarkable for its time and resulted in the two-volumed Domesday Book of 1086, which still exists today. William needed to ensure the direct loyalty of his feudal tenants. The 1086 Oath of Salisbury was a gathering of William's 170 tenants-in-chief and other important landowners who took an oath of fealty to William.

William's reach extended elsewhere into the Church and the legal system. French superseded the vernacular (Anglo-Saxon). Personally devout, William used his bishops to carry out administrative duties. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070, was a first-class administrator who assisted in government when William was absent in France, and who reorganised the Church in England. Having established the primacy of his archbishopric over that of York, and with William's approval, Lanfranc excommunicated rebels, and set up Church or spiritual courts to deal with ecclesiastical matters. Lanfranc also replaced English bishops and abbots (some of whom had already been removed by the Council of Winchester under papal authority) with Norman or French clergy to reduce potential political resistance. In addition, Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals were rebuilt and some of the bishops' sees were moved to urban centres.

At his coronation, William promised to uphold existing laws and customs. The Anglo-Saxon shire courts and 'hundred' courts (which administered defence and tax, as well as justice matters) remained intact, as did regional variations and private Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions. To strengthen royal justice, William relied on sheriffs (previously smaller landowners, but replaced by influential nobles) to supervise the administration of justice in existing county courts, and sent members of his own court to conduct important trials. However the introduction of Church courts, the mix of Norman/Roman law and the differing customs led to a continuing complex legal framework. More severe forest laws reinforced William's conversion of the New Forest into a vast Royal deer reserve. These laws caused great resentment, and to English chroniclers, the New Forest became a symbol of William's greed. Nevertheless the King maintained peace and order. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declared 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will ... Amongst other things the good security he made in this country is not to be forgotten.'

William spent the last months of his reign in Normandy, fighting a counter-offensive in the French Vexin territory against King Philip's annexation of outlying Normandy territory. Before his death on 9 September 1087, William divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. (The scene was set for centuries of expensive commitments by successive English monarchs to defend their inherited territories in France.) William bequeathed Normandy as he had promised to his eldest son Robert, despite their bitter differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandy, and even wounded and defeated his father in a battle there in 1079). His son William Rufus was to succeed William as King of England, and the third remaining son, Henry, was left 5,000 pounds in silver. William was buried in his abbey foundation of St Stephen at Caen. Desecrated by Huguenots (1562) and Revolutionaries (1793), the burial place of the first Norman king of England is marked by a simple stone slab.

.

Illegitimate

WILLIAM THE CONQUERER
KING OF ENGLAND 1066-1987. CROWNED AT WESTMINSTER 12-25-1066. DIED AT THE
PROIRY OF ST. GERVAIS NEAR ROUEN;BURIED IN THE ABBEY OF ST. ETIENNE AT CAEN.

Survived his father as (William II) Duke of Normandy 1035, conqueredMa ine
1063, Obtained crown of England by conquest 14, Oct. 1066. Crowned at
Westminster Abbey by Ealdred, Archbishop of York, 25 Dec. 1066. He di edat the
Priory of St. Gervais, near Rouen and was buried at the Abbey of St.St ephen
Caen, which he founded.

Survived his father as (William II) Duke of Normandy 1035, conqueredMa ine
1063, Obtained crown of England by conquest 14, Oct. 1066. Crowned at
Westminster Abbey by Ealdred, Archbishop of York, 25 Dec. 1066. He di edat the
Priory of St. Gervais, near Rouen and was buried at the Abbey of St.St ephen
Caen, which he founded.

William I of England (c. 1027/1028 – 9 September 1087), known as William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087 and King of England from 1066.

In support of his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans to victory over the Anglo-Saxon forces of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.[1]

His reign brought Norman culture to England, which had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages. In addition to political changes, his reign also saw changes to English law, a programme of building and fortification, changes in the English language, and the introduction of continental European feudalism into England.

As Duke of Normandy, he is known as William II. He was also, particularly before the conquest, known as William the Bastard.

Early life

William was born in Falaise, Normandy, the illegitimate and only son of Robert II, Duke of Normandy, who named him as heir to Normandy. His mother, Herleva (among other names), who later had two sons to another father, was the daughter of Fulbert, most likely a local tanner. William's birth is believed to have been in either 1027 or 1028, and more likely in the autumn of the latter year.[2] He was born the grandnephew of Queen Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and later of King Canute the Great.[3]

[edit] Duke of Normandy

By his father's will, William succeeded him as Duke of Normandy at age seven in 1035 and was known as Duke William of Normandy (French: Guillaume, duc de Normandie; Latin: Guglielmus Dux Normanniae). By the rivaling Norman noblemen, who had better claim for duke, the usual plots to usurp his place cost William, who was supported by King Henry I of France, three guardians, though not Count Alan of Brittany, who was a later guardian. William was knighted by Henry at age 15. By the time he turned 19 he was successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047, obtaining the Truce of God, which was backed by the Roman Catholic Church.

Against the wishes of Pope Leo IX, William married his cousin Matilda of Flanders, in 1053 in the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Eu, Normandy (Seine-Maritime). At the time, William was about 26 years old and Matilda was 22. William was a faithful husband who cherished his wife for life, their marriage produced four sons and six daughters. In repentance for what was a consanguine marriage (as in "same blood"), William donated St-Stephen's church (l'Abbaye-aux-Hommes) and Matilda donated Sainte-Trinité church (Abbaye aux Dames). However, King Henry became concerned because the noble marriage of William increased the power of the Normans too much. Consequently, Henry attempted invading Normandy twice (1054 and 1057), to no avail. William's half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain played significant roles in his life. He also had a sister, Adelaide of Normandy, also through Robert and Herleva.

[edit] Conquest of England

Main article: Norman conquest of England

[edit] English succession

William believed that once the childless Edward the Confessor was dead, he would be the rightful king of England. Particularly, William argued his blood relatedness, linking himself to Emma (Ethelred's wife). It is probable that Edward, who was Robert II's cousin, had promised him the throne. William claimed that this had occurred while visiting London in 1052. Also, it is known that in 1064, the powerful Earl of Wessex Harold Godwinson, who was an English paladin for the Saxon culture against the Normans, had pledged his allegiance to William. Confronting the count of Ponthieu, William had rescued Harold, who had shipwrecked, and together they defeated Conan II, Count of Brittany. On that occasion, William knighted Harold, and deceived him by having him swear loyalty to William over the concealed bones of a saint. [4]

The vacancy of the English crown, which was left after Edward the Confessor died, was to be ferociously disputed by three European figures (William, Harold, and Viking King Harald III of Norway). In January 1066, by Edward's last will, and by the vote of the Witengamot, Harold Godwinson was crowned King of England as Harold II by Archbishop Aldred, and immediately the new monarch raised a large fleet of ships and mobilized a force of militia, arranging these around the coasts to anticipate attack from several directions.

[edit] Norman invasion

The first would-be attacker was Tostig Godwinson, Harold's brother, but he was successfully defeated by Edwin, Earl of Mercia at a battle on the south bank of the Humber.

Meanwhile, William submitted his claim to the English throne to Pope Alexander II, who sent him a consecrated banner in support. Then, William organized a council of war at Lillebonne and openly began assembling an army in Normandy, consisting of his own army, French mercenaries, and numerous foreign knights who expected plunder or English land. To each man, William promised both lands and titles of nobility after their victory. William gained the support from many knights and gathered a considerable army of 600 ships and 7,000 men at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. But because of the heavy militia presence on the south coast of England and the fleet of ships guarding the English Channel, it looked as if he might fare little better than Tostig.[4]
Statue of William the Conqueror, holding Domesday Book on the West Front of Lichfield Cathedral.
Statue of William the Conqueror, holding Domesday Book on the West Front of Lichfield Cathedral.

However, once the harvest season arrived, Harold withdrew the militia on September 8 because of falling morale and dwindling supplies, and he consolidated the ships in London, leaving the English Channel unguarded. Then came the news that Harald III of Norway had landed ten miles from York with Tostig, which forced Harold and his army to head north. After a victory against the forces of Earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria at the Battle of Fulford, Harald and Tostig were defeated by Harold's army at the slaughterous Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25.

Weeks of unfavourable weather affected the English Channel, delaying William's departure but granting Harold additional time, who moved out of the nearby English coasts. William arrived with his army in Pevensey Bay (Sussex) on September 28, and then he moved to Hastings, a few miles to the east, where he built a prefabricated wooden castle for a base of operations.

[edit] Battle of Hastings

Main article: Battle of Hastings

On October 13, William received news that the already weakened army led by Harold was approaching from London, and at dawn the next day, William left the castle with his army and advanced towards the enemy, which was numerically similar and which had taken a defensive position atop the Senlac ridge (about seven miles from Hastings, at present day Battle, East Sussex). Harold disposed the English soldiers, over the route which connected to London.[4]

The Battle of Hastings lasted all day. Along the ridge's border, hiding behind a large wall of shields, all English soldiers stood so effectively that, initially, William's army could not even reach the high enemy, suffering a large number of casualties. However, to pursue the many fleeing Normans, many English soldiers broke their ranks so disorderly that William, whose horse had collapsed, could lead some Norman knights who were followed by the rest of the Normans back into the battlefield. Thus, the battle was even while the English wall of shields weakened progressively, to disappearance. Then, William launched an effective wave of arrows over the shields, which decided the Norman victory irrevocably. This resulted in the deaths of Harold—who was likely killed by an arrow by a severe eye-wound—and two of his brothers, Gyrth and Leofwine Godwinson. At dusk, the English army made their last stand. By that night, the Norman victory was complete, and the remaining English soldiers fled in fear.

[edit] March to London

For two weeks, William waited for a formal surrender of the English throne, but the Witenagemot proclaimed the quite young Edgar Ætheling instead, without coronation though. Thus, William's next target was London, approaching proudly through the important territories of Kent, via Dover and Canterbury, inspiring fear in the English. However, at London, William's advance was beaten back at London Bridge, and he decided to march westward and to storm London from the northwest. After receiving continental reinforcements, William crossed the Thames at Wallingford, and there he forced the surrender of Archbishop Stigand (one of Edgar's lead supporters), in early December. William reached Berkhamsted a few days later where Ætheling relinquished the English crown personally and the exhausted Saxon noblemen of England surrendered definitively. Although William was acclaimed then as English King, he requested a coronation in London. As William I, he was formally crowned on Christmas day 1066, in Westminster Abbey, by Archbishop Aldred.[4]

[edit] English resistance

Although the south of England submitted quickly to Norman rule, resistance in the north continued for six more years until 1072. During the first two years, King William I suffered many revolts throughout England (Dover, western Mercia, Wales, Exeter). Also, in 1068, Harold's illegitimate sons attempted an invasion of the southwestern peninsula, but William defeated them.

For William I, the worst crisis came from Northumbria, which had not submitted to his realm still. In 1068, with Ætheling, both Mercia and Northumbria revolted. William could suppress these, but Ætheling ended at Scotland where Malcolm protected him. Furthermore, Malcolm married Ætheling's sister Margaret, with much eclat, stressing the English balance of power against William. Under such circumstances, Northumbria rebelled, besieging York. Then, Ætheling resorted also to the Danes, who disembarked with a large fleet at Northumbria, claiming the English crown for their King Sweyn II. Scotland joined the rebellion as well. The rebels easily captured York. However, William could contain them at Lincoln. After dealing with a new wave of revolts at western Mercia, Exeter, Dorset, and Somerset, William defeated his northern foes decisively at the River Aire, retrieving York, while the Danish army swore their departure.

William then devastated Northumbria between the Humber and Tees rivers, with his Harrying of the North. The region ended absolutely deprived, losing its traditional autonomy toward England. Then, the Danish king disembarked in person, readying his army to restart the war, but William suppressed such threat with a payment of gold. Subsequently in 1071, William defeated the last rebel focus of the north through an improvised pontoon, subduing the Ely island at which the Danes had gathered. In 1072, he invaded Scotland, defeating Malcolm and gaining a temporary peace. In 1074, Ætheling submitted definitively to William.

In 1075, during William's absence, the Revolt of the Earls was confronted successfully by Odo. In 1080, William sent his half brothers Odo and Robert, who stormed Northumbria and Scotland, respectively. Eventually, the Pope protested against the excessive mistreatment which had been exerted by the Normans against the English people. Indeed, until overcoming all rebellions, William had conciliated with the English church although he persecuted it ferociously afterward.

[edit] Reign in England

[edit] Events

As was usual for his descendents also William spent much time (11 years, since 1072) at Normandy, ruling the islands through his writs. Nominally still a vassal state, owing its entire loyalty to the French king, Normandy arose suddenly as a powerful region, alarming the other French Dukes which reacted by attacking it persistently. As Duke of Normandy, William was obsessed with conquering Brittany, and the French King Philip I admonished him. Nonetheless, in 1086, William invaded Brittany, forcing the flight of the Duke Alan IV. A peace treaty was signed, and William betrothed Constance (who was poisoned a few years later) to Alan.

The mischief of William's elder son Robert arose after a prank of his brothers William and Henry, who doused him with filthy water. The situation became a large scale Norman rebellion. Only with King Philip's additional military support William was able to confront Robert, who had based at Flanders. During the battle in 1079, William was unhorsed and wounded by Robert, who lowered his sword only after recognizing him. The embarrassed William returned to Rouen, abandoning the expedition. In 1080, Matilda reconciled both, and William revoked Robert's inheritance.

Odo caused many troubles to William, and he was imprisoned in 1082, losing his English estate and all royal functions, except the religious ones. In 1083, Matilda died, and William became more tyrannical over his realm.

[edit] Reforms

See also: Domesday Book

The signatures of William I and Matilda are the first two large crosses on the Accord of Winchester from 1072.
The signatures of William I and Matilda are the first two large crosses on the Accord of Winchester from 1072.

William initiated many major changes. He accented the function of the traditional English shires (autonomous administrative regions), which were centralized under his rule. All administrative divisions of his government remained immobile at determined English towns, so these strengthened progressively, and the English institutions became amongst the most sophisticated in Europe. In 1085, in order to ascertain the extent of his new dominions and to improve taxation, William commissioned all his counselors for the compilation of the Domesday Book, which was published in 1086. The book was a survey of England's productive capacity similar to a modern census.

William also ordered many castles, keeps, and mottes, among them the Tower of London's foundation (the White Tower), which were built throughout England. These ensured effectively that the many rebellions by the English people or his own followers did not succeed.

His conquest also led to Norman (and French) replacing English as the language of the ruling classes for nearly 300 years.[5][6] Furthermore, the original Anglo-Saxon cultural influence of England became mingled with the Norman one; thus the Anglo-Norman culture came into being.

William is said to have eliminated the native aristocracy in as little as four years. Systematically, he despoiled those English aristocrats who either opposed the Normans or who died without issue. Thus, most English estates and titles of nobility were handed to the Norman noblemen. Many English aristocrats fled to Flanders and Scotland; others may have been sold into slavery overseas. Some escaped to join the Byzantine Empire's Varangian Guard, and went on to fight the Normans in Sicily. By 1070, the indigenous nobility had ceased to be an integral part of the English landscape, and by 1086, it maintained control of just 8% of its original land-holdings.[7] However, to the new Norman noblemen, William handed the English parcels of land piecemeal, dispersing these wide. Thus nobody would essay conspiring against him without jeopardizing their own estates within the so unstable England. Effectively, this strengthened William's political stand as a monarch.

[edit] Death, burial, and succession

In 1087 in France, William burned Mantes (50 km west of Paris), besieging the town. However, he fell off his horse, suffering fatal abdominal injuries by the saddle pommel. On his deathbed, William divided his succession for his sons, sparking strife between them). Despite William's reluctance, his combative elder son Robert received the Duchy of Normandy, as Robert III. William Rufus (his third son) was next English king, as William II. William's youngest son Henry received 5,000 silver pounds, which would be earmarked to buy land. He also became King Henry I of England after William II died without issue. While on his deathbed, William pardoned many of his political adversaries, including Odo.

William died at age 59 at the Convent of St Gervais near Rouen, France, on 9 September 1087. William was buried in the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, which had been erected by him, in Caen, Normandy.

According to some sources, a fire broke out during the funeral; the original owner of the land on which the church was built claimed he had not been paid yet, demanding 60 shillings, which William's son Henry had to pay on the spot; and, in a most unregal postmortem, William's corpulent body would not fit in the stone sarcophagus.

William's grave is currently marked by a marble slab with a Latin inscription; the slab dates from the early 19th century. The grave was defiled twice, once during the French Wars of Religion, when his bones were scattered across the town of Caen, and again during the French Revolution. Following those events, only William's left femur remains in the tomb.

[edit] Physical appearance

No authentic portrait of William has been found. Nonetheless, he was depicted as a man of fair stature with remarkably strong arms, "with which he could shoot a bow at full gallop". William showed a magnificent appearance, possessing a fierce countenance. He enjoyed an excellent health; nevertheless his noticeable corpulence augmented eventually so much that French King Philip I commented that William looked like a pregnant woman.[8]

[edit] Trivia

By his controversial birth, the enemies of William commented derisively that William was as stinking as a tanner shop, which was the low and noisome occupation of his mother's family.

William was enthusiastic for hunting so, after conquering England, many miles of land (36 parishes) were seized by William, who expelled its inhabitants, becoming the royal New Forest region for practicing this sport regularly.[9]

William I (of England), called The Conqueror (1027-87), first Norman king of England (1066-87), who has been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in western European history.
Born in Falaise, France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.
During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Conquest of England
About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Norman invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066. On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey.
The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.
William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III MacDuncan to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert, who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy.

His Achievements
One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086.
In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. He died in Rouen on September 7 and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope. William was succeeded by his third-born son, William II.

Further Reading

"William I (of England)," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. (c) Funk & Wagnalls Corporation. All rights reserved.

WILLIAM (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
Born 1028 Born at Falaise Normandy
Died 9 Sep 1087

Origins
William was born in 1028. He was the son of Robert 232 , Duke of Normand y and Herleva 233 . Because Robert and Herleva were not married, Willia m was known to his contemporaries as William 'the Bastard'. To us he is k nown as William the Conqueror. In 1035 at the age of seven or eight, Will iam's father Robert was killed returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem . Before Robert had left for Jerusalem he received the assurance from th e Norman barons that William would become the next Duke if anything happe ned to him during the trip. After his father's death William became the D uke of Normandy. At first William was not old enough to rule for himsel f and his early life as the Duke was extremely hazardous. Other members o f his wider family would have benefited from his death and so William wa s guarded at all times to ensure his safety. William's mother Herleva 23 3 married a follower of her husband and had two more sons, Robert (Coun t of Mortain) 302 and Odo (Bishop of Bayeux) 301 .
Duke of Normandy
It was not until the mid 1040's that William was old enough to rule unaid ed and at once he began campaigns against rebel Normans and neighbourin g enemies. He quickly gained a ruthless reputation. In October 1049, Will iam married Matilda the daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders, one of hi s few allies. The marriage was against the wishes of the Pope who though t that Matilda and William were too closely related. William wanted the m arriage for the important alliance with Flanders and also because he wa s in love with Matilda. The marriage was discussed by Pope Leo IX in Rhei ms. This caused some alarm, as it had not been for some time that a Pop e had traveled to France to interfere with events.
Disputed Succession
In 1051 Edward the Confessor, the King of England was having problems res training the Godwine family. In the hope that the Normans would assist hi m, Edward offered William, Duke of Normandy the right to claim the Englis h throne after his death. Edward had no children and no direct heir. In 1 066 just before his death, Edward changed his mind and offered the Englis h throne to his wife's brother, Harold, Earl of Godwine 294 . William ha d been visited by Harold earlier in 1064 and at a meeting it is suspecte d that Harold agreed to William's succession. When William learnt that Ha rold was to become king he was outraged and began invasion plans.
Invasion
By August of 1066 the invasion fleet was ready, but the winds in the Engl ish Channel were not right and he had to delay sailing. This delay was fo rtunate for William because in July another invasion lead by Harold Hardr ada had begun in the north of England. This drew king Harold away from th e south coast. King Harold fought and defeated Hardrada on 25th Septembe r at Stamford Bridge. At the same time, the winds on the Channel became f avourable and William crossed to land without opposition at Pevensey. Kin g Harold then marched his exhausted army back south to fight William.
As King of England
The armies of William and Harold meet at Hastings on the 14th of Octobe r 1066. William was victorious and Harold was killed. After the battle th ere was little resistance and William was accepted as the new King. He wa s crowned at Westminster Abbey on 25th December 1066. For the first few y ears of his reign William spent time in Normandy and in England and whil e away he promoted his half brother Odo as his deputy in charge of Englis h affairs. Not everyone in England was happy with the new Norman Kings an d several revolts broke out. William was able to deal with each revolt i n turn and soon began the construction of many castles to help subdue th e rebels. William brought his Norman friends across the Channel with hi m and quickly began replacing the Bishops and Earls with his own men. Th e most famous Norman Bishop was Lanfranc who became the Archbishop of Can terbury.
Defending his Empire
From 1071 onwards, William had to contend with threats of invasion both a gainst England, but also against his lands of Normandy. Threats from Swei n of Denmark, The King of France and the Counts of Anjou and Flanders wer e a constant problem. William also had to content with his eldest son, Ro bert 231 who was involved with William's enemies.
The Domesday Book
In December of 1085, William the Conqueror ordered the survey of his land s in Britain. The survey was given the name Domesday Book possible becaus e of its similarity to the Last Judgement of Christ, or Doomsday. A detai led record of ownership of land, types of land, numbers of people and the ir status, numbers of animals was undertaken. Details were not just requi red for that moment in time, but at the time of Edward the Confessor (106 5) and at the time when the land was granted by William himself. Each shi re was required to obtain and collate the information and any disputes we re heard in a court with a jury of equal numbers of English and Normans . The survey was written up into two volumes and was held at the Winchest er Treasury.
Whether this was the first survey of its type is unknown, but it is the f irst recorded survey. The reason why the survey was taken is not known ei ther. After the Conquest the allocation of land had probably been chaoti c and the survey could have been a method of sorting out the confusion an d to prevent further disputes. Knowing how much workable land and workin g people there were would have also been useful for taxation and militar y purposes.
Death
While fighting the King of France in Vexin in July 1087, William was inju red and died from his injuries on 9th September. He was buried in the chu rch of St. Stephen in Caen
Mini Timeline
1027 Birth of William, the future conqueror of England
1033 Robert Assists English and French Kings
1035 Jul William the Conqueror: Becomes Duke of Normandy
1065 Mysterious meeting in Normandy
1066 Jul Harold prepares for William's invasion
Jul William's Invasion fleet gather in the estuary of the Rive r Dives
Sep 20 Battle of Gate Fulford
Sep 25 Stamford Bridge Battle
Sep 27 William lands at Pevensey
Oct 6 Harold and his forces reach London
Oct 14 Battle of Hastings
Dec 25 William the Conqueror: Becomes King of England
1067 Odo becomes William's deputy
Mar William returns to Normandy
1068 Northern English move to Scotland
Warwick Castle: Built on William's orders
Feb Exeter falls to William
Spring Construction begins on Exeter Castle
May 11 Matilda is crowned Queen
1069 Dec The North is devastated by the Normans
1070 Castle at Old Sarum
Castles at Chester and Stafford begun
Lanfranc: Becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
1071 William puts down the revolt
Ely castle ordered
1072 Treaty of Abernethy
Serlo takes over at Gloucester
At Durham, another castle is ordered
Jun William leads an army into Scotland
1073 Edgar the Aetheling: Attempts to take the English throne
1080 Colchester castle begun
1081 William tours south Wales
1083 Odo imprisoned
1085 Dec 25 Domesday Book
1086 Aug 1 Council of Salisbury
1087 Sep 9 William the Conqueror: Dies
Sep 26 William II (Rufus): Crowned at Westminster
WILLIAM I 'THE CONQUEROR' (r. 1066-1087)
Born around 1028, William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of No rmandy, and Herleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Fala ise. Known as 'William the Bastard' to his contemporaries, his illegitima cy shaped his career when he was young. On his father's death in 1035, Wi lliam was recognised by his family as the heir - an exception to the gene ral rule that illegitimacy barred succession. His great uncle looked afte r the Duchy during William's minority, and his overlord, King Henry I o f France, knighted him at the age of 15.
From 1047 onwards, William successfully dealt with rebellion inside Norma ndy involving his kinsmen and threats from neighbouring nobles, includin g attempted invasions by his former ally King Henry I of France in 1054 ( the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer) and 1057. Will iam's military successes and reputation helped him to negotiate his marri age to Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders. At the time o f his invasion of England, William was a very experienced and ruthless mi litary commander, ruler and administrator who had unified Normandy and in spired fear and respect outside his duchy.
William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that, i n 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distan t cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold William's r ight to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper. Furthermore, Wi lliam had the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval. William too k seven months to prepare his invasion force, using some 600 transport sh ips to carry around 7,000 men (including 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across th e Channel. On 28 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed u nopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised fortifications at Has tings. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norway at the B attle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, Harold undertoo k a forced march south, covering 250 miles in some nine days to meet th e new threat, gathering inexperienced reinforcements to replenish his exh austed veterans as he marched.
At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October, Harold's weary an d under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the forces brough t across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Har old's troops were equal in number (they included the best infantry in Eur ope equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had th e battlefield advantage of being based on a ridge above the Norman positi ons.
The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumour spread tha t William had been killed; William rode among the ranks raising his helme t to show he was still alive. The battle was close-fought: a chronicler d escribed the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon defence as 'one side at tacking with all mobility, the other withstanding as though rooted to th e soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him.
William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, both of which th e English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harold was killed - hi t by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a mounted knight. Two o f his brothers were also killed. The demoralised English forces fled. (I n 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built on the site of the battle , with the high altar occupying the spot where Harold fell. The ruins o f Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, which grew up around it, remain.)
William was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey. Three mon ths later, he was confident enough to return to Normandy leaving two join t regents (one of whom was his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who wa s later to commission the Bayeux Tapestry) behind to administer the kingd om. However, it took William six years to consolidate his conquest, and e ven then he had to face constant plotting and fighting on both sides of t he Channel. In 1068, Harold's sons raided the south-west coast of Englan d (dealt with by William's local commanders), and there were uprisings i n the Welsh Marches, Devon and Cornwall. William appointed earls who, i n Wales and in all parts of the kingdom, undertook to guard the threatene d frontiers and maintain internal security in return for land.
In 1069, the Danes, in alliance with Prince Edgar the Aetheling (Ethelred 's great-grandson) and other English nobles, invaded the north and took Y ork. Taking personal charge, and pausing only to deal with the rising a t Stafford, William drove the Danes back to their ships on the Humber. I n a harsh campaign lasting into 1070, William systematically devastated M ercia and Northumbria to deprive the Danes of their supplies and preven t recovery of English resistance. Churches and monasteries were burnt, an d agricultural land was laid to waste, creating a famine for the unarme d and mostly peasant population which lasted at least nine years. Althoug h the Danes were bribed to leave the north, King Sweyn of Denmark and hi s ships threatened the east coast (in alliance with various English, incl uding Hereward the Wake) until a treaty of peace was concluded in June 10 70.
Further north, where the boundary with Scotland was unclear, King Malcol m III was encroaching into England. Yet again, William moved swiftly an d moved land and sea forces north to invade Scotland. The Treaty of Abern ethy in 1072 marked a truce, which was reinforced by Malcolm's eldest so n being accepted as a hostage.
William consolidated his conquest by starting a castle-building campaig n in strategic areas. Originally these castles were wooden towers on eart hen 'mottes' (mounds) with a bailey (defensive area) surrounded by eart h ramparts, but many were later rebuilt in stone. By the end of William' s reign over 80 castles had been built throughout his kingdom, as a perma nent reminder of the new Norman feudal order.
William's wholesale confiscation of land from English nobles and their he irs (many nobles had died at the battles of Stamford Bridge and Senlac) e nabled him to recruit and retain an army, by demanding military duties i n exchange for land tenancy granted to Norman, French and Flemish allies . He created up to 180 'honours' (lands scattered through shires, wit h a castle as the governing centre), and in return had some 5,000 knight s at his disposal to repress rebellions and pursue campaigns; the knight s were augmented by mercenaries and English infantry from the Anglo-Saxo n militia, raised from local levies. William also used the fyrd, the roya l army - a military arrangement which had survived the Conquest. The King 's tenants-in-chief in turn created knights under obligation to them an d for royal duties (this was called subinfeudation), with the result tha t private armies centred around private castles were created - these wer e to cause future problems of anarchy for unfortunate or weak kings. By t he end of William's reign, a small group of the King's tenants had acquir ed about half of England's landed wealth. Only two Englishmen still hel d large estates directly from the King. A foreign aristocracy had been im posed as the new governing class.
The expenses of numerous campaigns, together with an economic slump (caus ed by the shifts in landed wealth, and the devastation of northern Englan d for military and political reasons), prompted William to order a full-s cale investigation into the actual and potential wealth of the kingdom t o maximise tax revenues. The Domesday survey was prompted by ignorance o f the state of land holding in England, as well as the result of the cost s of defence measures in England and renewed war in France. The scope, sp eed, efficiency and completion of this survey was remarkable for its tim e and resulted in the two-volume Domesday Book of 1086, which still exist s today. William needed to ensure the direct loyalty of his feudal tenant s. The 1086 Oath of Salisbury was a gathering of William's 170 tenants-in -chief and other important landowners who took an oath of fealty to Willi am.
William's reach extended elsewhere into the Church and the legal system . French superseded the vernacular (Anglo-Saxon). Personally devout, Will iam used his bishops to carry out administrative duties. Lanfranc, Archbi shop of Canterbury from 1070, was a first-class administrator who assiste d in government when William was absent in France, and who reorganised th e Church in England. Having established the primacy of his archbishopri c over that of York, and with William's approval, Lanfranc excommunicate d rebels, and set up Church or spiritual courts to deal with ecclesiastic al matters. Lanfranc also replaced English bishops and abbots (some of wh om had already been removed by the Council of Winchester under papal auth ority) with Norman or French clergy to reduce potential political resista nce. In addition, Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals were rebuilt and som e of the bishops' sees were moved to urban centres.
At his coronation, William promised to uphold existing laws and customs . The Anglo-Saxon shire courts and 'hundred' courts (which administered d efence and tax, as well as justice matters) remained intact, as did regio nal variations and private Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions. To strengthen roya l justice, William relied on sheriffs (previously smaller landowners, bu t replaced by influential nobles) to supervise the administration of just ice in existing county courts, and sent members of his own court to condu ct important trials. However, the introduction of Church courts, the mi x of Norman/Roman law and the differing customs led to a continuing compl ex legal framework. More severe forest laws reinforced William's conversi on of the New Forest into a vast Royal deer reserve. These laws caused gr eat resentment, and to English chroniclers the New Forest became a symbo l of William's greed. Nevertheless the King maintained peace and order. T he Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declared 'he was a very stern and violen t man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will ... Amongst othe r things the good security he made in this country is not to be forgotten .'
William spent the last months of his reign in Normandy, fighting a counte r-offensive in the French Vexin territory against King Philip's annexatio n of outlying Normandy territory. Before his death on 9 September 1087, W illiam divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. (The scene wa s set for centuries of expensive commitments by successive English monarc hs to defend their inherited territories in France.) William bequeathed N ormandy as he had promised to his eldest son Robert, despite their bitte r differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandy, an d even wounded and defeated his father in a battle there in 1079). His so n, William Rufus, was to succeed William as King of England, and the thir d remaining son, Henry, was left 5,000 pounds in silver. William was buri ed in his abbey foundation of St Stephen at Caen. Desecrated by Huguenot s (1562) and Revolutionaries (1793), the burial place of the first Norma n king of England is marked by a simple stone slab. graphicWilliam I, the Conqueror
Norman Line -- Reigned: 1066-1087
c.1027-September 9, 1087
graphic
William, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, was born about 102 7, spent his first six years with his mother in Falaise, and received th e duchy of Normandy upon his father's death in 1035. A council consistin g of noblemen and William's appointed guardians ruled Normandy but duca l authority waned under the Normans' violent nature and the province wa s wracked with assassination and revolt for twelve years.
In 1047, William reasserted himself in the eastern Norman regions and, wi th the aid of France's King Henry I, crushed the rebelling barons. He spe nt the next several years consolidating his strength on the continent thr ough marriage, diplomacy, war and savage intimidation. By 1066, Normand y was in a position of virtual independence from William's feudal lord, H enry I of France, and the disputed succession in England offered Willia m an opportunity for invasion.
Edward the Confessor attempted to gain Norman support while fighting wit h his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, by purportedly promising the throne t o William in 1051. (This was either a false claim by William or a hollo w promise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarily her editary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy and barons).
Before his death in 1066, however, Edward reconciled with Godwin, and th e witan agreed to support Godwin's son, }Harold, as heir to the crown. Th e council was anxious to keep the monarchy in Anglo-Saxon hands and awa y from another Danish king. William was enraged and immediately made plan s to invade England, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to him i n 1064.
William was prepared for battle by August 1066 but high winds over the ne xt several weeks prevented crossing the English Channel. The bad weathe r turned out to be an advantage for William because, as Harold Godwinso n awaited William's arrival on England's south shore, Harold Hardrada, th e King of Norway, invaded the north.
Harold Godwinson's forces marched northward to meet the Norse at Stamfor d Bridge on September 25, 1066. Two days after the battle, William lande d unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area a nd strengthening his position on the beachhead.
Harold, victorious over Hardrada, heard of the invasion and recognized a n opportunity to solidify his kingship. He turned his army south toward t he Normans and the armies met on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. After hour s of holding firm against William's unusual and highly effective battle t actics, the tired English were beaten.
Harold and his brothers died fighting at Hastings, removing any further o rganized Anglo- Saxon resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops o f the witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crown ed him William I on Christmas Day 1066. But peace did not prevail and th e kingdom was immediately besieged by armed uprisings, each ruthlessly cr ushed by the Normans. All of England was finally conquered and united i n 1072.
William punished the rebels by confiscating their land and allocating i t to Normans. He was unmerciful in dealing with hostile regions and late r uprisings in the northern counties near York failed because of artifici al famine brought on by Norman destruction of food caches and farming imp lements.
The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically altered th e course of English history. But rather than attempt a wholesale replacem ent of Anglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practices with native c ustoms. By disenfranchising Anglo- Saxon landowners, he instituted a bran d of feudalism in England that strengthened the monarchy. Villages and ma nors were given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return fo r military service and monetary payments.
The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriff was greatly enhanced: sheriffs arbitrat ed legal cases in the shire courts on behalf of the king, extracted tax p ayments and were generally responsible for keeping the peace. [ Laws of W illiam the Conquerer. ]
The Domesday Book was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownershi p to assess property and establish a tax base. Within the regions covere d by the Domesday survey, the dominance of the Norman king and his nobili ty are revealed: only two Anglo-Saxon barons that held lands before 106 6 retained those lands twenty years later. All landowners were summoned t o pay homage to William in 1086.
William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbisho p of Canterbury. Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing se parate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law. Although he b egan the invasion with papal support, William refused to let the church d ictate policy within English and Norman borders.
William died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. On September 9, 108 7 in Normandy he succumbed to complications of a wound received in the si ege of Mantes.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle provides a favorable review of William's twenty -one year reign:
"This King William then that we speak about was a very wise man, and ver y rich; more splendid and powerful than any of his predecessors were. H e was mild to the good men that loved God, and beyond all measure sever e to the men that gainsayed his will."
He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll fro m his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the economic and politica l success of England.
About William the Conquerer
Parents: Robert I, Duke of Normandy and Herleva of Falasia
Significant Siblings: none
Spouse: Mathilda (daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders)
Significant Offspring: Robert, William Rufus, Henry, and Adela
Contemporaries:
Edward the Confessor (King of England, 1047-1066)
Harold Godwinson (King of England, 1066)
Henry I (King of France, 1031-1060)
Philip I (King of France, 1060-1108)
Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085)
Lanfranc (Archbishop of Canterbury)
graphic
Related Documents:
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Part V, A.D. 1066
Battle of Hastings
Norman Conquest The Battle of Hastings
1066 and much more-A very brief Synopsis
Duke William of Normandy left St.Valery in Normandy with about 600 ship s and 10 to 12,000 men Sept 27th in 1066.
William and his barons had been recruiting and preparing the invasion o f England since early spring of that year. He was a seasoned general an d master tactician, using cavalry, archers and infantry and had fought ma ny notable battles. Off Beachy Head, his ship, the Mora, arrived ahead o f the fleet.. William waited and ate a hearty breakfast. As his fleet str aggled into place behind him they moved eastward to the first sheltered b ay to provide protection for his armada. Pevensey and Bulverhythe were th e villages on each promontory. Pevensey, to the west, was protected by a n old Roman Fort and behind the fort there was much flat acreage to hous e his large Army. To suggest this landing was not pre-planned, is not i n keeping with the preparatory time taken by William, or his track record . There had been much intelligence gathering in the past few months. se e the map
The bay, wide enough for maneuverability of this large fleet, was flat sh ored. William is said to have fallen on the beach, grasped the sand, an d declared "This is my country" or words to that effect. Next, the ship s were disembarked without resistance. They included 2,500 horses, prefab ricated forts, and the materiel and equipment was prepared for any contin gency. The ships shuttled in and out of the bay with the precision o f a D Day landing. A Fort was built inside Pevensey Roman Fort as an H.Q , while the army camped behind it. William and FitzOsborn scouted the lan d He was unhappy with the terrain but it had proved to be a satisfactor y landing beach. Taking his army around Pevensey Bay he camped 8 miles t o the east, north of what is now known as Hastings all of which was mos t likely pre-planned. He camped to the east outside the friendly territor y of the Norman Monks of Fecamp who may have been alerted and were waitin g for his probable arrival. William waited. Perhaps he was waiting to kno w of the outcome of the battle to the north. In those two weeks William c ould have marched on London and taken it. He was obviously waiting for so mething?
Harold, far to the north in York at Stamford Bridge, was engaged in a lif e and death struggle against his brother who had teamed up with the Vikin g King Hadrada to invade England. Whether this was a planned Norman tacti c, part of a pincer movement north and south, is not known, but student s of Norman and Viking history might find it very feasible. The timing o f each invasion was impeccable, and probably less than coincidental. Haro ld managed to resist the invasion to the north and killed both commanders . He was advised of the landing to the south by William.
Bringing the remnants of his Army south, Harold camped outside London a t Waltham. For two weeks he gathered reinforcements, and exchanged taunts , threats and counterclaims to the Crown of England with William. Finall y he moved his army south to a position about six miles north of where Wi lliam waited.

Perhaps one of the most devastating events preceeding the battle was Haro ld's sudden awareness that he had been excommunicated by the Pope, and th at William was wearing the papal ring. It is most likely this had been ar ranged by fellow Norman Robert Guiscard who had conquered most of souther n Italy and was patron of the Pope who was indebted to him for saving th e Vatican. Harold's spirit flagged. William was leading what might perhap s by called the first Crusade. The whole world was against Harold.
William moved up to Harold's position and set up in what was then the con ventional European style. Archers, infantry and cavalry in the rear. A se t piece, each assigned to their own duties.
Harold waited. He and his brother Gyrth arranged a mass of men along a hi gh ground ridge 8 deep, 800 yards long . A fixed corridor of tightly wedg ed humanity. Strategically, given the relative equipment of each side, i t was hopeless from the start. To William it was almost a formality. Haro ld's men were hemmed in by their own elbows. William, with total mobility , held his Breton, Maine and Anjou contingents to the left of the line, t he Normans the main thrust, the Flemish and French to his right. The flan king movements paid off. How long the battle took has varying estimates . Some say as little as two hours. Some as long as six hours. The latte r seems more reasonable simply because of the numbers involved. .
This battle would later be called Senlac, a river of blood. It demolishe d most of the remnants of the Saxon fighting men of the Island at very li ttle cost to William.
It is very doubtful if Harold was shot in the eye with an arrow from ove r the ranks of his front line. He was probably run through by William's l ance, accompanied by three others who were in at the kill, and who savage d him brutally.
Thus began a three century Norman occupation of England, Wales and Scotla nd, and later Ireland. It all started at Pevense

[alfred_descendants10gen_fromrootsweb_bartont.FTW]

The Conqueror, "(natural son of Robert by Herleve, dau. of Fulbert of Falaise, a tanner), b. Falaise, 1027, d. Rouen, 9 Sept. 1087, Duke of Normandy, King of England 1066-1087; m. MATILDA OF FLANDERS ((162-23), [+dau. of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, and Princess Adela of France,= YFT,p.76+], (CCN 494)" ( Weis, 121-24).

The following is from the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online. Grolier Interactive Inc. <http://gi.grolier.com/encyclopedial>. January 2, 1998:

William I, King of England (William the Conqueror)
Duke of Normandy and one of the greatest English kings, William I, b. c.1028, d. Sept. 9, 1087, led the Norman conquest of England and provided stability and firm government in an age of great disorder. The illegitimate son of the Norman duke Robert I, he inherited Normandy in 1035, consolidating his rule in the face of baronial opposition in about 1042. He successfully faced further rebellions and after 1050 began to take an interest in acquiring land in England--perhaps given some encouragement by the English king Edward the Confessor. After Edward's death (Jan. 5, 1066), Vikings under King Harold III of Norway moved on England, and William soon followed with an invasion force of his own. The new English king, Harold II, defeated the Vikings and confronted the Normans near Hastings in October 1066 (see Hastings, Battle of). William's forces achieved a decisive victory, and on Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned king of England, founding the Anglo-Norman monarchy and realm.
A highly capable, intelligent, and determined man, William I established a strongly personal monarchy. He imposed Norman institutions and personnel both on the state and on the church, and he brought England into the mainstream of continental development. Imposing royal authority directly on courts and other institutions, William ordered the inquests that resulted in the monumental Domesday Book. He revolutionized the social, political, and military structures of England, replacing the English nobility with French nobles, thus strengthening his authority, and introducing continental feudalism, a structure in which nobles held land in return for service in the royal army.
As the Anglo-Saxon state was Normanized, so too was the English church: English bishops and abbots were replaced by noted churchmen from the Continent, including Lanfranc of Bec, who became (1070) archbishop of Canterbury. The Conqueror had been a great reformer of the church in Normandy, and he continued this role in England. He established the archbishop of Canterbury as primate of the English church, held reforming councils (which he attended), and exercised not only his rights but also his responsibilities over the church. The bishops were among his closest advisors and officials. William I kept a close but cool relationship with the papacy, supporting ecclesiastical reform while carefully maintaining his control over the English church. He was succeeded as duke of Normandy by his eldest son, Robert II, and as king of England by his sons, first William II, then Henry I.

Author: James W. Alexander
[Eldad_Grannis.FTW]

[SPARKMAN DATABASE.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 19, Ed. 1, Tree #0402, Date of Import: 20 Nov 1999]

!Tab.Souv. Gen., France 22, Tab. 32, 48; Dukes of Normandy, France 5,p115-27;
Keiser und Koenig Hist., Gen. Hist. 25,pt 1, p 100-01;
Burke's Peerage, Eng., P, 1949, pref. p 252.
!The Noble Lineage of the Delaware West Family;
!TheOxford Illistrated History of the British Monarchy by Cannon andGriffith;

For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled byAnglo-Saxon
kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy sawhis chance for a suc cessful invation of England. He built a fleet,attracted many knights, and obtained the pope' s blessing. He gainedvictory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England onChr istmas of 1066. During the next few years, William presided over agradual redistribution o f
land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands,which the Norman Barons r eceived. As a result of this Norman invation,the English -people today are of both Norman an d Anglo-Saxon extraction.

"William I"
“William THE CONQUEROR”
“William The Bastard”

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England and defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072. Cousin was Edward the Confessor. Some sources say he died in a riding accident. Others say it was from an injury received during the attack on Mantes. Succeeded to the dukedom on his father`s death Defeated invading armies of King Henry of France, again in 1058. Slew King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, led army to London, crowned King on Christmas day After killing Harold Godwinson, William took the throne. After his death, his son William II became king.

Count of Poitou Count of Burgundy and Macon Count of Poitou, Duke of Aquitane
Called "William the Bastard" of Robert, the Duke of Normandy.
Invaded Anjou (1047), Brittany, Maine.
Defied papacy by marrying Matilda of Flanders against Papal wishes.
Reigned as King of England 1066-1087. 7th Duke of Normandy 1035-1087.
Defeated & killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. Norman conquest of England completed by 1072.
Established feudalism: Granted land for pledges of service & loyalty.
Noted for his efficient if harsh rule. Relied upon Norman and foreign personnel esp. Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 he started the Domesday Book.

Born around 1028, William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, and Herleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Falaise. Known as 'William the Bastard' to his contemporaries, his illegitimacy shaped his career when he was young.

On his father's death in 1035, William was recognised by his family as the heir - an exception to the general rule that illegitimacy barred succession. His great uncle looked after the Duchy during William's minority, and his overlord, King Henry I of France, knighted him at the age of 15.
From 1047 onwards, William successfully dealt with rebellion inside Normandy involving his kinsmen and threats from neighbouring nobles, including attempted invasions by his former ally King Henry I of France in 1054 (the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer) and 1057.

William's military successes and reputation helped him to negotiate his marriage to Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders. At the time of his invasion of England, William was a very experienced and ruthless military commander, ruler and administrator who had unified Normandy and inspired fear and respect outside his duchy.

William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that, in 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distant cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold William's right to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper.

Furthermore, William had the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval. William took seven months to prepare his invasion force, using some 600 transport ships to carry around 7,000 men (including 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across the Channel.

On 28 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised fortifications at Hastings. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, Harold undertook a forced march south, covering 250 miles in some nine days to meet the new threat, gathering inexperienced reinforcements to replenish his exhausted veterans as he marched.

At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October, Harold's weary and under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the forces brought across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Harold's troops were equal in number (they included the best infantry in Europe equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had the battlefield advantage of being based on a ridge above the Norman positions.

The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumour spread that William had been killed; William rode among the ranks raising his helmet to show he was still alive. The battle was close-fought: a chronicler described the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon defence as 'one side attacking with all mobility, the other withstanding as though rooted to the soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him.

William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, both of which the English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harold was killed - hit by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a mounted knight. Two of his brothers were also killed. The demoralised English forces fled. (In 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built on the site of the battle, with the high altar occupying the spot where Harold fell. The ruins of Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, which grew up around it, remain.)

William was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey. Three months later, he was confident enough to return to Normandy leaving two joint regents (one of whom was his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was later to commission the Bayeux Tapestry) behind to administer the kingdom. However, it took William six years to consolidate his conquest, and even then he had to face constant plotting and fighting on both sides of the Channel.

In 1068, Harold's sons raided the south-west coast of England (dealt with by William's local commanders), and there were uprisings in the Welsh Marches, Devon and Cornwall. William appointed earls who, in Wales and in all parts of the kingdom, undertook to guard the threatened frontiers and maintain internal security in return for land.

In 1069, the Danes, in alliance with Prince Edgar the Aetheling (Ethelred's great-grandson) and other English nobles, invaded the north and took York. Taking personal charge, and pausing only to deal with the rising at Stafford, William drove the Danes back to their ships on the Humber.

In a harsh campaign lasting into 1070, William systematically devastated Mercia and Northumbria to deprive the Danes of their supplies and prevent recovery of English resistance. Churches and monasteries were burnt, and agricultural land was laid to waste, creating a famine for the unarmed and mostly peasant population which lasted at least nine years.

Although the Danes were bribed to leave the north, King Sweyn of Denmark and his ships threatened the east coast (in alliance with various English, including Hereward the Wake) until a treaty of peace was concluded in June 1070.

Further north, where the boundary with Scotland was unclear, King Malcolm III was encroaching into England. Yet again, William moved swiftly and moved land and sea forces north to invade Scotland. The Treaty of Abernethy in 1072 marked a truce, which was reinforced by Malcolm's eldest son being accepted as a hostage.

William consolidated his conquest by starting a castle-building campaign in strategic areas. Originally these castles were wooden towers on earthen 'mottes' (mounds) with a bailey (defensive area) surrounded by earth ramparts, but many were later rebuilt in stone. By the end of William's reign over 80 castles had been built throughout his kingdom, as a permanent reminder of the new Norman feudal order.

William's wholesale confiscation of land from English nobles and their heirs (many nobles had died at the battles of Stamford Bridge and Senlac) enabled him to recruit and retain an army, by demanding military duties in exchange for land tenancy granted to Norman, French and Flemish allies.

He created up to 180 'honours' (lands scattered through shires, with a castle as the governing centre), and in return had some 5,000 knights at his disposal to repress rebellions and pursue campaigns; the knights were augmented by mercenaries and English infantry from the Anglo-Saxon militia, raised from local levies. William also used the fyrd, the royal army - a military arrangement which had survived the Conquest.

The King's tenants-in-chief in turn created knights under obligation to them and for royal duties (this was called subinfeudation), with the result that private armies centred around private castles were created - these were to cause future problems of anarchy for unfortunate or weak kings. By the end of William's reign, a small group of the King's tenants had acquired about half of England's landed wealth. Only two Englishmen still held large estates directly from the King. A foreign aristocracy had been imposed as the new governing class.

The expenses of numerous campaigns, together with an economic slump (caused by the shifts in landed wealth, and the devastation of northern England for military and political reasons), prompted William to order a full-scale investigation into the actual and potential wealth of the kingdom to maximise tax revenues.

The Domesday survey was prompted by ignorance of the state of land holding in England, as well as the result of the costs of defence measures in England and renewed war in France. The scope, speed, efficiency and completion of this survey was remarkable for its time and resulted in the two-volume Domesday Book of 1086, which still exists today. William needed to ensure the direct loyalty of his feudal tenants. The 1086 Oath of Salisbury was a gathering of William's 170 tenants-in-chief and other important landowners who took an oath of fealty to William.
William's reach extended elsewhere into the Church and the legal system. French superseded the vernacular (Anglo-Saxon). Personally devout, William used his bishops to carry out administrative duties. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070, was a first-class administrator who assisted in government when William was absent in France, and who reorganised the Church in England.

Having established the primacy of his archbishopric over that of York, and with William's approval, Lanfranc excommunicated rebels, and set up Church or spiritual courts to deal with ecclesiastical matters. Lanfranc also replaced English bishops and abbots (some of whom had already been removed by the Council of Winchester under papal authority) with Norman or French clergy to reduce potential political resistance. In addition, Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals were rebuilt and some of the bishops' sees were moved to urban centres.

At his coronation, William promised to uphold existing laws and customs. The Anglo-Saxon shire courts and 'hundred' courts (which administered defence and tax, as well as justice matters) remained intact, as did regional variations and private Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions.

To strengthen royal justice, William relied on sheriffs (previously smaller landowners, but replaced by influential nobles) to supervise the administration of justice in existing county courts, and sent members of his own court to conduct important trials. However, the introduction of Church courts, the mix of Norman/Roman law and the differing customs led to a continuing complex legal framework.

More severe forest laws reinforced William's conversion of the New Forest into a vast Royal deer reserve. These laws caused great resentment, and to English chroniclers the New Forest became a symbol of William's greed. Nevertheless the King maintained peace and order. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declared 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will ... Amongst other things the good security he made in this country is not to be forgotten.'

William spent the last months of his reign in Normandy, fighting a counter-offensive in the French Vexin territory against King Philip's annexation of outlying Normandy territory. Before his death on 9 September 1087, William divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. The scene was set for centuries of expensive commitments by successive English monarchs to defend their inherited territories in France.

William bequeathed Normandy as he had promised to his eldest son Robert, despite their bitter differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandy, and even wounded and defeated his father in a battle there in 1079). His son, William Rufus, was to succeed William as King of England, and the third remaining son, Henry, was left 5,000 pounds in silver.

William was buried in his abbey foundation of St Stephen at Caen. Desecrated by Huguenots (1562) and Revolutionaries (1793), the burial place of the first Norman king of England is marked by a simple stone slab.

The following is from the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online. Grolier Interactive Inc. <http://gi.grolier.com/encyclopedial>. January 2, 1998:

William I, King of England (William the Conqueror)
Duke of Normandy and one of the greatest English kings, William I, b. c.1028, d. Sept. 9, 1087, led the Norman conquest of England and provided stability and firm government in an age of great disorder. The illegitimate son of the Norman duke Robert I, he inherited Normandy in 1035, consolidating his rule in the face of baronial opposition in about 1042. He successfully faced further rebellions and after 1050 began to take an interest in acquiring land in England--perhaps given some encouragement by the English king Edward the Confessor. After Edward's death (Jan. 5, 1066), Vikings under King Harold III of Norway moved on England, and William soon followed with an invasion force of his own. The new English king, Harold II, defeated the Vikings and confronted the Normans near Hastings in October 1066 (see Hastings, Battle of). William's forces achieved a decisive victory, and on Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned king of England, founding the Anglo-Norman monarchy and realm.
A highly capable, intelligent, and determined man, William I established a strongly personal monarchy. He imposed Norman institutions and personnel both on the state and on the church, and he brought England into the mainstream of continental development. Imposing royal authority directly on courts and other institutions, William ordered the inquests that resulted in the monumental Domesday Book. He revolutionized the social, political, and military structures of England, replacing the English nobility with French nobles, thus strengthening his authority, and introducing continental feudalism, a structure in which nobles held land in return for service in the royal army.
As the Anglo-Saxon state was Normanized, so too was the English church: English bishops and abbots were replaced by noted churchmen from the Continent, including Lanfranc of Bec, who became (1070) archbishop of Canterbury. The Conqueror had been a great reformer of the church in Normandy, and he continued this role in England. He established the archbishop of Canterbury as primate of the English church, held reforming councils (which he attended), and exercised not only his rights but also his responsibilities over the church. The bishops were among his closest advisors and officials. William I kept a close but cool relationship with the papacy, supporting ecclesiastical reform while carefully maintaining his control over the English church. He was succeeded as duke of Normandy by his eldest son, Robert II, and as king of England by his sons, first William II, then Henry I.

Author: James W. Alexander
[Eldad_Grannis.FTW]

[SPARKMAN DATABASE.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 19, Ed. 1, Tree #0402, Date of Import: 20 Nov 1999]

!Tab.Souv. Gen., France 22, Tab. 32, 48; Dukes of Normandy, France 5,p115-27;
Keiser und Koenig Hist., Gen. Hist. 25,pt 1, p 100-01;
Burke's Peerage, Eng., P, 1949, pref. p 252.
!The Noble Lineage of the Delaware West Family;
!TheOxford Illistrated History of the British Monarchy by Cannon andGriffith;

For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled byAnglo-Saxon
kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy sawhis chance for a suc cessful invation of England. He built a fleet,attracted many knights, and obtained the pope' s blessing. He gainedvictory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England onChr istmas of 1066. During the next few years, William presided over agradual redistribution o f
land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands,which the Norman Barons r eceived. As a result of this Norman invation,the English -people today are of both Norman an d Anglo-Saxon extraction.

William " The Conqueror " "The Bastard " Duke of Normandy, King of England[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #0193, Date of Import: Apr 18, 1998]

AS DUKE OF NORMANDY HE DESCENDS FROM ROLLO (ROLF) THE VIKING, HIMSELF A DESCENDANT OF THE EARLY KINGS OF HIS NATIVE NORWAY, AND OF SWEDEN AND DENMARK, BACK TO ODIN (WODEN), PRIEST AND KING FROM SCYTHIA (NOW pERSIA), WHO CONQUERED SCANDINAVIA ABOUT 70 B.C., AND FOSTERED THE IDEA OF HIS OWN DIVINITY.

He was the first Norman king of England, also duke of Normandy, who has
been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one
of the outstanding figures in western European history.

William was an illegitimate son and is therefore sometimes called William
the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring
their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion
against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his
position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I,
king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king
of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he
should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban,
William married a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby
strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the
strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage,
attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on
both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Conquest of England

About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was
shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured
his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne.
When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council) elected
Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the
sanction of Pope Alexander II (died 1073) for a Norman invasion of
England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066.
On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated
Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to
London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas
Day he was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey.

The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met
the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with
strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of
the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to
aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.

William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III
MacDuncan (died 1093) to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the
Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that
incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger
Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led
by his eldest son Robert, who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy.

His Achievements

One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the
English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great
earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon
predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to
his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of
feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance
to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the
king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were
compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which
William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The
ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the
papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding
accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086.

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned
the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the
vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. William was succeeded by his
third-born son, William II.

[1032] "Ros's Pedigree"

"Encyclopedia Brittania 11th ed.", 1911: King of England 1066-1087; King William I; bastard son of Robert the Devil; 5 or 6 daughters

WSHNGT.ASC file (Geo Washington Ahnentafel) # 2181256 = 229424

Survived his father as (William II) Duke of Normandy 1035, conquered Maine 1063, Obtained crown of England by conquest 14, Oct. 1066. Crowned at Westminster Abbey by Ealdred, Archbishop of York, 25 Dec. 1066. He died at the Priory of St. Gervais, near Rouen and was buried at the Abbey of St. Stephen Caen, which he founded.

Most ancesters of Wm I added from GEDCOM file ROYALS.GED downloaded from CompuServe

William I or William the Conqueror, 1027?-1087 (r.1066-1087), was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and succeeded to the dukedom in 1035. While visiting (1051) England, he was probably named by his cousin Edward the Confessor as successor to the throne, and in 1064 he extracted a promise of support from Harold, then earl of Wessex. In 1066, hearing that Harold had been crowned king of England, William raised an army and crossed the Channel. He defeated and slew Harold at Hastings and was crowned king. William immediately built castles and harshly put down the rebellions that broke out; by 1072 the military part of the Norman conquest was virtually complete. He substituted foreign prelates for many English bishops, and land titles were redistributed on a feudal basis to his Norman followers. After 1075 he dealt frquently with continental quarrels. Wiliam ordered a survey (1085-1086) of England, the results of which were compiled as the Doomsday Book. He was one of the greatest English monarchs and a pivotal figure in European history. His son Robert II succeeded him in Normandy, while another son, William II or William Rufus succeeded him in England. - Encyclopedia, p. 921

Nearly twenty years before the Conquest there was at the court of Count Baldwin of Flanders a very beautiful girl, his sister Matilda. Young Duke William of Normandy fell in love with her at first sight. He did not manfiest his devotion, however, in the usual ways. There was none of the mooning of adolescence, no shy dancing of attendance on the part of the determined Norman.
He courted Matilda in a forthright way, making it clear that he intended to marry her, come what may. Matilda met his advances cooly. Her reluctance may have been due to the fact that William's mother had been Herleva, the pretty daughter of a tanner, and that his father had taken no steps to legitimatize his birth, thereby condemning him for life to the appellation of Bastard ... William's courting of Matilda lasted seven years in all. At the end of that time, in the year 1047, he became so enraged at her continued refusals that he waited outside a church in the city of Bruges, where she was hearing mass, and attacked her when she emerged. He knocked her down, rolled her in the dirt of the street, tore her fine cloak, upbraided her furiously, and then sprang into the saddle and rode away. Perhaps he shold have adopted this method of courthsip earlier. It produced, at any rate, the desired effect. Matilda gave in. They were married in William's castle of Angi, and it was a grand occasion. ... William saw to it that Matilda was the first wife of an English king to have the title Queen. .. The consort of a Saxon ruler had been called "lady companion of the King", but this was not good enough for Matilda. ... When she died in 1083, he mourned her for the rest of his days. He built a great tomb for her at Caen in Normandy, covered with gems and with an epitaph lettered in gold. - The Conquerors,Thomas B. Costain, pp. 14-16

Ordered the creation of the Doomsday book

It was surely an instance of divine justice that the Conqueror, while riding through the conflagration, should sustain a fall when his horse stepped on a burning plank. He was carried out of the blazing ruins and back to a monastery under the walls of Rouen. Here he lingered for six weeks, suffering greatly and becoming wearker with each day. When it was certain he was going to die he made a verbal will. He left Normandy to Robert, in spite of the eldest son's mutinous record. Then he looked at William, his favorite, who also was strong and cruel and who was called the Red because of his colring. "As for the kingdom of England", he said, struggling for breath, "I bequeath it to no one, for it was not bequeathed to me. I acquired it by force and at the cost of blood. I leave it in the hands of God - only wishing that my son William, who has been submissive to me in all things, may obtain it if he please God and prosper." - The Conquerors,Thomas B. Costain, p. 28

... led the Norman conquest of England and provided stability and firm government in an age of great disorder. The illegitimate son of the Norman duke, Robert I, he interited Normandy in 1035, consolidating his rule in the face of baronial opposition in about 1042. He successfully faced further rebellions and after 1050 began to take an interest in acquiring land in England - perhamps given some encouragement by the English king Edward the Confessor. After Edward's death (Jan 5, 1066), Vikings under King Harold III of Norway moved on England, and William soon followed with an invasion force of his own. The new English king, Harold II, defeated the Vikins and confronted the Normans near Hastings in October 1066. William's forces achieved a decisive victory, and on Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned king of Engalnd, founding the Anglo-Norman monarchy and realm. A highly capable, intelligent, and determined man, William I established a strongly personal monarchy. He imposed Norman institutions and personnel both on the state and on the church, and he brought England into the mainstream of continental development. Imposing royal authority directly on courts and other institutions, William ordered the inquests that resulted in the monumental DOMEDAY BOOK. He revolutionized the social, political, and military structures of England, replacing the English nobility with French nobles, thus strengthening his authority, and introducing continental feudalism, a structure in which nobles held land in return for service in the royal army. As the Anglo-Saxon state was Normanized, so too was the English church: English bishops and abbots were replaced by ntoed churchmen from the Continent, including Lanfranc of Bec, who became (1070) archbishop of Canterbury. The Conqueror had been a great reformer of the church in Normandy, and he continued this role in England. He established the archbishop of Canterbury as primate of the English church, held reforming councils (which he attended), and exercised not only his rights but also his responsibilities over the church. The bishops were among his closest advisors and officials. William I kept a close but cool relationship with the papacy, supporting ecclesiastical reform while carefully maintaining his control over the English church. He was succeeded as duke of Normandy by his eldest son, Robert II, and as king of England by his sons, first William II, then Henry I.
- 1CHARL.TXT (Compuserve)

See also $$harol.txt (Harold, #2425)
William I - Americans of Royal Descent, Charles H. Browning, p. 210 Duke of Normandy - ROYAL.JRW (Compuserve)

BIRTH: The Conquerors,Thomas B. Costain, 1CHARL.TXT (Compuserve) p 317 COMYN4.TAF (Compuserve Roots) - p. 2 says 1027/1028 QUINCY.TAF (Compuserve) (says 1025), COMYNI.GED (Compuserve) says ABT 1025

DEATH: 1CHARL.TXT (Compuserve)
COMYN4.TAF (Compuserve Roots), p. 2, COMYNI.GED (Compuserve) ROYAL.JRW (Compuserve)

BURIAL: COMYNI.GED (Compuserve)

MARR PLAC William's castle at Angi

MARR SOUR The Conquerors, Thomas B. Costain (says 1047) p 15 ROYAL.JRW (Compuserve), 1CHARL.TXT (Compuserve) says 1053 NORM.TAF (Compuserve) (says 1054), says ABT 1050

Encyclopedia Britannica on-line
William I, byname WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, or THE BASTARD, or WILLIAM OF NORMANDY, French GUILLAUME LE CONQURANT, or LE BTARD, or GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE, duke of Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5283/royal.htm b 14 Oct 1024 in Calvados, France

CHAPTER II: THE FAMILY OF THE CONQUEROR
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.

I introduce here the few observations I have to make on the uncertain and disputed points in the history of William the Conqueror, his queen and family, to which I alluded at the commencement of the former chapter, in lieu of placing them as an appendix at the end of the volume, as they principally turn on questions of date, and those who care to discuss them would naturally desire to do so before passing to other subjects. The less curious reader can "skip and go on."

The first and most important date open to controversy is that of the birth of William—-most important because it affects all the rest.

The latest investigators place it in 1027 or 1028, and one (Mons. Deville) endeavours to fix it exactly to the month of June or of July in the former year.

Were it a question of only a few weeks or a few months I should not have thought it necessary to moot it here; but it is one of years, and of much more consequence than it appears at first sight.

The calculations of the upholders of the dates 1027-28 are founded on: —

1. The contract of marriage of Duke Richard II and Judith, the parents of Robert, said to be dated in 1008. According to this date, Robert being their second son, would hardly have been born before 1010, and could be only seventeen or eighteen at the birth of William, and consequently his passion for Herleve was that of a boy of sixteen or seventeen at the utmost.

2. A charter granted by Robert previous to his departure on pilgrimage to Jerusalem dated in the ides of January, 1035, and as it is agreed on all hands that William was between seven and eight years old when his father left Normandy, that would place his birth in 1027-28.

3. The cartulary recently discovered at Falaise recording William's birth and baptism therein 1027.

4. The statement of Guillaume de Jumièges that William was not quite sixty at his death in 1087.

A sort of collateral substantiation of the date of the pilgrimage I find also in the story told by the author of the "Gesta Consulum Andegavensium," of the meeing of Duke Robert with Fulk Nera, Count of Anjou, at Constantinople in 1035, and their travelling thence to the Holy Land together, escorted by some merchants of Antioch, who had offered to be their guides. Robert becoming fatigued was carried in a litter by four Moors. A Norman pilgrim returning from Jerusalem, meeting his sovereign with this equipage, asked if he had any message to send to his friends. "Tell them," said the Duke, "that thou sawest me borne to Paradise by four devils." But it is to be observed that Fulk was also a pilgrim to the Holy Land in 1028, and that the compiler of "L'Art de Vérifier les Dates" remarks that the work I have quoted "ne mérite pas beaucoup de créance."

On the other hand we have also to consider the statement of William himself, who, according to Orderic, declared on his death-bed that he was sixty-four, which would make him born in 1023; that he was eight years old when his father went into what he calls voluntary exile, and that he had ruled the duchy fifty-six years, thus placing the death of Robert in 1031. That date is supported by the perfectly independent testimony of the Saxon Chronicle, which becomes more trustworthy in the eleventh century, wherein we read, "A° 1031. . . . and Robert, Earl of Normandy, went to Jerusalem and there died, and William, who was afterwards king in England, succeeded to Normandy, though he was but a child." The words I have printed in italics, however, detract from the value of the evidence; as they must have been written at least thirty-five years after the event, and perhaps much later.

The Peterborough and Canterbury chronicles follow the Saxon, and Roger of Wendover and Matthew of Westminster are merely copyists of the earlier writers.

I have seen too many errors in the dates of charters and other MSS., arising from clerical or typographical carelessness, to pin my faith upon any copy, printed or other, even when the original document is undoubtedly genuine, and therefore hesitate to accept the date accorded to the contract of marriage of Richard and Judith, particularly as there are several obvious inaccuracies in the copy printed in Martene (Thesaurus Novus Anecdotorum, vol. i.).

Judith was the only child of Conan le Tort, Count of Rennes, by his second wife Ermengarde, daughter of Geoffrey Grisegonelle, married according to the "Chroniques de Mont St. Michel" in 9 70. Conan was slain at the battle of Conquereux in 992. Now, if these dates can be at all relied on, what age was Judith likely to be in 1008, if not married till then? At what period of the two-and-twenty years of her parents' married life was she born? If in the ordinary course of nature, she must have been five- or six-and-thirty in 1008!

Judith died in 1017, the mother of five children: Richard, Robert, Guillaume, Alix (also called Judith), and Eleanore; and if only married in 1008 her eldest son Richard could scarcely have been born before 1009, and Robert, as already remarked, 1010. Whether Guillaume or Alix was their third child is uncertain, but before 1025 Alix was the wife of Renaud, son of Otto-Guillaume, Count of Burgundy, who, having fallen into the power of Hugues, Bishop of Auxerre and Count of Chalons, was strictly confined in prison by that prelate. Richard II, Duke of Normandy, thereupon sent his sons, Richard and Robert, with an army to relieve their brother-in-law, and Count Hugues was compelled to present himself with a saddle on his back (the usual custom at that period) and crave mercy at the hands of the sons of the Duke of Normandy.

Now, doubting that young warriors were mere boys of fifteen and sixteen years of age in 1025 (Richard, the eldest, dying in 1027, and leaving a natural son named Nicholas, who was Abbot of St. Ouen in 1042), I cannot bring myself to believe in the "extreme youth" of Robert, as pointed out by Mons. Deville, and without presuming to fix an exact date, believe that both Richard and Robert were nearly of full age at the death of their father, whether that event occurred in 1026 or 1027.

Leaving, therefore, the precise period of the birth of William the Conqueror still undecided, the weight of evidence inclining rather to 1027, let us hasten to the consideration of the equally vexed question concerning the number and ages of his family, consisting undoubtedly of four sons, and presumably of five or six daughters. [Freeman: Nor. Con., vol. v. [. 468, note4.]

Notwithstanding the various and conflicting dates suggested for the marriage of William and Matilda, ranging from 1047 to 1053, I think we may consider it sufficiently proved that it was solemnized at the close of 1053 or beginning of 1054, and that Robert, their first child, was born in the course of the latter year.

Their second child I take to have been Adeliza, eldest daughter, born apparently in 1055, being seven years old in 1062, when betrothed to Harold, and dead before 1066, as her decease was the undeniable answer of the Saxon king to one of William's charges of broken faith.

Cecilia must have been the third child, as she was clearly born in 1056, dedicated to the service of God by her father and mother at the consecration of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen, 18th June, 1066, was elected abbess on the death of Matilda, the first abbess, in 1112, and died on the 30th of July, 1125, in the seventieth year of her age.

The fourth child appears to have been Richard, born 1057-58, who, with his younger brother, William (fifth child), born 1060, witnessed the consecration of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Caen in 1066.

Richard was killed in the New Forest by accident during the reign of his father in England; and his brother William, surnamed Rufus, who succeeded the Conqueror as King of England, met his death, as is well known, A.D. 1100, in the same forest, doomed apparently to be fatal to the progeny of the heartless despot who had sacrificed to his passion for the chase the homes and hearths of thousands of his unfortunate subjects.

The sixth child I take to be Constance, born in 1061, married to Alain, Duke of Brittany, in 1086, and who died, poisoned by her own servants, according to some writers, on the 13th of August, 1094, at the early age of thirty-three.

Mrs. Green, notwithstanding she places her birth "most likely about 1057," subsequently tells us, upon the authority of no less than four chronicles, that she died in 1094 " when she had scarcely attained her thirty-third year." If the latter statement is to be depended upon, she must have been born in 1061, and the probabilities are all in favour of that date. Miss Strickland, by a curious inadvertency, makes Constance die some years before her mother, "after seven years' unfruitful marriage." The marriage having taken place three years after her mother's death!

The seventh child I believe to have been Adela, born circa 1062, married, at Chartres in 1080, to Stephen, Count of Blois and Chartres, and deceased in 1137, in tbe seventy-fourth year of her age.

Agatha, believed by Mrs. Green to be also Matilda, whose name appears in Domesday, the eighth and last child born in Normandy, circa 1064, was promised to Edwin, the Saxon Earl of Chester, in 1067, when only three years old, and after his death contracted to Alfonso 1, King of Castile and Galicia. She died on her journey to Spain, having, as the story goes, prayed she might not live to be married, and by unceasing genuflections caused a horny substance to form on her knees.

More incredible is the sentimental account of "blighted hopes" and "crushed affections" indulged in by Mrs. Green, as the child was but three years old when she first saw the "fair-haired Saxon," seven when her "lover" was murdered, and scarcely fifteen when she was contracted to Alfonso; for she must have been dead in 1080, as in that year the Castilian monarch married the daughter of the Duke of Burgundy.

This is of course according to my calculation, which I by no means presume to be irrefutable, and also applies solely to Agatha, leaving it to others to identify her with Matilda "filiae regis," whose chamberlain (Geoffrey) held lands in Hampshire of the King for service rendered to his said daughter. That there was a Matilda, daughter of King William, is undeniable, not only from the entry in Domesday, but from her being named with her sisters Adelaide and Constance in an encyclical letter to the nuns of the Holy Trinity at Caen in 1112. But as the survey was only begun in 1085, and completed in 1086, it will be difficult, I think, to prove that Agatha, who must have been dead in 1080, was the same daughter as Matilda, supposed to be living five or six years later.

Henry, afterwards King Henry 1, the youngest of the whole family, was the only child born in England, and the date of his birth is generally acknowledged to be 1068, his mother having come over from Normandy for her coronation in that year. Now let us see when it would be possible that a tenth child, if not a twin, could have been born to William by his duchess, and of sufficient age to have a chamberlain appointed to her before 1085.

Robert, born 1054.
Adeliza, born 1055; dead before 1066.
Cecilia, born 1058.
Richard, born 1057-58.
William, born 1060.
Constance, born 1061.
Adela, born 1062.
Agatha, born 1064; dead before 1080.
Henry, born 1068.

The ingenious theory that Matilda was no other than the mysterious Gundrada, the former name being simply a translation of the latter, is negatived by the fact that Gundrada died wife of William de Warren in 1085, while the survey was in the course of compilation. That one daughter should have been named after her mother is most natural. That the King had a daughter so named, and that she was apparently living in 1085, must be conceded; but that she was the same person as Agatha "the inexorable logic of facts" positively contradicts. There is just the possibility of its being Constance, who survived her mother, and was married to Alain, Duke of Brittany, as before stated, in 1086. She is said to have been the favourite daughter and companion of Queen Matilda, and for nearly six years the only princess at Court. At the period of her niother's death she would have been twenty-three, and previous to her marriage would no doubt have had a chamberlain and other officers appointed for her service. That she was ever called Matilda there is no evidence yet discovered; but there is no daughter of Matilda's more likely to have been so. But then we have to get over the awkward fact of Matilda and Constance being separately named in the encyclical letter of 1112. ["Matildem Anglorum reginam, nostri cœnobii fondatricem, Adelidem, Mathildem Constantiam, filias ejus." Also in the Bouleau des Morts of the same Abbey we read: — "Orate pro nostria Mathilde Regina et Willielmo ejus filio atque pro filiabus ejus Adelide, Mathilde, Constancia." -- Recherches sur le Domesday, p. 234.] Matilda is consequently, as Mr. Freeman truly describes her, "without a history." The vexed question of Gundrada will be discussed in the chapter comprising the biography of her husband, William, Earl of Warren and Surrey, and in connection with it the presumed widowhood of Matilda of Flanders, and her passion for Brihtric Meaw.

I gladly pass to the companions of the Conqueror.

Added to the site through the courtesy of Fred L. Curry, who provided a photocopy of the chapter.

He was born at Falaise, the bastard son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by Arlette, a tanner's daughter. On his father's death in 1035, the nobles accepted him as duke, but his youth was passed in difficulty and danger. When in 1047 the lords of the western part of the duchy rebelled, Henri I of France came to his help and the rebels were defeated at Val-des-Dunes.
In 1051 he visited his cousin, Edward the Confessor, and received the promise of the English succession. He married Matilda, daughter of Baudouin V, Count of Flanders, in 1053. In the next ten years William repulsed two French invasions, and in 1063 conquered Maine.
Although he was never keen on actual capital punishment, William the Bastard could get touchy about jokes too near the bone and, when he captured the town of Alencon that had displayed flayed skins on its walls in allusion to the tanner's trade (his maternal grandfather, Fulbert, had been a tanner), he chopped the right hand and left foot off each citizen to teach them a lesson about laughing last. Probably in 1064, Harold was at his court and swore to help him gain the English crown on Edward's death. When, however, Edward died in 1066, Harold became king. William laid his claim and, on October 14, defeated Harold at the battle of Hastings or Senlac. Harold was slain and William was crowned on December 25. The west and north of England were subdued in 1068; but next year the north revolted, and William devastated the country between York and Durham.
The constitution under William assumed a feudal aspect, the old national assembly becoming a council of the king's tenants-in-chief, and all title to land being derived from his grant. The Domesday Book contains the land settlement. He also brought the English Church into closer relations with Rome.
The Conqueror's rule was stern and orderly. In 1070 there was a rebellion in the Fen Country and, under the leadership of Hereward the Wake, the rebels held out for some time on the Isle of Ely. The Scottish king, Malcolm, who plundered the northern shires, sheltered English exiles; but William in 1072 compelled Malcolm to do him homage at Abernethy. In 1073 he reconquered Maine. He also made a successful expedition into South Wales.
His eldest son, Robert, rebelled against him in Normandy in 1079. Having entered on a war with Philippe I of France in 1087, William burned Mantes. As he rode through the burning town, his horse stumbled and William was injured when thrown against the iron pommel of his saddle. He was carried to the priory of St. Gervase near Rouen where he confessed his sins. On 9 September 1087 he died there. All his sons, except Henry, deserted his deathbed to fight for the succession; his officers and servants fled with what spoils they could take. A rustic vassal bore his remains to the Abbaye aux Hommes at Caen. The coffin made for him proved too small for his corpse; when the attendants tried to force the enormous bulk into the narrow space, the body burst, and filled the church with a royal stench.
Commemoration Lecture - Battle & District Historical Society.
"The Battle of Hastings - Past Present and Future" By Dr MK Lawson.
Dr Lawson's lecture was very much based on his excellent book published last
year, "The Battle of Hastings - 1066".
In the lecture, as in the book, Dr Lawson puts forward and expands on some rather controversial theories first proposed by Prof. EA Freeman in his huge study 'History of the Norman Conquest' first published in 1869.
He started off by giving us a look at the battlefield from the air using the latest Ordnance Survey aerial photographs taken for the Millennium in 2000, ointing out the important features he would later be discussing:
The ridge where Harold positioned his troops.
The make-up of this ridge and area covered.
Horselodge Plantation, the proposed and universally accepted site of the 'Hillock' featured in the Bayeux Tapestry.
Possible 'earthwork' features visible on the battlefield.
Areas of water or marshy ground in the SW corner of the battlefield.
He then took us through a quick history of some of the previous academic
studies of the battle, concentrating on the number of troops proposed and how little had changed in opinions since the turn of the last century.
Freeman first gave us his preference for a large number of Saxons under Harold's command. These he proposed covered a greater part of the ridge on Senlac (Battle Hill), despite his map rather contradicting this. Although Freeman stops short of suggesting a precise number, he indicates that around 20,000 + would be somewhere near the mark.
Lawson showed us Freeman's map from his study showing the Saxon and Norman troop positions, this is also reproduced in his own book.
He followed up with a brief discussion of the great debates on the battle at the turn of the century, led by Spatz, Ramsay and Baring, who eventually settled for a smaller number of troops, estimating around 7000 on each side,give or take a thousand or so. These numbers have since been almost universally accepted, with Stenton, Allen Brown, Lemmon, Burne, Morillo and just about every other publication not challenging the lower numbers theory or even Harold's position on the ridge.
Lawson showed us Baring's map (originally by Gen. E Renouard James) of the estimated troop positions prior to the start of the battle. This map was also republished by Allen Brown and Morillo in their studies and it is also reproduced in Lawson's book.
He challenges the Saxon position, particularly on Harold's left, arguing that Harold's flanks would be left exposed, with the ridge actually finishing to the west of Horselodge Plantation. He then went on to show us in slides the topography of this position and pointed out the lack of the 20 foot ditch Baring maintained existed.
Lawson also supported the possible use of earthworks or a hastily erected
defence system by the Saxons, as does Freeman. He also argued that William was waiting for Harold, and had likely been in the area for a day or two before Harold's arrival. (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - ASC - Harold fought before all his troops had gathered)
Hillock scene in the BT. Lawson proposes that these were not in fact Saxons who got caught out in the 'feigned' retreat or when the shield-wall right broke ranks in pursuit of
the fleeing Bretons, but were in fact a Saxon "Picked Company" who had been there since the start of the battle and were positioned there by Harold as a lightly armed group. (Moustaches indicate higher rank, man with axe and sword, some with shields)
Previous evidence for such a picked company he maintained came from the
ASC's poem of King Althelstan's victory at Brunanburh in 937.
"If so, then their light equipment, so suited to the broken ground upon which they are found, suggests that they were indeed deployed there from the beginning of the battle, an idea which would be powerfully reinforced if Sir David Wilson is correct in thinking that the serrated shapes above the water to the left represent 'a defensive work of sharpened stakes'. "This would, of course, also go a long way to explain why the French horses
are in such spectacular difficulties, and together with the mailed English infantryman pulling down an enemy horseman would indicate that not only the Horselodge Plantation area but also that now occupied by New Pond, and perhaps ground further west and South-west too, was held in strength against the French."
For further evidence of this and Saxon defences he uses Wace, Huntingdon and
Malmesbury's descriptions of the Norman's falling into a ditch (Fosse) where many were slaughtered. He concluded his lecture by showing us some earthwork features around the
battlefield which could possibly be gravepits. This was interesting and he showed us some man-made mounds on slide. The latest survey by English Heritage of the battlefield does give possible explanations for many of these mounds, but unless someone could dig or investigate they will remain suspicious.
In summary, I thought Dr Lawson gave a very interesting and thought provoking lecture, he clearly knows his subject and was always able to back up his theories with contemporary or chronicled evidence. However, I personally disagree with quite a lot of what he proposes. I did question him on some of this at the lecture and have exchanged e-mail to continue our discussion.

William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William'sbirth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded thebarons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years, whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithfulto Matilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edwardpromise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelancesfrom all over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but thewinds of the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For whileWilliam cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, who arrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Two days later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscated and given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not goneun-noticed by either France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, including one where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money forthis war could be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another disputewith the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to the Church of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph Griffiths.
!Name; William I, "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/
1 TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]

!Place; Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France

SURN Conqueror
GIVN William I
_UID 359DB70962C08D42ADE6F8E5C771B5896903
1 UID E3CAD06924AFE841BE771447B28E8B5B9838
DATE 21 May 2009
TIME 19:23:43

[Chris Warren V5 #3760.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #3760, Date of Import: Jun 26, 1999]

According to encyclopedia Brittanica (1963 Vol VI) Bastard son of Robert I and Arletta.

William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William'sbirth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded thebarons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years, whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithfulto Matilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edwardpromise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelancesfrom all over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but thewinds of the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For whileWilliam cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, who arrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Two days later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscated and given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not goneun-noticed by either France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, including one where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money forthis war could be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another disputewith the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to the Church of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph Griffiths.
!Name; William I, "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/
1 TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]

!Place; Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France

William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandie, and He rleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Falaise. Thus , some sources have referenced William as 'the bastard of Falaise'. K nown as 'William the Bastard' to his contemporaries, his illegitimacy shaped his career when he was young. William is styled as being abou t 5 foot 11. Some of Williams tutors when he was young incuded the la yman scholar Turold (later murdered) and Ralph le Maine. At the time , Osbern de Crepon (murdered at Vaudreuil) was made his seneschal. A n attempt on Williams life was made at Vaudreuil in which Osbern was m urdered defending him. As an adult, he is styled as powerfully built , great physical presence and of just medium height (in his later year s as corpulent).
William spent his early years with his mother in Falaise. A council consisting of noblemen and William's appointed guardians ruled Normand ie but ducal authority waned under the Normans' violent nature and th e province was wracked with assassination and revolt for twelve years . William was presented as his fathers heir in 1034. On his father' s death in 1035, William was recognised by his family as the heir - a n exception to the general rule that illegitimacy barred succession. H is great uncle looked after the Duchy during William's minority, and h is overlord, King Henry I of France, knighted him at the age of 15. I n 1047, William reasserted himself in the eastern Norman regions and, with the aid of France's King Henry I, crushed the rebelling barons. During the 1040's, William gained a fascination with war and arms, an d was advised by his uncles William of Arques and Archbishop Mauger. The two uncles also brought Ralph de Gace to Williams council. Ralph soon took primary control of Williams army and wage an energentic and successful campaing against Thurston le Goz. Le Goz was forced into ex ile and King Henry I of France also withdrew from Normandie at about t he same time. A year later, Henry, who did his best to protect Willia m during his minority, was again in alliance with William. Soon Willi am began to surround himself with a younger group of military courtier s that included Roger de Beaumont, Robert fitz Humphrey, Roger de Mont gomery, Walter Giffard and William fitz Osborn fitz Arfast who was to become his most trusted advisor. William spent the next several year s consolidating his strength on the continent through marriage, diplom acy, war and savage intimidation. Under this reign there was an eccle siastical revival in Normandie.

The battle of Val-es-Dunes in 1047 marked the end of Williams minority . From 1047 onwards, William successfully dealt with rebellion insid e Normandie involving his kinsmen. In 1049, William and a contingent of Norman's captured the castle of Mouliherne. At this time he demons tated an unheard of mastery of the art of horseback in battle. In abo ut 1052, his uncles, Archbishop Marger and Count William of Argues beg an to politically oppose William. William retaliated and blockaded hi s uncle William at Argues with siege works. King Henry I came to Will iams assistance, but being led into an ambush suddenly withdrew. Ther e is some suggestion that William may have visited England ca. 1051 - 1052 at which time, Edward 'the Confessor' may have offered the succes sion to him. William's military successes and reputation helped him t o negotiate his marriage to Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of F landers. At the time of his invasion of England, William was a very ex perienced and ruthless military commander, ruler and administrator wh o had unified Normandie and inspired fear and respect outside his duch y. In 1053, William took the castle ar Arques.

He also put down threats from neighbouring nobles, including attempte d invasions by his former ally King Henry I of France in 1054 (the Fre nch forces were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer) and 1057. Durin g the invasion of 1054, William faced the southern column of Henri I, while his cousin Count Robert d'Eu led the northern force whose comman der was Eudes (Odo), Henri's brother. After Robert's defeath of Eudes , and news of the defeat reached Henri, Henri made a hasty retreat fro m the duchy of Normandie. Now as a young Duc, William was in complet e control of his duchy. Late in 1054, William launched a campaing sou th into Maine so as to secure his southern border. In 1057, Henri I and Count Geoffrey de Mayenne made a concerted effort to break throug h the Norman frontier from the south. At Varaville in August 1057, th e army of Henri and Geoffrey was split by rising waters on the river D ane and Geoffrey's army on the north bank was subsequently decimated b y William as Henri watched helplessly from the southern bank. The res ult of the effort worked only to consolidate Williams power rather tha n break it.

William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that , in 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distant cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold Wi lliam's right to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper. b y 1065, William had consolidated the area of LeMans as a Norman strong hold. By 1066, Normandie was in a position of virtual independence fr om William's feudal lord, Henry I of France and the disputed successio n in England offered William an opportunity for invasion. William lea rned of the death of Edward the Confessor on about 9 January 1066 at h is Quevilly estate near Rouen. William sent and embassy to Harold God winsson on 15 January 1066 in hope of working out the rights to becom e King. The mission however failed. William laid out the question o f who held the right to become King of England to at least 14 of his c lose relation and advisors. They approved the purpose of the expediti on and pledged their support to his efforts.

As he prepared for the upcoming invasion, William established his son Robert as his hier. William also had prior to this time made himself relatively invunerable to assult by his stratigic placement of castle s in Normandie. The initial assembly point for William's fleet was a t the mouth of the river Dives. Support for William began to arrive a t the assembly point as early as May of 1066, and as construction cont inued, more came through June and July. By August of 1066, the whole fleet was at anchor. William took seven months to prepare his invasio n force, using some 600 transport ships to carry around 7,000 men (inc luding 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across the Channel. It is reported that h e set sail on 12 September 1066. They moved east past the Siene estua ry, rounded Cap de la Heve into the waters of Williams vassel state o f Ponthieu and dropped anchor in the muddy estuary of the Siene at St . Valery. There he captured St. Valery under a banner that had been c onsecrated by the Pope. They remained there a week while the weather of the crossing did not improve. On 27 September 1066, William was ab le to set sail from their camp near St. Valery on the Somme. William had been fortunate enough to gain the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval from Pope Alexander II.

On 28-29 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed (on bo ard his flagship, the 'Mora', presented to him by his wife in honor o f the invasion) unopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised f ortifications at Hastings. Upon landing at Pevensey Level in the Bay i n Sussex, William tripped, stumbled and fell in the sand, and remarke d " We shall see who are brave". (ref: Wace, Roman de Rouet, 'des Duc s de Normandie', ed. A. Malet, 1860). As a general, William was style d as 'cool, careful, calculating and ruthless, but swift to take advan tage of and adversarys mistake.' Some parts of his fleet landed at Ro mney in Kent, while a few landed at Coding (now Cooden). Upon making the landing, William with about 25 men made a reconnaissance of the ar ea. He soon established defenses in the old Roman Fort of Anderida an d the next day marched on Hastings. William and his army began a syst ematic and calculated destruction of Sussex, that included almost twen ty villages. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norwa y at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, King H arold Godwinsson undertook a forced march south, covering 250 miles i n some nine days to meet the new threat, gathering inexperienced reinf orcements to replenish his exhausted veterans as he marched. On the e ve of the battle, William and his army encamped near Battle near the s ite of what would be the next days battle.

It is reported that a Knight named Vital in service of Eudes (Odo), Wi lliams half-brother was the first to spot the approaching Saxon army . At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October 1066, Harold' s weary and under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the f orces brought across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Harold's troops were equal in number (they included the be st infantry in Europe equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had the battlefield advantage of being based on a ridg e above the Norman positions. William's army was somewhat smaller tha n Harolds. The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumo ur spread that William had been killed; William rode among the ranks r aising his helmet to show he was still alive. Williams cavalry were u nable to break Harolds main line in their first assult. A minstrel b y the name of Taillfer and Eudes (Odo) were able to inspire the foot s oldiers in Williams army to a second charge. The battle was close-foug ht: a chronicler described the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon de fence as 'one side attacking with all mobility, the other withstandin g as thoughrooted to the soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him. William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, bo th of which the English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harol d was killed - hit by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a m ounted knight. Two of his brothers were also killed. The demoralised E nglish forces fled. (In 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built o n the site of the battle, with the high altar occupying the spot wher e Harold fell. The ruins of Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, whic h grew up around it, remain.) William founded a monestary (now a scho ol) Battle Abbey, on the site of his victory over King Harold and the English. After the battle, William returned to his base at Hastings, sacked Romney, fortified burh at Dover and garrisoned several channel ports. By the end of November 1066 he began his march towards London.

William was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey, by tw o prelates - Archbishop Ealdred of York in English and Bishop Geoffre y of coutences in French (ref. 'The Ecclestical History of Orderic Vit alis', ed. Marjorie Chiball, 5 Vols., Oxford, 1969 - 1981). Three mont hs later, he was confident enough to return to Normandie leaving two j oint regents (one of whom was his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was later to commission the Bayeux Tapestry) behind to administer the kingdom. After his coronation, William proceeded to adapt the Saxo n institutions to his full-blooded feudal system. However, it took Wi lliam six years to consolidate his conquest, and even then he had to f ace constant plotting and fighting on both sides of the Channel. In 10 67, William supressed a revol bythe Saxons in southwest england. In 1 068, Harold's sons raided the south-west coast of England (dealt with by William's local commanders),and there were uprisings in the Welsh M arches, Devon and Cornwall. William appointed earls who, in Wales and in all parts of the kingdom, undertook to guard the threatened frontie rs and maintain internal security in return for land.

In 1069, the Danes, in alliance with Prince Edgar the Aetheling (Ethel red's great-grandson) and other English nobles, invaded the north and took York. Taking personal charge, and pausing only to deal with the r ising at Stafford, William marched north in February - March 1069 and drove the Danes back to their ships on the Humber. In a harsh campaig n lasting into 1070, William systematically devastated Mercia and Nort humbria to deprive the Danes of their supplies and prevent recovery o f English resistance. Churches and monasteries were burnt, and agricul tural land was laid to waste, creating a famine for the unarmed and mo stly peasant population which lasted at least nine years. Although th e Danes were bribed to leave the north, King Sweyn of Denmark and his ships threatened the east coast (in alliancewith various English, incl uding Hereward the Wake) until a treaty of peace was concluded in Jun e 1070.

In 1071, William defeated a revolt led by Hereward the Wake in East An glia, thus putting an end to Saxon resistance to his rule. Within fiv e years of Hastings, William had subdued southern Engalnd. Further no rth, where the boundary with Scotland was unclear, King Malcolm III wa s encroaching into England. Yet again, In 1072, William moved swiftlya nd moved land and sea forces north to invade Scotland. The Treaty ofAb ernethy in 1072 marked a truce, which was reinforced by Malcolm's elde st son being accepted as a hostage. William consolidated his conques t by starting a castle-building campaign in strategic areas. Originall y these castles were wooden towers onearthen 'mottes' (mounds) with a bailey (defensive area) surrounded by earth ramparts, but many were la ter rebuilt in stone. By the end ofWilliam's reign over 80 castles ha d been built throughout his kingdom, as a permanent reminder of the ne w Norman feudal order.

William's wholesale confiscation of land from English nobles and thei r heirs (many nobles had died at the battles of Stamford Bridge and Se nlac) enabled him to recruit and retain an army, by demanding militar y duties in exchange for land tenancy granted to Norman, French and Fl emish allies. He created up to 180 'honours' (lands scattered throughs hires, with a castle as the governing centre), and in return had some 5,000 knights at his disposal to repress rebellions and pursue campaig ns; the knights were augmented by mercenaries and English infantry fro m the Anglo-Saxon militia, raised from local levies. William also use d the fyrd, the royal army - a military arrangement which had survive d the Conquest. The King's tenants-in-chief in turn created knights un der obligation to them and for royal duties (this was called subinfeud ation), with the result that private armies centred around private cas tles were created - these were to cause future problems of anarchy fo r unfortunate or weak kings. By the end of William's reign, a small gr oup of the King's tenants had acquired about half of England's landedw ealth. Only two Englishmen still held large estates directly from the King. A foreign aristocracy had been imposed as the new governing clas s.

Robert Curthose, supported by William de Breteuil, Robert de Belleme a nd King Philippe of France, led an open rebellion against this father in southern Normandie. In 1078, William started the construction of t he White Tower which became the basis of the Tower of London, finally completed during the reign of his son William Rufus in about 1097. I n 1079 Robert was defeated by his father at the battle of Gerberoi an d his life was spared. Also in1079, William began the construction o f a Norman Cathedral at Winchester. In about 1080, William refused t o pay homage to the Pope.

The expenses of numerous campaigns, together with an economic slump (c aused by the shifts in landed wealth, and the devastation of northernE ngland for military and political reasons), prompted William to order (in 1085) a full-scale investigation into the actual and potential wea lth of the kingdom to maximise tax revenues. The Domesday survey was p rompted by ignorance of the state of land holding in England, as well as the result of the costs of defence measures in England and renewed war in France. The scope, speed, efficiency and completion of this sur vey (William sent his men into every shire in England to ascertain ho w many hundred of 'hides' of hte land there were in each shire, as wel l as how much lands each of his archbishops, diocesan bishops, abbots and earls held. Not one ox, cow or pig escaped Williams survey (ref: ‘ Anglo Saxon Chronicle’, tr. G.N. Garmonsway, 1953). The effort was re markable for its time and resulted in the two-volume Domesday Book of 1086, which still exists today. Posterity has regarded the Domesday Bo ok as one of the great documents of history, while the chroniclers of the the time regarded it as an example of his avarice, rather than hi s efficiency. William needed to ensure the direct loyalty of his feud al tenants. The 1086 Oath of Salisbury was a gathering of William's 17 0 tenants-in-chief and other important landowners who took an oath of fealty to William.

William's reach extended elsewhere into the Church and the legal syste m. French superseded the vernacular (Anglo-Saxon). Personally devout,W illiam used his bishops to carry out administrative duties. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070, was a first-class administratorwh o assisted in government when William was absent in France, and whoreo rganised the Church in England. Having established the primacy of his archbishopric over that of York, and with William's approval, Lanfran c excommunicated rebels, and set up Church or spiritual courts to dea l with ecclesiastical matters. Lanfranc also replaced English bishops and abbots (some of whom had already been removed by the Council of Wi nchester under papal authority) with Norman or French clergy to reduc e potential political resistance. In addition, Canterbury and Durham C athedrals were rebuilt and some of the bishops' sees were moved to urb an centres. In about 1080, William created New Forest (a private rese rve for hunting deer) in Hampshire, England and in the process desdroy ed many churchs and villages (ref: ‘Historia Anglorum’, Henry of Hunti ngdon, ed. T. Arnold, Rolls Series, 1879). William left England for t he last time in the autumn of 1086 and over the years had become quti e corpulant. In July of 1087, sucumbed to a serious organ failure. H e lanquished at Rouen, first in the castle, then in the priory of St.- Gervais on a hill to the west of the city. He died 9 September 1087.

At his coronation, William promised to uphold existing laws and custom s. The Anglo-Saxon shire courts and 'hundred' courts (which administer ed defence and tax, as well as justice matters) remained intact, as di d regional variations and private Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions. To streng then royal justice, William relied on sheriffs (previously smaller lan downers, but replaced by influential nobles) to supervise the administ ration of justice in existing county courts, and sent members of his o wn court to conduct important trials. However, the introduction of Chu rch courts, the mix of Norman/Roman law and the differing customs ledt o a continuing complex legal framework. More severe forest laws reinfo rced William's conversion of the New Forest into a vast Royal deer res erve. These laws caused great resentment, and to English chroniclers t he New Forest became a symbol of William's greed. Nevertheless the Kin g maintained peace and order. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declar ed 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything c ontrary to his will ... Amongst other things the good security he mad e in this country is not to be forgotten.'

William spent the last months of his reign in Normandie, fighting a co unter-offensive in the French Vexin territory against King Philip's an nexation of outlying Normandie territory. Before his death on 9 Septem ber 1087 (ref: D.C. Douglas, 'William the Conqueror', 1964, quoting Or deric Vitalis'), William divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. (The scene was set for centuries of expensive commitments by suc cessive English monarchs to defend their inherited territories in Fran ce.) William bequeathed Normandie as he had promised to his eldest so n Robert, despite their bitter differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandie, and even wounded and defeated his fathe r in abattle there in 1079). His son, William Rufus, was to succeed Wi lliam as King of England, and the third remaining son, Henry, was lef t 5,000 pounds in silver. William was buried in his abbey foundation o f St Stephen at Caen. Desecrated by Huguenots (1562) and Revolutionari es (1793), the burial place of the first Norman king of England is mar ked by a simple stone slab.

Additional references re. William include:

1.) David Bates, William the Conqueror.
2.) Colin Platt, Medieval England.
3.) Mike Salter, Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower.

Guillaume I "Le Conquberant" de Normandie (William the Conqueror) Duke of Normandy 1035 - 1087 b 14 Oct 1024 Falaise, Normandy, France crowned King of England 25 Dec 1066 at Thorney Island d 9/10 Sep 1087 St. Gervais, Hermanbraville, Rouen, Normandy, France buried Abbe St. Etienne, Caen, Normandie (Abbey of Saint Stephen)

GIVN William I "The Conqueror" Koenig
SURN von England
NSFX King of England
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William, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, spent his first six years with his mother in Falaise and received the duchy of Normandy upon his father's death in 1035. A council consisting of noblemen and William's appointed guardians ruled Normandy but ducal authority waned under the Normans' violent nature and the province was wracked with assassination and revolt for twelve years. In 1047, William reasserted himself in the eastern Norman regions and, with the aid of France's King Henry I, crushed the rebelling barons. He spent the next several years consolidating his strength on the continent through marriage, diplomacy, war and savage intimidation. By 1066, Normandy was in a position of virtual independence from William's feudal lord, Henry I of France and the disputed succession in England offered William an opportunity for invasion.

Edward the Confessor attempted to gain Norman support while fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, by purportedly promising the throne to William in 1051. (This was either a false claim by William or a hollow promise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarily hereditary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy and barons.) Before his death in 1066, however, Edward reconciled with Godwin, and the witan agreed to Godwin's son, Harold, as heir to the crown - after the recent Danish kings, the members of the council were anxious to keep the monarchy in Anglo-Saxon hands. William was enraged and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to him in 1064. Prepared for battle in August 1066, ill winds throughout August and most of September prohibited him crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be advantageous for William, however, as Harold Godwinson awaited William's pending arrival on England's south shores, Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England from the north. Harold Godwinson's forces marched north to defeat the Norse at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Two days after the battle, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victorious Harold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight south to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. After hours of holding firm against the Normans, the tired English forces finally succumbed to the onslaught. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized Anglo-Saxon resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day 1066. The kingdom was immediately besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually and ruthlessly crushed by the Normans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1072. William punished rebels by confiscating their lands and allocating them to the Normans. Uprisings in the northern counties near York were quelled by an artificial famine brought about by Norman destruction of food caches and farming implements.

The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically altered the course of English history. Rather than attempt a wholesale replacement of Anglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practices with native custom. By disenfranchising Anglo-Saxon landowners, he instituted a brand of feudalism in England that strengthened the monarchy. Villages and manors were given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return for military service and monetary payments. The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriff was greatly enhanced: sheriffs arbitrated legal cases in the shire courts on behalf of the king, extracted tax payments and were generally responsible for keeping the peace. "The Domesday Book" was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base. Within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, the dominance of the Norman king and his nobility are revealed: only two Anglo-Saxon barons that held lands before 1066 retained those lands twenty years later. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law. Although he began the invasion with papal support, William refused to let the church dictate policy within English and Norman borders.

He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. He died September 9, 1087 from complications of a wound he received in a siege on the town of Mantes.

"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" gave a favorable review of William's twenty-one year reign, but added, "His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed; . . .he would say and do some things and indeed almost anything . . .where the hope of money allured him." He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll from his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the economic and political success of England.

Source: Britannia.com

William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William'sbirth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded thebarons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years, whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithfulto Matilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edwardpromise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelancesfrom all over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but thewinds of the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For whileWilliam cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, who arrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Two days later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscated and given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not goneun-noticed by either France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, including one where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money forthis war could be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another disputewith the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to the Church of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph Griffiths.
!Name; William I, "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/
1 TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]

!Place; Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France

#Générale##Générale#d'Angleterre, dit le Bâtard
s:ds02.79 et 81

note couple : #Générale#s:ds02.5 et 81 ; Bauche ; GB.37

note couple : #Générale#concubinage
s:Laîné-Bucaille

note couple : #Générale#

inhumation : Caen Abbaye St-Etie 14

#Générale#Naissance : ou vers 1028
Excommunié à cause de son mariage.
Dispense pour mariage enfin obtenue en 1059, contre lafondation des 2 Abbayesaux Hommes et aux Femmes à Caen.
Profession : Roi d'Angleterre de 1066 au 10 septembre 1087.
Duc de Normandie de 1035 à 1087.

{geni:about_me} '''Guillaume 'le Conquérant' FitzRobert, Duc de Normandie, Roi d'Angleterre''', in English: William the Conqueror, King of England

===Parents===
Robert 'le Diable', Duc de Normandie & his mistress Herlève de Falaise

===Spouse===
Matilde (Maud) de Flandre

===Children===
# Robert Curthose (1054–1134), Duke of Normandy, married Sybil of Conversano, daughter of Geoffrey of Conversano.
# Richard (c. 1055 – c. 1081), Duke of Bernay, killed by a stag in New Forest.
# Adeliza (or Alice) (c. 1055 – c. 1065), reportedly betrothed to Harold II of England.
# Cecilia (or Cecily) (c. 1056 – 1126), Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen.
# William "Rufus" (c. 1056 – 1100), King of England.
# Agatha (c. 1064 – 1079), betrothed to Alfonso VI of Castile.
# Constance (c. 1066 – 1090), married Alan IV Fergent, Duke of Brittany; poisoned, possibly by her own servants.
# Adela (c. 1067 – 1137), married Stephen, Count of Blois.
# Henry "Beauclerc" (1068–1135), King of England, married Edith of Scotland, daughter of Malcolm III, King of the Scots. His second wife was Adeliza of Leuven.
# (Matilda)

Despite rumours to the contrary (such as claims that William Peverel was a bastard of William)[21] there is no evidence that he had any illegitimate children.[22]

==Links and Resources==
http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMANDY.htm#GuillaumeIIdied1087B
http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLAND,%20Kings%201066-1603.htm#WilliamIdied1087

==Medieval Lands==

GUILLAUME de Normandie, illegitimate son of ROBERT II “le Diable” Duke of Normandy & his mistress Herlève --- (Château de Falaise, Normandy [1027/28]-Rouen, Prioré de Saint-Gervais 9 Sep 1087, bur Caen, Abbé de Saint-Etienne).

His birth date is estimated from William of Malmesbury, according to whom Guillaume was born of a concubine and was seven years old when his father left for Jerusalem[237], and Orderic Vitalis, who states that he was eight years old at the time[238].

According to Orderic Vitalis, Alain III Duke of Brittany was appointed his guardian during his father's absence in 1035[239]. Deville suggests that Guillaume´s birthdate can be fixed more precisely to [mid-1027], taking into account that his father Robert occupied Falaise immediately after the death of his father Duke Richard II (23 Aug 1026), not wishing to accept the authority of his older brother Duke Richard III, but that Robert´s stay was short as the two brothers were reconciled soon after, it being reasonable to suppose that Robert´s relationship with Guillaume´s mother occurred soon after his arrival at Falaise[240].

He succeeded his father in 1035 as GUILLAUME II Duke of Normandy. After Duke Alan was poisoned, Gilbert Comte d'Eu was appointed guardian but was himself murdered[241]. Duke Guillaume helped Henri I King of France defeat Geoffroy II "Martel" Comte d'Anjou at Mouliherne in [1045/55][242]. Edward "the Confessor" King of England may have acknowledged Guillaume's right to succeed to the English throne on several occasions, maybe for the first time during a visit to England in 1051 which is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle[243]. Comte de Maine 1063, after he conquered the county. In [1064/65], Duke Guillaume interceded with Guy de Ponthieu Comte d'Abbeville to secure the release of Harold Godwinsson, in return for Harold's acknowledgement of Guillaume as successor to the English throne according to the portrayal of the event in the Bayeux tapestry. Harold Godwinsson's visit to Normandy, and swearing allegiance to Duke William, is recorded by William of Jumièges[244]. According to Eadmer of Canterbury, the reason for Harold's visit was to negotiate the release of his brother Wulfnoth and nephew Haakon, both of whom had been hostages in Normandy since 1051.

On his deathbed King Edward "the Confessor" bequeathed the kingdom of England to Harold Godwinsson. Duke Guillaume branded Harold a perjurer and appealed to Pope Alexander II for support. After receiving a papal banner in response to this request, William gathered a sizable army during summer 1066 ready for invasion. After some delay due to unfavourable weather conditions, the army set sail for England from Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme 28 Sep 1066[245]. He defeated and killed King Harold at Hastings 14 Oct 1066, and made his way to London where he was crowned 25 Dec 1066 as WILLIAM I "the Conqueror" King of England.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMANDY.htm#GuillaumeIIdied1087B

GUILLAUME de Normandie, illegitimate son of ROBERT II Duke of Normandy & his mistress Arlette --- (Château de Falaise, Normandy [1027/28]-Rouen, Prioré de Saint-Gervais 9 Sep 1087, bur Caen, Abbé de Saint-Etienne).

His birth date is estimated from William of Malmesbury, according to whom Guillaume was born of a concubine and was seven years old when his father left for Jerusalem[1], and Orderic Vitalis, who states that he was eight years old at the time[2]. Deville suggests that Guillaume´s birthdate can be fixed more precisely to [mid-1027], taking into account that his father Robert occupied Falaise immediately after the death of his father Duke Richard II (23 Aug 1026), not wishing to accept the authority of his older brother Duke Richard III, but that Robert´s stay was short as the two brothers were reconciled soon after, it being reasonable to suppose that Robert´s relationship with Guillaume´s mother occurred soon after his arrival at Falaise[3]. According to Orderic Vitalis, Alain III Duke of Brittany was appointed his guardian during his father's absence in 1035[4].

He succeeded his father in 1035 as GUILLAUME II Duke of Normandy. He helped Henri I King of France defeat Geoffroy II "Martel" Comte d'Anjou at Mouliherne in [1045/55][5]. It appears that Edward "the Confessor" King of England acknowledged Guillaume as successor to the English throne on several occasions, maybe for the first time during his visit to England in 1051 which is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle[6]. Comte de Maine in 1063, after he conquered the county. In [1064/65], Duke Guillaume interceded with Guy de Ponthieu Comte d'Abbeville to secure the release of Harold Godwinsson from captivity in Normandy, in return for Harold's acknowledgement of Guillaume as successor to the English crown (according to the portrayal of the event in the Bayeux tapestry). Harold Godwinsson's visit to Normandy, and swearing allegiance to Duke William, is recorded by William of Jumièges[7].

According to Eadmer of Canterbury, the reason for his visit was to negotiate the release of his brother Wulfnoth and nephew Haakon, both of whom had been hostages in Normandy since 1051. On his deathbed, King Edward "the Confessor" bequeathed the kingdom of England to Harold Godwinsson. Duke Guillaume branded Harold a perjurer and appealed to Pope Alexander II for support. After receiving a papal banner in response to his request, William gathered a sizable army during summer 1066 in preparation for invasion. After some delay due to unfavourable weather conditions, the army set sail for England from Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme 28 Sep 1066[8]. William defeated and killed King Harold at Hastings 14 Oct 1066[9], marched north to Canterbury, then west to Winchester where he captured the royal treasury. He proceeded to London where he was crowned 25 Dec 1066 as WILLIAM I "the Conqueror" King of England at Westminster Abbey, possibly by Ealdred Archbishop of York who may have officiated because of doubts concerning the validity of the appointment of Stigand as Archbishop of Canterbury. The latter had received his pallium in 1058 from Pope Benedict X, later regarded as anti-Pope, an appointment which had not been regularised by Pope Alexander II. He was crowned again at Winchester 1070 with a Papal crown. After taking several years to subdue the whole country, he imposed the Norman feudal structure and rule everywhere with methodical and harsh persistence. The minute description of the country contained in the Domesday Book, completed in 1086, enabled King William to create an effective tax base He died from wounds received at the siege of Mantes, having been injured internally after being thrown against the pommel of his saddle[10], leaving Normandy to his eldest son Robert and England to his second surviving son William.
Guillaume de Jumièges records the death of King William at Rouen on 9 Sep and his burial at Saint-Etienne, Caen[11]. Florence of Worcester records the death "Id Sep V" of King William and his burial "Cadomi in ecclesia S Stephani Protomartyris"[12]. The Brevis Relatio de Origine Willelmi Conquestoris records that "Willelmus…Roberti filius" was buried "Cadomi in ecclesia beati Stephani" which he had built[13].

m (Eu, Cathedral of Notre Dame [1050/52]) MATHILDE de Flandre, daughter of BAUDOUIN V "le Pieux/Insulanus" Count of Flanders & his wife Adela de France ([1032]-Caen 2 Nov 1083, bur Caen, Abbey of Holy Trinity).

The Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana names (in order) "Balduinum Haanoniensem, et Robdbertum cognomento postea Iherosolimitanum, et Matilde uxorem Guillelmi regis Anglorum" as the children of "Balduinum Insulanum [et] Adelam"[14]. Her parentage is also stated by Orderic Vitalis[15]. She founded the abbey of la Trinité at Caen, as confirmed by an undated manuscript which records the death "pridie nonas julias" of "abbatissam Mathildem" in the 54th year in which she held the position and names "Mathildem Anglorum reginam, nostri cœnobii fondatricem, Adilidem, Mathildem, Constantiam, filias eius" heading the list of the names of nuns at the abbey[16]. Florence of Worcester records that "comitissa Mahtilda de Normannia" came to England 23 Mar [1068] and was crowned "die Pentecostes [11 May]" by Aldred Archbishop of York[17].

Orderic Vitalis also records that she was crowned Queen of England 11 May 1068[18], presumably at Westminster Abbey or Winchester Cathedral although this appears to be unrecorded. Queen Matilda acted as regent in Normandy during her husband's absences in England. The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Denis records the death "IV Non Nov" of "Matildis Anglorum regina"[19]. Guillaume de Jumièges records the burial of Queen Mathilde on 3 Nov 1081 at Holy Trinity, Caen[20]. Florence of Worcester records the death "IV Non Nov" in [1083] of "regina Mahtilda" in Normandy and her burial at Caen[21].

King William I & his wife had ten children:

1. ROBERT de Normandie (Normandy [1052/54]-Cardiff Castle [3] Feb 1134, bur Gloucester Cathedral[22]).
William of Malmesbury names Robert as eldest son of King William I[23]. "Roberti filii sui Normannorum comitis, Richardi filii sui…" subscribed the charter dated Apr 1067 under which "Willelmus…dux Normannorum…Anglorum rex" confirmed rights to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire[24]. Orderic Vitalis records that, after unsuccessfully aspiring to govern Normandy and Maine during the lifetime of his father, Robert rebelled in 1079 and went into exile in Flanders[25].
William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis both state that he was assisted in his rebellion by Philippe I King of France and that he wounded his father in battle at Gerberoy[26]. He succeeded his father in 1087 as ROBERT “Curthose” Duke of Normandy, his nickname due, according to William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis, to his short stature which he presumably inherited from his mother who was also reputed to have been very short[27]. He joined the contingent of Robert II Count of Flanders on the First Crusade in Sep 1096, together with Etienne Comte de Blois, after pledging the duchy of Normandy to his brother King William for 10,000 marks of silver in order to fund the expedition[28]. Following the capture of Jerusalem, Robert left Palestine to return to Europe in Sep 1099[29]. On returning to Normandy in Autumn 1100, he recovered his duchy without opposition[30]. He landed at Portsmouth in 1102 aiming to displace his brother King Henry I as king of England, but was persuaded to return to Normandy on payment of 3,000 marks[31]. His brother King Henry invaded Normandy and defeated Robert at the battle of Tinchebrai[32], declaring himself duke of Normandy 28 Sep 1106. King Henry took Robert in captivity back to England, where Robert remained in prison for the rest of his life. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1134 of "Robertus dux Normannorum filius Willermi regis…primogenitus" and his burial at Gloucester[33]. The Continuator of Florence of Worcester records the death at Cardiff in [1134] of "Rotbertus frater regis Heinrici quondam comes Normanniæ" and his burial in Gloucester[34].

- DUKES of NORMANDY.

2. RICHARD de Normandie (Normandy [1054 or 1056]-1075 or 1081, bur Winchester Cathedral).
William of Malmesbury records that he was the second son of King William I[35]. "The next-born after Robert" according to Orderic Vitalis[36] who, from the context of this passage appears to be taking into account daughters as well as sons in his list of the king's children although, critically for deciding the birth order of the older children, he omits Cecilia in this section. "Roberti filii sui Normannorum comitis, Richardi filii sui…" subscribed the charter dated Apr 1067 under which "Willelmus…dux Normannorum…Anglorum rex" confirmed rights to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire[37]. Duc de Bernay, in Normandy. According to William of Malmesbury, he "contracted a disorder from a stream of foul air while hunting deer in the New Forest"[38]. Florence of Worcester records that "Willelmi iunioris germanus Ricardus" was killed in the New Forest long before, when recording the death of his brother King William II[39].
Orderic Vitalis recounts that "when a youth who had not yet received the belt of knighthood, had gone hunting in the New Forest and whilst he was galloping in pursuit of a wild beast he had been badly crushed between a strong hazel branch and the pommel of his saddle, and mortally injured" dying soon after[40]. Guillaume de Jumièges records a similar, but less specific, story, saying that Richard was hunting, knocked himself against a tree, fell ill and died from his injury[41].

3. ADELAIDE [Adelisa] de Normandie ([1055]-7 Dec, 1066 or after).
Orderic Vitalis records the betrothal of Adelaide and Harold Godwinson, listing her after Agatha and before Constance in his description of the careers of the daughters of King William[42]. The sources are contradictory concerning the name of the daughter betrothed to Harold Godwinson, as well as the timing of her death. The only near certainty is that it would presumably have been the oldest available daughter who was betrothed to Harold. Matthew of Paris does not name her but lists her fourth among the daughters of King William, while distinguishing her from the fifth daughter betrothed to "Aldefonso Galiciæ regi"[43].
Guillaume de Jumièges records that Duke Guillaume betrothed his daughter Adelise to Harold, in a later passage (in which he does not repeat her name) stating that she was the third daughter and that she died a virgin although she was of an age to marry[44]. Chibnall specifies[45] that this reference is contained in the interpolations written by Orderic Vitalis, the latter chronicler therefore contradicting his statement in his own work that Agatha was the name of the daughter who was betrothed to King Harold. Orderic Vitalis says that Adelaide "a most fair maiden vowed herself to God when she reached marriageable age and made a pious end under the protection of Roger of Beaumont"[46]. The daughter betrothed to Harold was alive in early 1066, according to Eadmer of Canterbury[47] who says that Duke Guillaume requested King Harold, soon after his accession, to keep his promise to marry his daughter. This is contradicted by William of Malmesbury[48], who says that her death before that of Edward "the Confessor" was taken by King Harold II as marking absolution from his oath to Duke Guillaume. She died as a nun at Préaux[49]. A manuscript of la Trinité de Caen names "Mathildem Anglorum reginam, nostri cœnobii fondatricem, Adilidem, Mathildem, Constantiam, filias eius" heading the list of the names of nuns at the abbey[50], which, if the order of names is significant, indicates that Adelaide was older than her two named sisters. The necrology of Chartres cathedral records the death "VII Id Dec" of "Adeliza filia regis Anglorum", stating that her father made a donation for her soul[51]. The necrology of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan records the death of "Adelina filia regis Anglorum", undated but listed among deaths at the end of the calendar year[52].
Betrothed ([1064/65]) to HAROLD Godwinson Earl of Wessex, son of GODWIN Earl of Wessex & his wife Gytha of Denmark ([1022/25]-killed in battle Hastings 14 Oct 1066, bur [Waltham Abbey]), who succeeded in 1066 as HAROLD II King of England.

4. MATHILDE de Normandie (-26 Apr or 6 Jul [1113]).
The necrology of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan records the death "VI Kal Mai" of "Mathildis filia Willelmi regis Anglorum"[53]. She is not named as a daughter of King William by either William of Malmesbury or Orderic Vitalis. There is no basis for assessing her order of birth among the other known daughters of the king. An undated manuscript records the death "pridie nonas julias" of "abbatissam Mathildem" in the 54th year in which she held the position[54]. The same source names "Mathildem Anglorum reginam, nostri cœnobii fondatricem, Adilidem, Mathildem, Constantiam, filias eius" heading the list of the names of nuns at the abbey[55]. If this is correct, and even assuming that she was appointed abbess as a child, Mathilde must have been one of the oldest of her father´s children, but younger than her sister Adelaide. Delisle dates her death to [1113][56], on the basis of Orderic Vitalis recording that her successor as abbess of la Trinité de Caen, her sister Cecilia, died 13 Jul 1127 after 14 years as abbess[57].

5. CECILIA de Normandie (-Caen 3/13 Jul [1126/27], bur Caen, Abbey of Holy Trinity).
She is named first in his list of King William's daughters by William of Malmesbury and by Matthew of Paris[58]. Orderic Vitalis, in his list of the king's children which appears to place both the sons and daughters together in birth order[59], unfortunately omits Cecilia, rendering it particularly difficult to decide if she was older or younger than her brother Richard. Guillaume de Jumièges names Cecile as eldest daughter, stating that she was a nun at the convent of Holy Trinity at Caen[60]. A manuscript at Caen names "Mathildem Anglorum reginam, nostri cœnobii fondatricem, Adilidem, Mathildem, Constantiam, filias eius" heading the list of the names of nuns at the abbey[61], which, if the order of names is significant, indicates that Cecilia was younger than her sisters Adelaide and Mathilde. Her parents offered her as an oblate to the nunnery of the Holy Trinity, Caen (founded by her mother) 18 Jun 1066[62], probably in part to obtain divine blessing for her father´s project to invade England. She became a nun there in 1075[63], her tutor being Arnoul de Choques who later became Chancellor to her brother Robert "Curthose" Duke of Normandy, and subsequently Patriarch of Jerusalem[64]. She succeeded her sister Mathilde as abbess of la Trinité de Caen in [1113][65]. The Chronicon S. Stephani Cadomensis records the death in 1126 of "Cecilia Abbatissa, Willelmi Regis filia"[66].

6. GUILLAUME de Normandie ([1056/60]-killed in the New Forest 2 Aug 1100, bur Winchester Cathedral[67]). William of Malmesbury records that he was the third son of King William I[68]. He left his father's deathbed in Normandy in Sep 1087 to rush to England to claim the throne, succeeding as WILLIAM II “Rufus” King of England, crowned at Westminster Abbey 26 Sep 1087. Florence of Worcester records that King William was crowned "VI Kal Oct" of King William at Westminster Abbey[69]. His reign was characterised by bitter rivalry with his brother Robert in Normandy, even harsher imposition of Norman rule in England than by his father, and growing resentment of his ways among the nobility. Florence of Worcester records the death "IV Non Aug" of King William in the New Forest, killed by an arrow shot by "quodam Franco Waltero cognomento Tirello" [châtelain de Poix et de Pontoise], and his burial "Wintoniam in Veteri Monasterio in ecclesia S Petri"[70]. Orderic Vitalis records that he was killed while hunting, maybe murdered, by an arrow shot by Walter Tirel[71]. According to Orderic Vitalis, he "never had a lawful wife but gave himself up insatiably to obscene fornications and repeated adulteries"[72]. The necrology of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan records the death "II Non Aug" of "Guillelmus rex Anglorum filius Guillelmi regis"[73].

7. CONSTANCE de Normandie (Normandy [1057/1061]-13 Aug 1090, bur Church of St Melans near Rhedon).
Listed by Orderic Vitalis after Adelaide and before Adela in his description of the careers of the daughters of King William[74]. Named first in his list of the daughters of King William I by Matthew of Paris[75]. Guillaume de Jumièges names Constance as second daughter, naming her husband "Alain Fergant comte de la petite Bretagne et fils d'Hoel, qui avait succédé à Conan" and specifying that she died childless[76]. The Chronicon Ruyensis Cœnobii records the marriage in 1086 of "Alanus" and "Constantiam filiam Regis Anglorum Guillelmi"[77]. The Chronicon Kemperlegiensis records the marriage in 1087 of "Alanus Hoëli Consulis filius" and "Constantiam Guillelmi Regis Anglorum filiam"[78].
The Chronicon Britannico Alter records the marriage in 1088 of "Alanus" and "Constantiam filam Regis Guillelmi Anglorum"[79]. Orderic Vitalis records that she was married in Bayeux[80]. William of Malmesbury lists her as second daughter after Cecilia, adding that "she excited the inhabitants [of Brittany] by the severity of her justice to administer a poisonous potion to her"[81]. Orderic Vitalis, on the other hand, says that she "did everything in her power to further the welfare of her subjects" and "was deeply grieved when she died"[82]. "Alanus dux Britannorum et Constantia uxor eius" donated property to the priory of Livré by charter dated 31 Jul 1089[83]. The Chronicon Britannico Alter records the death in 1090 of "Constantia Alani coniux…sine liberis"[84]. The Chronicon Universum in the cartulary of Sainte-Croix de Quimperlé records the death in 1090 of "Constantia comitissa filia regis Anglorum"[85].
m (Bayeux [1086/88]) as his first wife, ALAIN IV “Fergant” Duke of Brittany, son of HOËL V Comte de Cornouaille, de Léon et de Nantes & his wife Havise heiress of Brittany (-13 Oct 1119).

8. AGATHE de Normandie (-before 1074, bur Bayeux Cathedral).
Listed by Orderic Vitalis after Richard and before Adelaide in his description of the careers of the children of King William[86]. According to William of Malmesbury, an unnamed daughter of King William was "affianced by messengers" to King Alfonso[87].
Orderic Vitalis names her Agatha, identifying her as the daughter who had been betrothed to Harold Godwinson (see above), and says that she was betrothed to "Amfursio regi Galliciæ"[88]. Matthew of Paris places her as the fifth daughter (unnamed) betrothed to "Aldefonso Galiciæ regi", but different from the daughter betrothed to Harold[89]. Orderic says that she died en route to Spain, her body being brought back to Bayeux for burial[90]. The betrothal to Alfonso must have been a short-lived arrangement as he married his first wife in 1069[91].
Betrothed (by proxy Caen, Abbey of Holy Trinity [before 1069]) to ALFONSO VI King of Galicia and Leon, son of FERNANDO I King of Castile & his wife Infanta doña Sancha de Léon (Compostela [1037]-Toledo 30 Jun 1109, bur Sahagún, León, San Mancio chapel in the royal monastery of Santos Facundo y Primitivo). He succeeded in 1072 as ALFONSO VI King of Castile.
[Betrothed ([after 1069]) to SIMON du Vexin, son of RAOUL III “le Grand” Comte de Valois & his first wife Aélis de Bar-sur-Aube (-[30 Sep/1 Oct] 1080 Rome, bur 1082 Rome St Peter). The Vita Simonis records a ficitional speech of William I King of England in which he offers his (unnamed) daughter's hand to Simon, specifying that she had previously been betrothed to "regis Hispaniarum Anfursi et Roberti principis Apuliæ"[92]. The supposed betrothal to Robert of Apulia (which would have to refer to Robert "Guiscard" Duke of Apulia) is unrecorded in the numerous other sources dealing with his life and is probably pure fantasy. This does not instil confidence with respect to the historical accuracy of the whole passage, but if it is correct the daughter in question would presumably have been Agatha who was probably the daughter of King William betrothed to "Amfursio regi Galliciæ" (see above). Count Simon resigned his county in 1077, became a monk and went on pilgrimage to Rome where he died[93].]

9. ADELA de Normandie (Normandy [1066/67]-Marigney-sur-Loire 8 Mar 1138, bur Abbey of Holy Trinity, Caen). She is listed by Orderic Vitalis last among the daughters of King William in his description of their careers[94]. Named third in his list of the daughters of King William I by Matthew of Paris[95], but this appears unlikely in view of Adela's child-bearing until her husband's death in 1102. Her birth date is estimated bearing in mind that marriage frequently took place in early adolescence at the time, and also because Adela clearly continued to bear children right up to her husband's death. Orderic Vitalis records that she encouraged her husband to join the First Crusade and did not hide her shame when he deserted from Antioch in 1098[96]. Regent of Blois 1102-1107, after the death of her husband. She became a nun at the Cluniac priory of Marigney-sur-Loire in [1122]. The necrology of Chartres cathedral records the death "VIII Id Mar" of "Adela comitissa"[97], and in another manuscript the death "VIII Id Mar" of "Adela nobilis Blesensium comitissa regis Anglorum Willelmi filia"[98].
m (Betrothed Breteuil[99] 1080, Chartres[100] 1081) ETIENNE [Henri] de Blois, son of THIBAUT III Comte de Blois & his [first/second wife Gersende de Maine/Gundrada ---] (-killed in battle Ramleh 19 May 1102). He succeeded his father in 1089 as ETIENNE Comte de Blois, de Chartres, de Châteaudun, de Sancerre et de Meaux.

a) ETIENNE de Blois (Blois [1096/97]-Dover 25 Oct 1154, bur Faversham Abbey, Kent). After the death of his uncle Henry I King of England, he crossed at once to England before his rival, King Henry's daughter Maud, and had himself crowned as STEPHEN King of England at Westminster Abbey 22 Dec 1135.

- other children: COMTES de BLOIS.

10. HENRY of England (Selby, Yorkshire Sep 1068-Saint-Denis le Ferment, Forêt d’Angers near Rouen 1/2 Dec 1135, bur Reading Abbey, Berkshire). Orderic Vitalis records that Henry was born "within a year" of his mother's coronation on 11 May 1068[101]. He succeeded his brother 3 Aug 1100 as HENRY I “Beauclerc” King of England.

==Wikipedia==
William I (about 1027 or 1028[1] – 9 September 1087), better known as William the Conqueror (French: Guillaume le Conquérant), was Duke of Normandy from 1035 and King of England from late 1066 to his death. William is sometimes also referred to as "William II" in relation to his position as the second Duke of Normandy of that name. In particular, before his conquest of England, he was known as "William the Bastard" (French: Guillaume le Bâtard) because of the illegitimacy of his birth.

===Descendants===
William is known to have had nine children, though Agatha, a tenth daughter who died a virgin, appears in some sources. Several other unnamed daughters are also mentioned as being betrothed to notable figures of that time. Despite rumours to the contrary (such as claims that William Peverel was a bastard of William)[20] there is no evidence that he had any illegitimate children,[21]
(see list above)

To press his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans, Bretons, Flemings, and Frenchmen to victory over the English forces of King Harold Godwinson (who died in the conflict) at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.[2]

His reign, which brought Norman-French culture to England, had an impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages. The details of that impact and the enormity of the changes have been debated by scholars for over a century. In addition to the obvious change of ruler, his reign also saw a programme of building and fortification, changes to the English language, a shift in the upper levels of society and the church, and adoption of some aspects of continental church reform. More controversial are possible changes in law, royal administration, trade, agriculture, the peasantry, women's roles and rights, and education.

===Early life===
William was born in Falaise, Normandy, the illegitimate and only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, who named him as heir to Normandy. His mother, Herleva (a name with several variant versions), who later married and bore two sons to Herluin de Conteville, was the daughter of Fulbert of Falaise (possibly Fulbert de Tonnerre). In addition to his two half-brothers, Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, William had a sister, Adelaide of Normandy, another child of Robert. Later in his life, the enemies of William are reported to have called him alternately William the Bastard, and deride him as the son of a tanner, and the residents of besieged Alençon hung animal skins from the city walls to taunt him.

William is believed to have been born in either 1027 or 1028, and more likely in the autumn of the later year.[1][notes 1] He was born the grandnephew of Queen Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and later, wife of King Canute the Great.[3]

William's illegitimacy affected his early life and he was known to contemporaries as 'William the Bastard'. Nevertheless, when his father died, he was recognised as the heir.[4]

===Duke of Normandy===
By his father's will, William succeeded him as Duke of Normandy at age seven in 1035. Plots by rival Norman noblemen to usurp his place cost William three guardians, though not Count Alan III of Brittany, who was a later guardian. William was supported by King Henry I of France, however. He was knighted by Henry at age 15. By the time William turned 19 he was successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047, obtaining the Truce of God, which was backed by the Roman Catholic Church.

Against the wishes of Pope Leo IX, William married Matilda of Flanders in 1053 in the chapel at Eu, Normandy (Seine-Maritime). At the time, William was about 24 years old and Matilda was 22. William is said to have been a faithful and loving husband, and their marriage produced four sons and six daughters. In repentance for what was a consanguine marriage (they were distant cousins), William donated St-Stephen's church (l'Abbaye-aux-Hommes) and Matilda donated Sainte-Trinité church (Abbaye aux Dames).

Feeling threatened by the increase in Norman power resulting from William's noble marriage, Henry I attempted to invade Normandy twice (1054 and 1057), without success. Already a charismatic leader, William attracted strong support within Normandy, including the loyalty of his half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, who played significant roles in his life. Later, he benefited from the weakening of two competing power centers as a result of the deaths of Henry I and of Geoffrey II of Anjou, in 1060. In 1062 William invaded and took control of the county of Maine, which had been a fief of Anjou.[5]

===English succession===
Upon the death of the childless Edward the Confessor, the English throne was fiercely disputed by three claimants—William; Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex; and the Viking King Harald III of Norway, known as Harald Hardrada. William had a tenuous blood claim through his great aunt Emma (wife of Ethelred and mother of Edward). William also contended that Edward, who had spent much of his life in exile in Normandy during the Danish occupation of England, had promised him the throne when he visited Edward in London in 1052. Further, William claimed that Harold had pledged allegiance to him in 1064: William had rescued the shipwrecked Harold from the count of Ponthieu, and together they had defeated Conan II, Count of Brittany. On that occasion, William had knighted Harold; he had also, however, deceived Harold by having him swear loyalty to William himself over the concealed bones of a saint.[6]

In January 1066, however, in accordance with Edward's last will and by vote of the Witenagemot, Harold Godwinson was crowned King by Archbishop Aldred.

===Norman Invasion===
See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquest_of_England Wikipedia on The Norman Conquest of England]
Meanwhile, William submitted his claim to the English throne to Pope Alexander II, who sent him a consecrated banner in support. Then, William organized a council of war at Lillebonne and in January openly began assembling an army in Normandy. Offering promises of English lands and titles, he amassed at Dives-sur-Mer a huge invasion fleet, supposedly of 696 ships. This carried an invasion force which included, in addition to troops from William's own territories of Normandy and Maine, large numbers of mercenaries, allies and volunteers from Britanny, north-eastern France and Flanders, together with smaller numbers from other parts of France and from the Norman colonies in southern Italy. In England, Harold assembled a large army on the south coast and a fleet of ships to guard the English Channel.[6]

Fortuitously for William, his crossing was delayed by eight months of unfavourable winds. William managed to keep his army together during the wait, but Harold's was diminished by dwindling supplies and falling morale with the arrival of the harvest season, he disbanded his army on 8 September.[7] Harold also consolidated his ships in London, leaving the English Channel unguarded. Then came the news that the other contender for the throne, Harald III of Norway, allied with Tostig Godwinson, had landed ten miles from York. Harold again raised his army and after a four day forced march defeated Harald and Tostig on 25 September.

On 12 September the wind direction turned and William's fleet sailed. A storm blew up and the fleet was forced to take shelter at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and again wait for the wind to change. On 27 September the Norman fleet finally set sail, landing in England at Pevensey Bay (Sussex) on 28 September. Thence William moved to Hastings, a few miles to the east, where he built a prefabricated wooden castle for a base of operations. From there, he ravaged the hinterland and waited for Harold's return from the north.[7]

William chose Hastings as it was at the end of a long peninsula flanked by impassable marshes. The battle was on the isthmus. William at once built a fort at Hastings to guard his rear against potential arrival of Harold's fleet from London. Having landed his army, William was less concerned about desertion and could have waited out the winter storms, raided the surrounding area for horses and started a campaign in the spring. Harold had been reconnoitering the south of England for some time and well appreciated the need to occupy this isthmus at once.[8]

===Battle of Hastings===
See also [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hastings Wikipedia on The Battle of Hastings]
Harold, after defeating his brother Tostig and Harald Hardrada in the north, marched his army 241 mi (388 km) to meet the invading William in the south. On 13 October, William received news of Harold's march from London. At dawn the next day, William left the castle with his army and advanced towards the enemy. Harold had taken a defensive position at the top of Senlac Hill/Senlac ridge (present-day Battle, East Sussex), about seven miles from Hastings.

The Battle of Hastings lasted all day. Although the numbers on each side were about equal, William had both cavalry and infantry, including many archers, while Harold had only foot soldiers and few if any archers.[9] Along the ridge's border, formed as a wall of shields, the English soldiers at first stood so effectively that William's army was thrown back with heavy casualties. William rallied his troops reportedly raising his helmet, as shown in the Bayeux Tapestry, to quell rumors of his death. Meanwhile, many of the English had pursued the fleeing Normans on foot, allowing the Norman cavalry to attack them repeatedly from the rear as his infantry pretended to retreat further.[10] Norman arrows also took their toll, progressively weakening the English wall of shields. At dusk, the English army made their last stand. A final Norman cavalry attack decided the battle irrevocably when it resulted in the death of Harold who, legend says, was killed by an arrow in the eye. Two of his brothers, Gyrth and Leofwine Godwinson, were killed as well. By nightfall, the Norman victory was complete and the remaining English soldiers fled in fear.

Battles of the time rarely lasted more than two hours before the weaker side capitulated; that Hastings lasted nine hours indicates the determination of William and Harold. Battles also ended at sundown regardless of who was winning. Harold was killed shortly before sunset and, as he would have received fresh reinforcements before the battle recommenced in the morning, he was assured of victory had he survived William's final cavalry attack.

===March to London===
For two weeks, William waited for a formal surrender of the English throne, but the Witenagemot proclaimed the quite young Edgar Ætheling King instead, though without coronation. Thus, William's next target was London, approaching through the important territories of Kent, via Dover and Canterbury, inspiring fear in the English. However, at London, William's advance was beaten back at London Bridge, and he decided to march westward and to storm London from the northwest. After receiving continental reinforcements, William crossed the Thames at Wallingford, and there he forced the surrender of Archbishop Stigand (one of Edgar's lead supporters), in early December. William reached Berkhamsted a few days later where Ætheling relinquished the English crown personally and the exhausted Saxon noblemen of England surrendered definitively. Although William was acclaimed then as English King, he requested a coronation in London. As William I, he was formally crowned on Christmas day 1066, in Westminster Abbey, by Archbishop Aldred[6]. According to some sources, the ceremony was not a peaceful one. Alarmed by some noises coming from the Abbey, the Norman guards stationed outside that they set fire to the neighbouring houses. A Norman monk later wrote "As the fire spread rapidly, the people in the church were thrown into confusion and crowds of them rushed outside, some to fight the flames, others to take the chance to go looting."

===English resistance===
Although the south of England submitted quickly to Norman rule, resistance in the north continued for six more years until 1072. During the first two years, King William I suffered many revolts throughout England (Dover, western Mercia, Exeter) and Wales. Also, in 1068, Harold's illegitimate sons attempted an invasion of the south-western peninsula, but William defeated them.

For William I, the worst crisis came from Northumbria, which had still not submitted to his realm. In 1068, with Edgar Ætheling, both Mercia and Northumbria revolted. William could suppress these, but Edgar fled to Scotland where Malcolm III of Scotland protected him. Furthermore, Malcolm married Edgar's sister Margaret, with much éclat, stressing the English balance of power against William. Under such circumstances, Northumbria rebelled, besieging York. Then, Edgar resorted also to the Danes, who disembarked with a large fleet at Northumbria, claiming the English crown for their King Sweyn II. Scotland joined the rebellion as well. The rebels easily captured York and its castle. However, William could contain them at Lincoln. After dealing with a new wave of revolts at western Mercia, Exeter, Dorset, and Somerset, William defeated his northern foes decisively at the River Aire, retrieving York, while the Danish army swore to depart.

William then devastated Northumbria between the Humber and Tees rivers, with what was described as the Harrying of the North. This devastation included setting fire to the vegetation, houses and even tools to work the fields. He also burnt crops, killed livestock and sowed the fields and land with salt, to stunt growth. After this cruel treatment the land did not recover for more than 100 years. The region ended up absolutely deprived, losing its traditional autonomy towards England. However it may have stopped future rebellions, frightening the English into obedience. Then the Danish king disembarked in person, readying his army to restart the war, but William suppressed this threat with a payment of gold. In 1071, William defeated the last rebellion of the north through an improvised pontoon, subduing the Isle of Ely, where the Danes had gathered. In 1072, he invaded Scotland, defeating Malcolm, who had recently invaded the north of England. William and Malcolm agreed to a peace by signing the Treaty of Abernethy and Malcolm gave up his son Duncan as a hostage for the peace.[11] In 1074, Edgar Ætheling submitted definitively to William.

In 1075, during William's absence, the Revolt of the Earls was confronted successfully by Odo. In 1080, William dispatched his half brothers Odo and Robert to storm Northumbria and Scotland, respectively. Eventually, the Pope protested that the Normans were mistreating the English people. Before quelling the rebellions, William had conciliated with the English church; however, he persecuted it ferociously afterwards.

===Events===
As would be habit for his descendants, William spent much of his time (11 years, since 1072) in Normandy, ruling the islands through his writs. Nominally still a vassal state, owing its entire loyalty to the French king, Normandy arose suddenly as a powerful region, alarming the other French dukes who reacted by persistently attacking the duchy. William became focused on conquering Brittany, and the French King Philip I admonished him. A treaty was concluded after his aborted invasion of Brittany in 1076, and William betrothed Constance to the Breton Duke Hoel's son, the future Alan IV of Brittany. The wedding occurred only in 1086, after Alan's accession to the throne, and Constance died childless a few years later.

William's elder son Robert, enraged by a prank of his brothers William and Henry, who had doused him with filthy water, undertook what became a large scale rebellion against his father's rule. Only with King Philip's additional military support was William able to confront Robert, who was then based in Flanders. During the battle of 1079, William was unhorsed and wounded by Robert, who lowered his sword only after recognizing him. The embarrassed William returned to Rouen, abandoning the expedition. In 1080, Matilda reconciled both, and William restored Robert's inheritance.

Odo caused trouble for William, too, and was imprisoned in 1082, losing his English estate and all his royal functions, but retaining his religious duties. In 1083, Matilda died, and William became more tyrannical over his realm.

Reforms
William initiated many major changes. He increased the function of the traditional English shires (autonomous administrative regions), which he brought under central control; he decreased the power of the earls by restricting them to one shire apiece. All administrative functions of his government remained fixed at specific English towns, except the court itself; they would progressively strengthen, and the English institutions became amongst the most sophisticated in Europe. In 1085, in order to ascertain the extent of his new dominions and to improve taxation, William commissioned all his counselors for the compilation of the Domesday Book, which was published in 1086. The book was a survey of England's productive capacity similar to a modern census.

William also ordered many castles, keeps, and mottes, among them the Tower of London's foundation (the White Tower), to be built throughout England. These ensured effectively that the many rebellions by the English people or his own followers did not succeed.
William I built the central White Tower in the Tower of London.

His conquest also led to French (especially, but not only, the Norman French) replacing English as the language of the ruling classes for nearly 300 years.[12][13] Furthermore, the original Anglo-Saxon culture of England became mingled with the Norman one; thus the Anglo-Norman culture came into being.
The chapel in the White Tower was built in the Norman style by William, using Caen stone imported from France.

William is said to have eliminated the native aristocracy in as little as four years. Systematically, he despoiled those English aristocrats who either opposed the Normans or who died without issue. Thus, most English estates and titles of nobility were handed to the Norman noblemen. Many English aristocrats fled to Flanders and Scotland; others may have been sold into slavery overseas. Some escaped to join the Byzantine Empire's Varangian Guard, and went on to fight the Normans in Sicily. By 1070, the indigenous nobility had ceased to be an integral part of the English landscape, and by 1086, it maintained control of just 8% of its original land-holdings.[14] However, to the new Norman noblemen, William handed the English parcels of land piecemeal, dispersing these widely, ensuring nobody would try conspiring against him without jeopardizing their own estates within the still unstable post-invasion England. Effectively, this strengthened William's political stand as a monarch.

The medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury says that the king also seized and depopulated many miles of land (36 parishes), turning it into the royal New Forest region to support his enthusiastic enjoyment of hunting.[15] Modern historians, however, have come to the conclusion that the New Forest depopulation was greatly exaggerated. Most of the lands of the New Forest are poor agricultural lands, and archaeological and geographic studies have shown that the New Forest was likely sparsely settled when it was turned into a royal forest.[16]

Death, burial, and succession
In 1087 in France, William burned Mantes (50 km west of Paris), besieging the town. However, he fell off his horse, suffering fatal abdominal injuries from the saddle pommel. On his deathbed, William divided his succession for his sons, sparking strife between them. Despite William's reluctance, his combative elder son Robert received the Duchy of Normandy, as Robert II. William Rufus (his third son) was next English king, as William II. William's youngest son Henry received 5,000 silver pounds, which would be earmarked to buy land. He also became King Henry I of England after William II died without issue. While on his deathbed, William pardoned many of his political adversaries, including Odo.

William died at age 59 at the Convent of St Gervais in Rouen, capital city of Normandie, France, on 9 September 1087. William was buried in the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, which he had erected, in Caen, Normandy. It is said that Herluin, his step-father, loyally bore his body to his grave.[17]

The original owner of the land on which the church was built claimed he had not been paid yet, demanding 60 shillings, which William's son Henry had to pay on the spot. In a most unregal postmortem, it was found that William's corpulent body would not fit in the stone sarcophagus as his body had bloated due to the warm weather and length of time that had passed since his death. A group of bishops applied pressure on the king's abdomen to force the body downward but the abdominal wall burst and putrefaction drenched the king's coffin "filling the church with a foul smell". William's grave is currently marked by a marble slab with a Latin inscription; the slab dates from the early 19th century. The grave was defiled twice, once during the French Wars of Religion, when his bones were scattered across the town of Caen, and again during the French Revolution. Following those events, only William's left femur, some skin particles and bone dust remain in the tomb.

Legacy
William's invasion was the last time that England was successfully conquered by a foreign power. Although there would be a number of other attempts over the centuries, the best that could be achieved would be excursions by foreign troops, such as the Raid on the Medway during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, but no actual conquests such as William's. There have however been occasions since that time when foreign rulers have succeeded to the English/British throne, notably the Dutch Stadtholder William III of Orange who in 1688, with his Dutch army, was invited by prominent English politicians to invade England with the intention of deposing the Catholic king James II (see Glorious Revolution) and George of Hanover b. 1660, who acceded by virtue of the exclusion of Roman Catholics from the succession.

As Duke of Normandy and King of England he divided his realm among his sons, but the lands were reunited under his son Henry, and his descendants acquired other territories through marriage or conquest and, at their height, these possessions would be known as the Angevin Empire.

They included many lands in France, such as Normandy and Aquitaine, but the question of jurisdiction over these territories would be the cause of much conflict and bitter rivalry between England and France, which took up much of the Middle Ages, including the Hundred Years War and, some might argue, continued as far as the Battle of Waterloo of 1815.

An example of William's legacy even in modern times can be seen on the Bayeux Memorial, a monument erected by Britain in the Normandy town of Bayeux to those killed in the Battle of Normandy during World War II. A Latin inscription on the memorial reads NOS A GULIELMO VICTI VICTORIS PATRIAM LIBERAVIMUS – freely translated, this reads "We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror's native land".[18]

Physical appearance
No authentic portrait of William has been found. Nonetheless, he was depicted as a man of fair stature with remarkably strong arms, "with which he could shoot a bow at full gallop". William showed a magnificent appearance, possessing a fierce countenance. He enjoyed excellent health until old age; nevertheless his noticeable corpulence in later life increased eventually so much that French King Philip I commented that William looked like a pregnant woman.[19] Examination of his femur, the only bone to survive when the rest of his remains were destroyed, showed he was approximately 5' 10" tall which was around two inches taller than the average for the 11th century.[20]

Fictional depictions
William I has appeared as a character in only a few stage and screen productions. The one-act play A Choice of Kings by John Mortimer deals with his deception of Harold after the latter's shipwreck. Julian Glover portrayed him in a 1966 TV adaptation of this play in the ITV Play of the Week series.

William has also been portrayed on screen by Thayer Roberts in the film Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955), John Carson in the BBC TV series Hereward the Wake (1965), Alan Dobie in the two-part BBC TV play Conquest (1966; part of the series Theatre 625), and Michael Gambon in the TV drama Blood Royal: William the Conqueror (1990).

On a less serious note, he has been portrayed by David Lodge in an episode of the TV comedy series Carry On Laughing entitled "One in the Eye for Harold" (1975), James Fleet in the humorous BBC show The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything (1999), and Gavin Abbott in an episode "1066" (2004).

Notes
1. ^ The official web site of the British Monarchy puts his birth at "around 1028", which may reasonably be taken as definitive.
The frequently encountered date of 14 October 1024 is likely to be spurious. It was promulgated by Thomas Roscoe in his 1846 biography The life of William the Conqueror. The year 1024 is apparently calculated from the fictive deathbed confession of William recounted by Ordericus Vitalis (who was about twelve when the Conqueror died); in it William allegedly claimed to be about sixty-three or four years of age at his death bed in 1087. The birth day and month are suspiciously the same as those of the Battle of Hastings. This date claim, repeated by other Victorian historians (e.g. Jacob Abbott), has been entered unsourced into the LDS genealogical database, and has found its way thence into countless personal genealogies. Cf. The Conqueror and His Companions by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.

References
1. ^ a b c Bates, David (2001). William the Conqueror. Stroud, UK: Tempus. pp. 33. ISBN 0-7524-1980-3.
2. ^ Dr. Mike Ibeji (2001-05-01). "1066". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/1066_01.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
3. ^ Powell, John, Magill's Guide to Military History, Salem Press, Inc., 2001, p. 226. ISBN 0893560197.
4. ^ Official Website of the British Monarchy. William I 'The Conqueror' (r. 1066–1087. Kings and Queens of England (to 1603). Retrieved on: 12 October 2008.
5. ^ David Carpenter, The Struggle for Mastery: Britain 1066-1284 (2003).
6. ^ a b c Clark, George (1978) [1971]. "The Norman Conquest". English History: A Survey. Oxford University Press/Book Club Associates. ISBN 0198223390.
7. ^ a b Carpenter, p. 72.
8. ^ N. A. M. Rodger, The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain, Vol 1: 660-1649, pp. 32–35.
9. ^ Carpenter, p. 73.
10. ^ Ibid.
11. ^ J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland (1964), page 45.
12. ^ While English emerged as a popular vernacular and literary language within one hundred years of the Conquest, it was only in 1362 that King Edward III abolished the use of French in Parliament
13. ^ Alexander Herman Schutz and Urban Tigner Holmes, A History of the French Language, Biblo and Tannen Publishers, 1938. pp. 44–45. ISBN 0819601918.
14. ^ Douglas, David Charles. English Historical Documents, Routledge, 1996, p. 22. ISBN 0415143675.
15. ^ Based on William of Malmesbury's Historia Anglorum.
He was of just stature, ordinary corpulence, fierce countenance; his forehead was bare of hair; of such great strength of arm that it was often a matter of surprise, that no one was able to draw his bow, which himself could bend when his horse was in full gallop; he was majestic whether sitting or standing, although the protuberance of his belly deformed his royal person; of excellent health so that he was never confined with any dangerous disorder, except at the last; so given to the pleasures of the chase, that as I have before said, ejecting the inhabitants, he let a space of many miles grow desolate that, when at liberty from other avocations, he might there pursue his pleasures.
See English Monarch: The House of Normandy.
16. ^ Young, Charles R. (1979). The Royal Forests of Medieval England. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-8122-7760-0.
17. ^ Freeman, Edward A., William the Conqueror (1902), p. 276-277
18. ^ [1], retrieved 10 October 2008.
19. ^ Spartacus Schoolnet, retrieved 17 July 2007.
20. ^ The Year of the Conqueror by Alan Lloyd
21. ^ The Conqueror and His Companions (J.R Planche 1874)
22. ^ William "the Conqueror" (Guillaume "le Conquérant").

Further reading
* Douglas, David C. (1999) William the Conqueror; the Norman impact upon England, Yale English monarchs series, London : Yale University Press, 476 p., ISBN 0-300-07884-6
* Howarth, David (1977) 1066 The Year of the Conquest, London : Collins, 207 p., ISBN 0-00-211845-9
* Prescott, Hilda F.M. (1932) Son of Dust, reprinted 1978: London : White Lion, 288 p. ISBN 0-85617-239-1
* Savage, Anne (transl. and coll.) (2002) The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, London : Greenwich Editions, 288 p., ISBN 0-86288-440-3
* Wensby-Scott, Carol. (1984) Proud Conquest, London : Futura Publications, 240 p., IBSN 0-7088-2620-2

==English Monarchs==
From http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/normans.htm

Parentage and Early Life
England's first Norman king, William I, was born in 1028, at Falaise Castle, the illegitimate son of Robert the Devil or the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy and Herleve, (sometimes called Arlette) the daughter of Fullbert, a tanner of Falaise. Before history renamed him the Conqueror he was more commonly known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. Herleve was reported to have attracted Duke Robert with her dancing, in some accounts, he is said to have first caught sight of her while she was washing her linen in the castle moat.

The Norman dynasty had been founded by Robert's ancestor Rollo or Hrolf the Ganger, a Viking raider chief, who was granted the duchy by Charles the Simple, King of France, in 911, at the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, in exchange for feudal alliegiance and conversion to Christianity at which he took the baptismal name of Robert.

William's mother, Herleve, also had a daughter, Adelaide, to Duke Robert. Although they had a long relationship, the gap in their social standing rendered marriage out of the question and Herleve was married off to one of Robert's vassals, Herluin, a knight. From this marriage, Herleve produced two further sons, Robert, who later became Count of Mortain and Odo, destined to become Bishop of Bayeux and also to play a part in England's history.

William, Duke of Normandy
Duke Robert decided to expiate his sins, which were many, by going on pilgrimage in 1034. Since he had no legitimate heir to succeed him, he persuaded his unruly barons to accept the illegitimate William as future Duke of Normandy. On his return journey from the Holy Land Robert died suddenly and the young William succeeded to the Dukedom by his father's will.

The barons exhibited no loyalty to the"'base born" child and thereafter William grew up in the school of adversity. He had to learn, very early, how to survive. The barons constantly rebelled and anarchy reigned in Normandy during the years of William's minority. William's guardians were murdered in succession. Osbern was killed whilst guarding his door. His maternal uncle, Walter, at one point resorted to hiding the child with some poor people. William was formed and moulded by this savage and insecure childhood into the stark and often ruthless ruler he was later to become.

In 1047, he asserted his authority and crushed the rebels at Val-es-Dunes after which he began to restore order in his Dukedom. At Alencon, the burghers insulted his birth by hanging "hides for the tanner" over the walls. On taking the town he exacted a terrible revenge and had both their hands and feet amputated. One of lifes great survivors, William finally emerged as undisputed Duke of Normandy.

William's appearance
William matured into a tall, thick set man with dark hair, which receeded from his forehead early. His voice was rasping and guttural. William undoubtedly possessed considerable powers of leadership and courage. He was devout and inspired loyalty in his followers, but could also be ruthless and cruel.

William of Malmesbury provides us with a detailed description of the king in his Historia Anglorum:-

'He was of just stature, ordinary corplulence, fierce countenance; his forehead was bare of hair; of such great strength of arm that it was often a matter of surprise, that no one was able to draw his bow, which himself could bend when his horse was in full gallop; he was majestic whether sitting or standing, although the protuberance of his belly deformed his royal person; of excellent health so that he was never confined with any dangerous disorder, except at the last; so given to the pleasures of the chase, that as I have before said, ejecting the inhabitants, he let a space of many miles grow desolate that, when at liberty from other avocations, he might there pursue his pleasures.

His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed. This he sought all opportunities of scraping together, he cared not how; he would say and do some things and indeed almost anything, unbecoming to such great majesty, where the hope of money allured him. I have here no excuse whatever to offer, unless it be, as one has said, that of necessity he must fear many, whom many fear.'

William negotiated a marriage in 1049 to Matilda, a descendant of the old Saxon House of Wessex and daughter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders and Adela, daughter of Robert II, King of France. They were an ill-assorted pair, he strongly built and five feet ten inches tall and she ( as it emerged when her skeleton was exhumed) just over four feet tall, almost a dwarf. It proved however, to be a highly successful union and produced a large family.

The Conquest of England
The Duke of Normandy visited his English cousin, Edward the Confessor, in 1051. Edward and his brother Alfred had spent much of their childhood in exile at the Norman Court, their mother, Emma, had been a daughter of the House of Normandy. During this visit, Edward is purported to have promised his Norman cousin the crown of England, should he die without issue. The real heir was Edgar the Atheling, Edward's great-nephew, the grandson of his elder brother Edmund Ironside, but he was still a child and knew little of England, having spent much of his life in exile in Hungary. Others also coveted the English throne, the chief candidate amongst these was Harold, son of the powerful Godwine, Earl of Wessex.

Harold was unfortunately shipwrecked on the coast of Normandy, where he found himself the unwilling guest of Duke William. The Confessor was now unlikely to survive long and Harold was anxious to return to England to forward his ambitions there. However, before he would allow his guest to leave, William required him to swear an oath to support his claim to the crown upon Edward's death. Under duress, Harold finally consented and swore the oath on holy relics.

Edward the Confessor finally breathed his last in January, 1066, and was buried in his foundation of St.Peter, Westminster, which had been consecrated but ten days previously. It was reported that on his deathbed he had nominated Harold as his successor who was duly accepted as King by the Saxon Witangemot or council of elders, which traditionally elected the next English King.

Back in Normandy, on reciept of this ominous news, the formidable Duke William flew into a rage. He began to build an invasion fleet to take by force what he considered to be his by right. The Pope himself, due to Harold's foresworn oath on holy relics, supported William's enterprise. After Harold was crowned by Archbishop Stigand, a portentous star was seen in the skies, this has now been identified as Halley's comet, many in that superstitious age saw it as an omen of the wrath of God on the perjured King Harold and his followers.

Harold assembled the fyrdd, the Saxon militia of freemen, in preparation for William's imminent landing, whilst the Duke prepared his fleet and waited for good weather to set sail for England. In mid September, Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, invaded England, accompanied by Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, Harold's unruly and discontented brother, who had earlier been banished and his earldom confiscated.

Harold marched his army north in haste to meet the invaders at Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, where he won a decisive victory over the Viking army. At this time, the winds William had been pensively awaiting turned favourable and he set sail with his massive invasion fleet. News of his landing at Bulverhythe was conveyed to Harold, who responded by hurrying south to meet him, giving his exhausted army no respite. Had Harold rested and reorganized his army, the outcome of the impending battle and English history could have been very different.

On 14th October, the Saxon and Norman forces clashed in the fateful Battle of Hastings. Harold took up a defensive position on Senlac Ridge. The Norman army was thus forced to attack uphill, placing them at a disadvantage.

The Saxon army formed a shield wall along the edge of the hill which rebuffed repeated Norman attacks. A rumour arose in the Norman ranks that Duke William was dead, causing panic and flight. Many of the Saxon fyrdd pursued the fleeing Normans down the hill. William put heart into his army by loudly announcing he still lived. The Normans rallied, Harold's brothers Gyrth and Leofwine were both slain on the battlefield.

The battle continued for most of the day, Harold and his Saxons fought with steely determination for possession of their country. As dusk began to fall over Hastings, William ordered his archers to fire high into the air and one of these arrows is said to have hit Harold in the eye, blinding him, although this point is disputed by some sources. Whether this was the case or not, Harold fell mortally wounded under the dragon standard of Wessex.

The Saxon army, seeing that the day was lost, began to flee the field. The houscarls, Harold's trained professional militia, loyally and valiantly defended the body of their King to the last, but they too finally fell and Harold's body was mutilated by the Normans, a vindictive act, which William punished. The battle was lost and Anglo-Saxon England died with Harold on the battlefield that day.

Click for a fuller account of the Battle of Hasings

Harold's deeply distressed mistress, Edith Swan-neck came to William pleading for her lover's body and offering him its weight in gold in exchange, but William coldly refused her distraught request. He had Harold buried in a secret location.

William proceeded to London, where he was crowned King of England at Edward the Confessor's foundation of Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1066.

He accepted the surrender of the Saxon Earls Edwine and Morkere along with that of the child claimant, Edgar Atheling and defeated the heroic Hereward the Wake at Ely. On the whole the south of England submitted to Norman rule, whereas in the north resistance was more prolonged. William responded by subjecting the English to a reign of terror. Determined to punish and crush rebellion to his rule and strike abject fear into English hearts, he laid waste vast tracts of Yorkshire, which suffered under a great famine for nine years after as a result. He rewarded his Norman and French followers by distributing the confiscated lands of the English to them.

William was a savage and formidable ruler, by modern standards an exceedingly cruel one, but his methods produced the desired results and extinguished the fires of opposition. Many castles and keeps were built across the country to enforce his rule, originally wooden towers or earthen mottes, in all over 80 castles were established during the reign, including the White Tower, the first building in the Tower of London complex. The dominating shadow of the White Tower loomed menacingly over medieval London, a visible expression of Norman power.

The new King's half brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, commissioned a tapestry to commemorate his brother's victory in 1078. It depicts a series of scenes leading up to and during the conquest. William's conversion of the New Forest into a royal hunting ground saw the introduction of harsh and severe forest laws, which caused great resentment amongst the Anglo-Saxons. William changed England's laws and inflicted harsh punishments for offenders. Murder became an officially punishable crime in England and slavery was abolished.

Anglo-Saxon England was radically altered by the Norman conquest, it changed the entire way of life then established in the country. Its laws, aristocracy and church were altered and it introduced the French feudal system. The Anglo-Saxon language was replaced by Norman French as the language of the upper classes, modern English is the natural outgrowth of both. The role of the conquerors and the conquered can still be detected in many English words, the Saxon cow, tended by the lowly Saxon villein became the Norman beef when it appeared on the lord's table. The Saxon swine became Norman gammon. There are countless other examples in modern English which amply illlustrate the role of Saxon servant and Norman master.

The Norman Feudal System, which William introduced into England, was a complicated heirarchial structure at whose apex sat the king. That lords held their lands under the king in exchange for homage and military assistance rendered to him in times of need.

The Domesday Book
In December, 1085, William decided to commision an enquiry into the extent of his dominions to maximise taxation. This unique survey was known to history as the Domesday Book. The Domesday Book still survives today in the Public Record Office, London and is an extraordinary document for its time.

The Death of William I
The last year of William's life was spent fighting in Normandy, in battle for the Vexin, a much disputed territory, which lay between Normandy and France. Amongst those opposing him was his rebellious eldest son, Robert, nicknamed Curthose by his father, due to his short legs.

On 9th September, 1087, whilst riding through the smouldering ruins of the sacked town of Mantes, in what must have appeared to him as like an act of divine retribution, William was thrown from his horse when it trod on burning ashes and sustained severe abdominal injuries.

The King, now aged fifty nine and mortally injured, was carried to the convent of St. Gervais in Rouen, the Norman capital. There he summoned his younger sons, William and Henry, to his deathbed. Robert Curthose remained at the court of France.

England was bequeathed to his second surviving and favourite son, William Rufus and despite his bitter differences with Robert Curthose, he left Normandy to him. To Henry, the youngest son, later destined to inherit all his dominions, he left 5,000 silver pounds. He is reported to have ruminated on and repented of his many sins, transgressions and cruelties at the end. He tried to salve his conscience, before preparing to meet his maker and fearing for his immortal soul, he ordered all the treasure he possessed in Rouen to be given to the church and the poor and forgave his enemies. William the Conqueror died on 9th September, 1087, having ruled England for 21 years.

William was buried in the monastery of St.Stephen at Caen in Normandy, an abbey he had previously founded as an act of repentence for his consanguineous marriage to Matilda of Flanders. The body was broken as it was lowered into the sepulchre, made too short by the stonemasons and the ceremony was interrupted by a dispossessed knight. A stone slab with a Latin inscription, in the abbey church of Caen today marks the burial place of the first Norman King of England. His grave has since been desecrated twice, in the course of the French Wars of Religion his bones were scattered across Caen, and during the tumultuous events of the French Revolution, the Conqueror's tomb was again despoiled.

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Roi d'Angleterre (William I)

Duc de Normandie
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William I 'the Conqueror', King of England was born between 1027 and 1028 at Falise Castle, Falaise, Normandy, France, illegitimately.2,3 He was the son of Robert I, 6th Duc de Normandie and Herleva de Falaise. He married Matilda de Flandre, daughter of Baldwin V de Lille, Comte de Flandre and Adela de France, Princesse de France, in 1053 at Cathedral of Notre Dame d'Eu, Normandy, France.3 He died on 9 September 1087 at Priory of St. Gervais, Rouen, Caux, France, from wounds received while fighting.4 He was buried at St. Stephen Abbey, Caen, Normandy, France.4
William I 'the Conqueror', King of England also went by the nick-name of William 'the Conqueror'.5 William I 'the Conqueror', King of England also went by the nick-name of William 'le Batard' (or in English, the Bastard).5 In 1035 on his father's death, William was recognised by his family as the heir - an exception to the general rule that illegitimacy barred succession. His great uncle looked after the Duchy during William's minority, and his overlord, King Henry I of France, knighted him at the age of 15.6 He succeeded to the title of 7th Duc de Normandie on 22 June 1035.3 He gained the title of Comte de Maine in 1063.3 He fought in the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066 at Hastings, Sussex, England.3 He gained the title of King William I of England on 25 December 1066.7 He was crowned King of England on 25 December 1066 at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England, and styled 'Willielmus Rex Anglorum.7' He fought in the Siege of Mantes in September 1087.4
From 1047 onwards, William successfully dealt with rebellion inside Normandy involving his kinsmen and threats from neighbouring nobles, including attempted invasions by his former ally King Henry I of France in 1054 (the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer). William's military successes and reputation helped him to negotiate his marriage to Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders. At the time of his invasion of England, William was a very experienced and ruthless military commander, ruler and administrator who had unified Normandy and inspired fear and respect outside his duchy. William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that, in 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distant cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold William's right to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper. Furthermore, William had the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval. William took seven months to prepare his invasion force, using some 600 transport ships to carry around 7,000 men (including 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across the Channel. On 28 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised fortifications at Hastings. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, Harold undertook a forced march south, covering 250 miles in some nine days to meet the new threat, gathering inexperienced reinforcements to replenish his exhausted veterans as he marched.
At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October, Harold's weary and under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the forces brought across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Harold's troops were equal in number (they included the best infantry in Europe equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had the battlefield advantage of being based on a ridge above the Norman positions. The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumour spread that William had been killed; William rode among the ranks raising his helmet to show he was still alive. The battle was close-fought: a chronicler described the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon defence as 'one side attacking with all mobility, the other withstanding as though rooted to the soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him. William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, both of which the English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harold was killed - hit by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a mounted knight. Two of his brothers were also killed. The demoralised English forces fled. In 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built on the site of the battle, with the high altar occupying the spot where Harold fell. The ruins of Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, which grew up around it, remain.
Three months after his coronation, he was confident enough to return to Normandy leaving two joint regents (one of whom was his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was later to commission the Bayeux Tapestry) behind to administer the kingdom. However, it took William six years to consolidate his conquest, and even then he had to face constant plotting and fighting on both sides of the Channel. In 1068, Harold's sons raided the south-west coast of England (dealt with by William's local commanders), and there were uprisings in the Welsh Marches, Devon and Cornwall. William appointed earls who, in Wales and in all parts of the kingdom, undertook to guard the threatened frontiers and maintain internal security in return for land.
In 1069, the Danes, in alliance with Prince Edgar the Aetheling (Ethelred's great-grandson) and other English nobles, invaded the north and took York. Taking personal charge, and pausing only to deal with the rising at Stafford, William drove the Danes back to their ships on the Humber. In a harsh campaign lasting into 1070, William systematically devastated Mercia and Northumbria to deprive the Danes of their supplies and prevent recovery of English resistance. Churches and monasteries were burnt, and agricultural land was laid to waste, creating a famine for the unarmed and mostly peasant population which lasted at least nine years. Although the Danes were bribed to leave the north, King Sweyn of Denmark and his ships threatened the east coast (in alliance with various English, including Hereward the Wake) until a treaty of peace was concluded in June 1070.
Further north, where the boundary with Scotland was unclear, King Malcolm III was encroaching into England. Yet again, William moved swiftly and moved land and sea forces north to invade Scotland. The Treaty of Abernethy in 1072 marked a truce, which was reinforced by Malcolm's eldest son being accepted as a hostage. William consolidated his conquest by starting a castle-building campaign in strategic areas. Originally these castles were wooden towers on earthen 'mottes' (mounds) with a bailey (defensive area) surrounded by earth ramparts, but many were later rebuilt in stone. By the end of William's reign over 80 castles had been built throughout his kingdom, as a permanent reminder of the new Norman feudal order.
William's wholesale confiscation of land from English nobles and their heirs (many nobles had died at the battles of Stamford Bridge and Senlac) enabled him to recruit and retain an army, by demanding military duties in exchange for land tenancy granted to Norman, French and Flemish allies. He created up to 180 'honours' (lands scattered through shires, with a castle as the governing centre), and in return had some 5,000 knights at his disposal to repress rebellions and pursue campaigns; the knights were augmented by mercenaries and English infantry from the Anglo-Saxon militia, raised from local levies. William also used the fyrd, the royal army - a military arrangement which had survived the Conquest. The King's tenants-in-chief in turn created knights under obligation to them and for royal duties (this was called subinfeudation), with the result that private armies centred around private castles were created - these were to cause future problems of anarchy for unfortunate or weak kings. By the end of William's reign, a small group of the King's tenants had acquired about half of England's landed wealth. Only two Englishmen still held large estates directly from the King. A foreign aristocracy had been imposed as the new governing class.
The expenses of numerous campaigns, together with an economic slump (caused by the shifts in landed wealth, and the devastation of northern England for military and political reasons), prompted William to order a full-scale investigation into the actual and potential wealth of the kingdom to maximise tax revenues. The Domesday survey was prompted by ignorance of the state of land holding in England, as well as the result of the costs of defence measures in England and renewed war in France. The scope, speed, efficiency and completion of this survey was remarkable for its time and resulted in the two-volume Domesday Book of 1086, which still exists today. William needed to ensure the direct loyalty of his feudal tenants. The 1086 Oath of Salisbury was a gathering of William's 170 tenants-in-chief and other important landowners who took an oath of fealty to William. William's reach extended elsewhere into the Church and the legal system. French superseded the vernacular (Anglo-Saxon). Personally devout, William used his bishops to carry out administrative duties. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070, was a first-class administrator who assisted in government when William was absent in France, and who reorganised the Church in England. Having established the primacy of his archbishopric over that of York, and with William's approval, Lanfranc excommunicated rebels, and set up Church or spiritual courts to deal with ecclesiastical matters. Lanfranc also replaced English bishops and abbots (some of whom had already been removed by the Council of Winchester under papal authority) with Norman or French clergy to reduce potential political resistance. In addition, Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals were rebuilt and some of the bishops' sees were moved to urban centres.
At his coronation, William promised to uphold existing laws and customs. The Anglo-Saxon shire courts and 'hundred' courts (which administered defence and tax, as well as justice matters) remained intact, as did regional variations and private Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions. To strengthen royal justice, William relied on sheriffs (previously smaller landowners, but replaced by influential nobles) to supervise the administration of justice in existing county courts, and sent members of his own court to conduct important trials. However, the introduction of Church courts, the mix of Norman/Roman law and the differing customs led to a continuing complex legal framework. More severe forest laws reinforced William's conversion of the New Forest into a vast Royal deer reserve. These laws caused great resentment, and to English chroniclers the New Forest became a symbol of William's greed. Nevertheless the King maintained peace and order. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declared 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will ... Amongst other things the good security he made in this country is not to be forgotten.'
William spent the last months of his reign in Normandy, fighting a counter-offensive in the French Vexin territory against King Philip's annexation of outlying Normandy territory. Before his death on 9 September 1087, William divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. (The scene was set for centuries of expensive commitments by successive English monarchs to defend their inherited territories in France.) William bequeathed Normandy as he had promised to his eldest son Robert, despite their bitter differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandy, and even wounded and defeated his father in a battle there in 1079). His son, William Rufus, was to succeed William as King of England, and the third remaining son, Henry, was left 5,000 pounds in silver.8 He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.9

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_of_England

William I (circa 1028[1] – 9 September 1087), also known as William the Conqueror (Guillaume le Conquérant), was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II. Before his conquest of England, he was known as William the Bastard because of the illegitimacy of his birth.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_of_England

William was born in either 1027 or 1028 in Château de Falaise in Falaise, Normandy, France, and more likely in the autumn of the later year.[1][notes 1] William was the only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, as well as the grandnephew of the English Queen, Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and then of King Canute the Great.[3] Though illegitimate, his father named him as heir to Normandy. His mother, Herleva, who later married and bore two sons to Herluin de Conteville, was the daughter of Fulbert of Falaise. In addition to his two half-brothers, Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, William also had a sister, Adelaide of Normandy, another child of Robert.

William's illegitimacy affected his early life. As a child, his life was in constant danger from his kinsmen who thought they had a more legitimate right to rule. One attempt on William's life occurred while he slept at a castle keep at Vaudreuil, when the murderer mistakenly stabbed the child sleeping next to William.[4] Nevertheless, when his father died, he was recognized as the heir.[5] Later in his life, his enemies are reported to have called him "William the Bastard", and derided him as the son of a tanner's daughter, and the residents of besieged Alençon hung animal skins from the city walls to taunt him.
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King of England, 7th Duke of Normandy
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William 'the Conqueror', King of England, 7th Duke of Normandy
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William 'the Conqueror', King of England, 7th Duke of Normandy married Maud, daughter of Ingelric, DID NOT MARRY. William 'the Conqueror', King of England, 7th Duke of Normandy was born on 14 October 1024 at Falaise, Normandy, France. He married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders and Adela of France, in 1053 at Eu, France. William 'the Conqueror', King of England, 7th Duke of Normandy died on 9 September 1087 at Priory St. Gervais, Rouen, France, at age 62.
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''''''Also knowen as William the Conqueror
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Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England, defeated and
killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman
conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of
feudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges
of service and loyalty. As King, William was noted for his efficient if harsh
rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started Domesday Book
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Duke of Normandy, King of England, 1066-1087, Nickname: William the Conqueror-
-The Oxford History of Britain- by Kenneth Morgan, 1984, pp.101-144.
-The Kings and Queens of England- by Nicholas Best, 1995, p.9.
-Western Europe in the Middle Ages,300-1475-by Tierney, 1978,pp.178-183.
Born: 1027
Died: September 9, 1087
Parents: Robert I, Duke of Normandy and Herleva of Falasia
Significant Siblings: none
Spouse: Mathilda (daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders)
Significant Offspring: Robert, William Rufus, Henry, and Adela
Contemporaries: Edward the Confessor (King of England, 1047-1066); Harold Godwinson (King of England, 1066); Henry I (King of France, 1031-1060); Philip I (King of France, 1060-1108); Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085); Lanfranc (Archbishop of Canterbury)

-France in the Middle Ages,987-1460- by George Duby,1987, chart 6.
-Royal Ancestors- by Michel Call, 1989, Chart # 11420.

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started Domesday Book.

William, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, spent his first six years with his mother in Falaise and received the duchy of Normandy upon his father's death in 1035. A council consisting of noblemen and William's appointed guardians ruled Normandy but ducal authority waned under the Normans' violent nature and the province was wracked with assassination and revolt for twelve years. In 1047, William reasserted himself in the eastern Norman regions and, with the aid of France's King Henry I, crushed the rebelling barons. He spent the next several years consolidating his strength on the continent through marriage, diplomacy, war and savage intimidation. By 1066, Normandy was in a position of virtual independence from William's feudal lord, Henry I of France and the disputed succession in England offered William an opportunity for invasion.

Edward the Confessor attempted to gain Norman support while fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, by purportedly promising the throne to William in 1051. (This was either a false claim by William or a hollow promise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarily hereditary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy and barons.) Before his death in 1066, however, Edward reconciled with Godwin, and the witan agreed to Godwin's son, Harold, as heir to the crown - after the recent Danish kings, the members of the council were anxious to keep the monarchy in Anglo-Saxon hands. William was enraged and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to him in 1064. Prepared for battle in August 1066, ill winds throughout August and most of September prohibited him crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be advantageous for William, however, as Harold Godwinson awaited William's pending arrival on England's south shores, Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England from the north. Harold Godwinson's forces marched north to defeat the Norse at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Two days after the battle, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victorious Harold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight south to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. After hours of holding firm against the Normans, the tired English forces finally succumbed to the onslaught. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized Anglo-Saxon resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day 1066. The kingdom was immediately besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually and ruthlessly crushed by the Normans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1072. William punished rebels by confiscating their lands and allocating them to the Normans. Uprisings in the northern counties near York were quelled by an artificial famine brought about by Norman destruction of food caches and farming implements.

The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically altered the course of English history. Rather than attempt a wholesale replacement of Anglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practices with native custom. By disenfranchising Anglo-Saxon landowners, he instituted a brand of feudalism in England that strengthened the monarchy. Villages and manors were given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return for military service and monetary payments. The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriff was greatly enhanced: sheriffs arbitrated legal cases in the shire courts on behalf of the king, extracted tax payments and were generally responsible for keeping the peace. ...The Domesday Book... was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base. Within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, the dominance of the Norman king and his nobility are revealed: only two Anglo-Saxon barons that held lands before 1066 retained those lands twenty years later. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law. Although he began the invasion with papal support, William refused to let the church dictate policy within English and Norman borders.

He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. He died September 9, 1087 from complications of a wound he received in a siege on the town of Mantes.

...The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle... gave a favorable review of William's twenty-one year reign, but added, ...His anxiety for money is the only thing on which he can deservedly be blamed; . . .he would say and do some things and indeed almost anything . . .where the hope of money allured him.... He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high toll from his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the economic and political success of England.

William, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, spent his first six years with his mother in Falaise and received the duchy of Normandy upon his father's death in 1035. A council consisting of noblemen and William's appointed guardians ruled Normandy but ducal authority waned under the Normans' violent nature and the province was wracked with assassination and revolt for twelve years. In 1047, William reasserted himself in the eastern Norman regions and, with the aid of France's King Henry I, crushed the rebelling barons. He spent the next several years consolidating his strength on the continent through marriage, diplomacy, war and savage intimidation. By 1066, Normandy was in a position of virtual independence from William's feudal lord, Henry I of France and the disputed succession in England offered William an opportunity for invasion.

Edward the Confessor attempted to gain Norman support while fighting with his father-in-law, Earl Godwin, by purportedly promising the throne to William in 1051. (This was either a false claim by William or a hollow promise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarily hereditary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy and barons.) Before his death in 1066, however, Edward reconciled with Godwin, and the witan agreed to Godwin's son, Harold, as heir to the crown - after the recent Danish kings, the members of the council were anxious to keep the monarchy in Anglo-Saxon hands. William was enraged and immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had sworn allegiance to him in 1064. Prepared for battle in August 1066, ill winds throughout August and most of September prohibited him crossing the English Channel. This turned out to be advantageous for William, however, as Harold Godwinson awaited William's pending arrival on England's south shores, Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England from the north. Harold Godwinson's forces marched north to defeat the Norse at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Two days after the battle, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging the area and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victorious Harold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight south to William and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. After hours of holding firm against the Normans, the tired English forces finally succumbed to the onslaught. Harold and his brothers died fighting in the Hastings battle, removing any further organized Anglo-Saxon resistance to the Normans. The earls and bishops of the witan hesitated in supporting William, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day 1066. The kingdom was immediately besieged by minor uprisings, each one individually and ruthlessly crushed by the Normans, until the whole of England was conquered and united in 1072. William punished rebels by confiscating their lands and allocating them to the Normans. Uprisings in the northern counties near York were quelled by an artificial famine brought about by Norman destruction of food caches and farming implements.

The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically altered the course of English history. Rather than attempt a wholesale replacement of Anglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practices with native custom. By disenfranchising Anglo-Saxon landowners, he instituted a brand of feudalism in England that strengthened the monarchy. Villages and manors were given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return for military service and monetary payments. The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriff was greatly enhanced: sheriffs arbitrated legal cases in the shire courts on behalf of the king, extracted tax payments and were generally responsible for keeping the peace. ...The Domesday Book... was commissioned in 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish a tax base. Within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, the dominance of the Norman king and his nobility are revealed: only two Anglo-Saxon barons that held lands before 1066 retained those lands twenty years later. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church, establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canon law. Although he began the invasion with papal support, William refused to let the church dictate policy within English and Norman borders.

He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. He died September 9, 1087 from complications of a wound he received in a siege on the town of Mantes.
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William I
(1028 c. – 10/9/1087)
AKA William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard
First Norman King of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 1087.
The descendant of Viking raiders, he had been Duke of Normandy since 1035 under the style William II. After a long struggle to establish his power, by 1060 his hold on Normandy was secure, and he launched the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The rest of his life was marked by struggles to consolidate his hold over England and his continental lands and by difficulties with his eldest son.

William was the son of the unmarried Robert I, Duke of Normandy, by Robert's mistress Herleva. His illegitimate status and his youth caused some difficulties for him after he succeeded his father, as did the anarchy that plagued the first years of his rule. During his childhood and adolescence, members of the Norman aristocracy battled each other, both for control of the child duke and for their own ends. In 1047 William was able to quash a rebellion and begin to establish his authority over the duchy, a process that was not complete until about 1060. His marriage in the 1050s to Matilda of Flanders provided him with a powerful ally in the neighbouring county of Flanders. By the time of his marriage, William was able to arrange the appointments of his supporters as bishops and abbots in the Norman church. His consolidation of power allowed him to expand his horizons, and by 1062 William was able to secure control of the neighbouring county of Maine.

In the 1050s and early 1060s William became a contender for the throne of England, then held by his childless cousin Edward the Confessor. There were other potential claimants, including the powerful English earl Harold Godwinson, who was named the next king by Edward on the latter's deathbed in January 1066. William argued that Edward had previously promised the throne to him, and that Harold had sworn to support William's claim. William built a large fleet and invaded England in September 1066, decisively defeating and killing Harold at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. After further military efforts William was crowned king on Christmas Day 1066, in London. He made arrangements for the governance of England in early 1067 before returning to Normandy. Several unsuccessful rebellions followed, but by 1075 William's hold on England was mostly secure, allowing him to spend the majority of the rest of his reign on the Continent.

William's final years were marked by difficulties in his continental domains, troubles with his eldest son, and threatened invasions of England by the Danes. In 1086 William ordered the compilation of the Domesday Book, a survey listing all the landholders in England along with their holdings. William died in September 1087 while leading a campaign in northern France, and was buried in Caen. His reign in England was marked by the construction of castles, the settling of a new Norman nobility on the land, and change in the composition of the English clergy. He did not try to integrate his various domains into one empire, but instead continued to administer each part separately. William's lands were divided after his death: Normandy went to his eldest son, Robert, and his second surviving son, William, received England.
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{geni:hair_color} Brown

{geni:eye_color} Gray

{geni:height_1} 5 feet

{geni:height_2} 10 inches

1. Acceded December 25, 1066, Westminster Abbey, London City, Middlesex (now London), England, King of England. William was the second cousin of Edward the Confessor and upon Edward's bequest, the most justified claimant to the English crown upon Edward's death.

Although Harold, II had fallen at Hastings, Saxon-English hopes of retaining the throne had not and these hopes were placed upon the shoulders of Edgar Aetheling. William was in no mood to tolerate any further delay from what he saw as his rightful crown and in a systematic, devastating, act of attrition he ordered his troops to burn and kill in the shires of south and south eastern England. The Saxon generals had no moral option but to surrender to such an onslaught. William was duly crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Middlesex, England.

The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by the establishment of feudalism under which William's followers were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnel, especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury.

William was the illegitimate son of Robert the Devil, Duke Normandy, and the daughter of a commoner. Protocol forbade a marriage between the two and branded thus William a bastard. He was not alone in being the son of his mother, Herleva, and indeed his two half-brothers, Odo and Robert supported him in single combat at the Battle of Hastings.

William's claim to the throne of England and his subsequent invasion were fully supported by noblemen of not only Normandy but also Brittany and Flanders. These allies were as equally well rewarded upon his victory by gifts of land and titles. These and all other lands within the English realm were recorded in the famous Domesday Book. In 1085 William started the Domesday Book. The book was so named because it spared none and judged all men without bias. It was a record of a survey of England listing all land owners and showing the value and extent of their holdings. Also called 'DoomsdayBook'.

William was not loved by the Saxons and it is not surprising when one considers the freedoms and basic human rights they lost under the Norman rule. There were many rebellions but they were generallypoorly coordinated and were easily stamped out by William. Invasions by the Welsh and the Danish were just as smartly defeated and for the 21 years of his reign there was only one master of England, William the Conqueror.

William was married to Matilda of Flanders and had no less than 10 children; Robert, Richard, Cecily, William, Adeliza, Constance, Adela, Agatha, Matilda and Henry. In a death fit for a warrior king,William died whilst in combat against the French near the town of Rouen. His body lies in the Normandy town of Caen. Unknown GEDCOM info: MH:N86 Unknown GEDCOM info: 655A3E3D-D83C-44A2-A666-37636523DA85

family
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=d1f7b908-0007-43fa-ba0b-5acf5f14c71f&tid=1173601&pid=-1386647088

Battle of Hastings and life events - highs and lows and noxious gas!
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=28a618e6-09df-4e56-9609-b0f00e4b9ab5&tid=1173601&pid=-1386647088

Overview of William
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William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William'sbirth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded thebarons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years,whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithfultoMatilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edwardpromise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelancesfromall over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but thewindsof the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For whileWilliam cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, whoarrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Twodays later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscatedand given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not goneun-noticed byeither France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, includingone where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money forthis warcould be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another disputewith the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to theChurch of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph Griffiths.
!Name; William I, "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/
1 TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]

!Place; Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France

Alias: The /England/
Ancestral File Number: 8XHZ-SVWilliam I, the Conqueror (1066-1087 AD)

Born: 1027

Died: September 9, 1087

Parents: Robert I, Duke of Normandie and Herleva of Falasia

Significant Siblings: none

Spouse: Mathilda (daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders)

Significant Offspring: Robert, William Rufus, Henry, and Adela

Contemporaries: Edward the Confessor (King of England, 1047-1066); HaroldGodwinson (King of England, 1066); Henry I (King of France, 1031-1060);Philip I (King of France, 1060-1108); Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085);Lanfranc (Archbishop of Canterbury)
William, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandie, spent his firstsix years with his mother in Falaise and received the duchy of Normandieupon his father's death in 1035. A council consisting of noblemen andWilliam's appointed guardians ruled Normandie but ducal authority wanedunder the Normans' violent nature and the province was wracked withassassination and revolt for twelve years. In 1047, William reassertedhimself in the eastern Norman regions and, with the aid of France's KingHenry I, crushed the rebelling barons. He spent the next several yearsconsolidating his strength on the continent through marriage, diplomacy,war and savage intimidation. By 1066, Normandie was in a position ofvirtual independence from William's feudal lord, Henry I of France andthe disputed succession in England offered William an opportunity forinvasion.

Edward the Confessor attempted to gain Norman support while fighting withhis father-in-law, Earl Godwin, by purportedly promising the throne toWilliam in 1051. (This was either a false claim by William or a hollowpromise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarilyhereditary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy andbarons.) Before his death in 1066, however, Edward reconciled withGodwin, and the witan agreed to Godwin's son, Harold, as heir to thecrown - after the recent Danish kings, the members of the council wereanxious to keep the monarchy in Anglo-Saxon hands. William was enragedand immediately prepared to invade, insisting that Harold had swornallegiance to him in 1064. Prepared for battle in August 1066, ill windsthroughout August and most of September prohibited him crossing theEnglish Channel. This turned out to be advantageous for William, however,as Harold Godwinson awaited William's pending arrival on England's southshores, Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England from thenorth. Harold Godwinson's forces marched north to defeat the Norse atStamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. Two days after the battle, Williamlanded unopposed at Pevensey and spent the next two weeks pillaging thearea and strengthening his position on the beachhead. The victoriousHarold, in an attempt to solidify his kingship, took the fight south toWilliam and the Normans on October 14, 1066 at Hastings. After hours ofholding firm against the Normans, the tired English forces finallysuccumbed to the onslaught. Harold and his brothers died fighting in theHastings battle, removing any further organized Anglo-Saxon resistance tothe Normans. The earls and bishops of the witan hesitated in supportingWilliam, but soon submitted and crowned him William I on Christmas Day1066. The kingdom was immediately besieged by minor uprisings, each oneindividually and ruthlessly crushed by the Normans, until the whole ofEngland was conquered and united in 1072. William punished rebels byconfiscating their lands and allocating them to the Normans. Uprisings inthe northern counties near York were quelled by an artificial faminebrought about by Norman destruction of food caches and farming implements.

The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically altered thecourse of English history. Rather than attempt a wholesale replacement ofAnglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practices with native custom.By disenfranchising Anglo-Saxon landowners, he instituted a brand offeudalism in England that strengthened the monarchy. Villages and manorswere given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return formilitary service and monetary payments. The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriffwas greatly enhanced: sheriffs arbitrated legal cases in the shire courtson behalf of the king, extracted tax payments and were generallyresponsible for keeping the peace. "The Domesday Book" was commissionedin 1085 as a survey of land ownership to assess property and establish atax base. Within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, thedominance of the Norman king and his nobility are revealed: only twoAnglo-Saxon barons that held lands before 1066 retained those landstwenty years later. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to Williamin 1086. William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position ofArchbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church,establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canonlaw. Although he began the invasion with papal support, William refusedto let the church dictate policy within English and Norman borders.

He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. He died September 9, 1087from complications of a wound he received in a siege on the town ofMantes.

"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" gave a favorable review of William'stwenty-one year reign, but added, "His anxiety for money is the onlything on which he can deservedly be blamed; . . .he would say and do somethings and indeed almost anything . . .where the hope of money alluredhim." He was certainly cruel by modern standards, and exacted a high tollfrom his subjects, but he laid the foundation for the economic andpolitical success of England.

William

Kings of England. William I or William the Conqueror, 1027?-1087(r.1066-1087), was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandie,and succeeded to the dukedom in 1035. While visiting (1051) England, hewas probably named by his cousin Edward The Confessor as successor to thethrone, and in 1064 he extracted a promise of support from Harold, thenearl of Wessex. In 1066, hearing that Harold had been crowned king ofEngland, William raised an army and crossed the Channel. He defeated andslew Harold at Hastings and was crowned king. William immediately builtcastles and harshly put down the rebellions that broke out; by 1072 themilitary part of the Norman Conquest was virtually complete. Hesubstituted foreign prelates for many English bishops, and land titleswere redistributed on a feudal basis (see Feudalism) to his Normanfollowers. After 1075 he dealt frequently with continental quarrels.William ordered a survey (1085-86) of England, the results of which werecompiled as the Doomsday Book. He was one of the greatest Englishmonarchs and a pivotal figure in European history. His son Robert IIsucceeded him in Normandie, while another son, William II or WilliamRufus, d. 1100 (r.1087-1100), succeeded him in England. William II hadutter contempt for the English church and extorted large sums of moneyfrom it. He occupied Normandie when Robert II left on a crusade, andgained control (1097) of the Scottish throne. He was killed whilehunting, and his death may not have been an accident. His brother Henry Isucceeded him. William III, 1650-1702, king of England, Scotland, andIreland (1689-1702), was the son of William II, prince of Orange. Hebecame stadtholder of the Netherlands in 1672 and fought in the Dutch Warof 1672-78. In 1674 he made peace with England and married (1677) Mary,the Protestant daughter of James, duke of York (later James Ii ofEngland). After James's accession, William kept in contact with theking's opponents and in 1688 was invited by them to England. He landedwith an army and brought about the Glorious Revolution. James was allowedto escape, and William accepted (1689) the offer of Parliament andreigned jointly with his wife, Mary Ii. William also accepted the Bill ofRights (1689), which greatly reduced royal power. He defeated (1690) theexiled James at the battle of the Boyne in Ireland and was involved incontinental wars until Louis Xiv recognized him as king in 1697. InEngland he relied increasingly on Whig ministers, who were responsiblefor the establishment (1694) of the Bank of England and the policy of anational debt. William's popularity was diminished after the death (1694)of his childless wife and by the War of the Spanish Succession. He wassucceeded by Queen Anne. William IV, 1765-1837, king of Great Britain andIreland (1830-37), was the third son of George Iii. Generally passive inpolitics, he reluctantly gave his promise to the 2d Earl Grey to create,if necessary, enough peers to pass the Reform Bill of 1832. Politicalleadership was left to the duke of Wellington, Earl Grey, ViscountMelbourne, and Sir Robert Peel. Good-natured but eccentric, William wasonly moderately popular. He was succeeded by his niece Victoria

William I, William the Conqueror (c.1028 - 1087)

William I After successfully invading England, William the Conquerorchanged the course of English history. The illegitimate son of Robert Iof Normandie, William became Duke of Normandie on his father's death in1035. With many in his family eager to profit from his death, hischildhood was dangerous: three of his guardians died violently and histutor was murdered.

In 1042 he began to take more personal control, but his attempts to bringhis subjects into line caused problems. From 1046 until 1055 he dealtwith a series of baronial rebellions. In 1052, facing rebellions ineastern Normandie, he began conducting negotiations with his cousinEdward the Confessor, King of England. William developed an ambition tobecome his kinsman's heir, encouraged by Edward, who possibly evenpromised him the throne in 1051.

In around 1064 Edward sent Harold, Earl of Wessex, on an embassy toNormandie. During this trip Norman writers maintain that he swore tosupport William's claim to the English throne. Yet when Edward diedchildless in January 1066, Harold was himself crowned king. Furious,William decided on war. He landed in England on 28th September,establishing a bridgehead near Hastings.

Harold met him from Stamford Bridge, where he had just defeated HaraldHardraade. He arrived at Hastings late on 13th October, his troops tired.Early the next day William attacked. After a poor start, he rallied histroops. Harold's brothers were killed early in the battle; Harold felltowards dusk. On Christmas Day 1066 William was crowned.

The first years of his reign were spent quashing rebellions and securinghis borders. He invaded Scotland in 1072 and Wales in 1081 and createdspecial defensive 'marcher' counties along the borders. The kingdom safe,he spent most of his last 15 years in Normandie. He left the governmentof England to bishops, returning only when absolutely necessary. While inEngland to face a threatened Danish invasion, in 1086 he ordered a surveyto be made of the kingdom: this was to be Domesday Book.

Abroad, William was threatened by an alliance of Philip I of France andWilliam's son, Robert Curthose. In July 1087, while in Mantes, he wasmortally wounded. He spent five weeks dying, attended by his youngersons, William Rufus and Henry. Robert was with Philip and William's angerresulted in his splitting his inheritance. In line with custom, Robertreceived William's French lands and titles, but England went to WilliamRufus.
[FAVthomas.FTW]

Byname William The Conqueror, or The Bastard, or William of Normandie,French Guillaume Le Conquérant, or Le Bâtard, or Guillaume De Normandieduke of Normandie (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from1066, one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He madehimself the mightiest feudal lord in France and then changed the courseof England's history by his conquest of that country.
William was the elder of two children of Robert I of Normandie and hisconcubine Herleva, or Arlette, the daughter of a burgher from the town ofFalaise. In 1035 Robert died when returning from a pilgrimage toJerusalem, and William, his only son, whom he had nominated as his heirbefore his departure, was accepted as duke by the Norman magnates and hisfeudal overlord, King Henry I of France. William and his friends had toovercome enormous obstacles. His illegitimacy (he was generally known asthe Bastard) was a handicap, and he had to survive the collapse of lawand order
that accompanied his accession as a child.
Three of William's guardians died violent deaths before he grew up,and his tutor was murdered. His father's kin were of little help; most ofthem thought that they stood to gain by the boy's death. But his mothermanaged to protect William through the most dangerous period. These earlydifficulties probably contributed to his strength of purpose and hisdislike of lawlessness and misrule.
By 1042, when William reached his 15th year, was knighted, and beganto play a personal part in the affairs of his duchy, the worst was over.But his attempts to recover rights lost during the anarchy and to bringdisobedient vassals and servants to heel inevitably led to trouble. From1046 until 1055 he dealt with a series of baronial rebellions, mostly ledby kinsmen. Occasionally he was in great danger and had to rely on Henryof France for help. In 1047 Henry and William defeated a coalition ofNorman
rebels at Val-ès-Dunes, southeast of Caen. It was in these years thatWilliam learned to fight and rule.
William soon learned to control his youthful recklessness. He wasalways ready to take calculated risks on campaign and, most important, tofight a battle. But he was not a chivalrous or flamboyant commander. Hisplans were simple, his methods direct, and he exploited ruthlessly anyadvantage gained. If he found himself at a disadvantage, he withdrewimmediately. He showed the same qualities in his government. He neverlost sight of his aim to recover lost ducal rights and revenues, and,although he developed no theory of government or great interest inadministrative techniques, he
was always prepared to improvise and experiment. He seems to have lived amoral life by the standards of the time, and he acquired an interest inthe welfare of the Norman church. He made his half brother, Odo, bishopof Bayeux in 1049 at the age of about 16, and Odo managed to combine theroles of nobleman and prelate in a way that did not greatly shockcontemporaries. But William also welcomed foreign monks and scholars toNormandie. Lanfranc of Pavia, a famous master of the liberal arts, who
entered the monastery of Bec about 1042, was made abbot of Caen in 1063.
According to a brief description of William's person by an anonymousauthor, who borrowed extensively from Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, hewas just above average height and had a robust, thick-set body. Though hewas always sparing of food and drink, he became fat in later life. He hada rough bass voice and was a good and ready speaker. Writers of the nextgeneration agree that he was exceptionally strong and vigorous. Williamwas an out-of-doors man, a hunter and soldier, fierce and despotic,generally feared; uneducated, he had few graces but was intelligent andshrewd and soon obtained the respect of his rivals.
After 1047 William began to take part in events outside his duchy. Insupport of his lord, King Henry, and in pursuit of an ambition tostrengthen his southern frontier and expand into Maine, he fought aseries of campaigns against Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. But in 1052Henry and Geoffrey made peace, there was a serious rebellion in easternNormandie, and, until 1054 William was again in serious danger. Duringthis period he conducted important negotiations with his cousin Edwardthe Confessor, king of England, and took a wife.
Norman interest in Anglo-Saxon England derived from an alliance madein 1002, when King Ethelred II of England married Emma, the sister ofCount Richard II, William's grandfather. Two of her sons, William'scousins once removed, had reigned in turn in England, Hardecanute(1040–42) and Edward the Confessor (1042–66). William had met Edwardduring that prince's exile on the Continent and may well have given himsome support when he returned to England in 1041. In that year Edward wasabout 36 and William 14. It is clear that William expected some sort ofreward from Edward and, when Edward's marriage proved unfruitful, beganto develop an ambition to become his kinsman's heir. Edward probably attimes encouraged William's hopes. His childlessness was a diplomaticasset.
In 1049 William negotiated with Baldwin V of Flanders for the hand ofhis daughter, Matilda. Baldwin, an imperial vassal with a distinguishedlineage, was in rebellion against the Western emperor, Henry III, and indesperate need of allies. The proposed marriage was condemned asincestuous (William and Matilda were evidently related in some way) bythe Emperor's friend, Pope Leo IX, at the Council of Reims in October1049; but so anxious were the parties for the alliance that before theend of 1053, possibly in 1052, the wedding took place. In 1059 Williamwas reconciled to the papacy, and as penance the disobedient pair builttwo monasteries at Caen. Four sons were born to William and Matilda:Robert (the future duke of Normandie), Richard (who died young), WilliamRufus (the Conqueror's successor in England), and Henry (Rufus'successor). Among the daughters was Adela, who was the mother of Stephen,king of England.
Edward the Confessor was supporting the Emperor, and it is possiblethat William used his new alliance with Flanders to put pressure onEdward and extort an acknowledgment that he was the English king's heir.At all events, Edward seems to have made some sort of promise to Williamin 1051, while Tostig, son of the greatest nobleman in England, EarlGodwine, married Baldwin's half sister. The immediate purpose of thistripartite alliance was to improve the security of each of the parties. If
William secured a declaration that he was Edward's heir, he was alsolooking very far ahead.
Between 1054 and 1060 William held his own against an alliance betweenKing Henry I and Geoffrey Martel of Anjou. Both men died in 1060 and weresucceeded by weaker rulers. As a result, in 1063 William was able toconquer Maine. In 1064 or 1065 Edward sent his brother-in-law, Harold,earl of Wessex, Godwine's son and successor, on an embassy to Normandie.William took him on a campaign into Brittany, and in connection with thisHarold swore an oath in which, according to Norman writers, he
renewed Edward's bequest of the throne to William and promised to supportit.
When Edward died childless on Jan. 5, 1066, Harold was accepted asking by the English magnates, and William decided on war. Others,however, moved more quickly. In May Tostig, Harold's exiled brother,raided England, and in September he joined the invasion forces of HaraldIII Hardraade, king of Norway, off the Northumbrian coast. Williamassembled a fleet, recruited an army, and gathered his forces in Augustat the mouth of the Dives River. It is likely that he originally intendedto sail due north and invade England by way of the Isle of Wight andSouthampton Water. Such a plan would give him an offshore base andinterior lines. But adverse winds detained his fleet in harbour for amonth, and in September a westerly gale drove his ships up-Channel.
William regrouped his forces at Saint-Valéry on the Somme. He hadsuffered a costly delay, some naval losses, and a drop in the morale ofhis troops. On September 27, after cold and rainy weather, the windbacked south. William embarked his army and set sail for the southeastcoast of England. The following morning he landed, took the unresistingtowns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead withbetween 4,000 and 7,000 cavalry and infantry.
William's forces were in a narrow coastal strip, hemmed in by thegreat forest of Andred, and, although this corridor was easilydefensible, it was not much of a base for the conquest of England. Thecampaigning season was almost past, and when William received news of hisopponent it was not reassuring. On September 25 Harold had defeated andslain Tostig and Harald Hardraade at Stamford Bridge, near York, and wasretracing his steps to meet the new invader. On October 13, when Haroldemerged from the forest, William was taken by surprise. But the hour wastoo late for Harold to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensiveposition. Early the next day William went out to give battle. He attackedthe English phalanx with archers and cavalry but saw his army almostdriven from the field. He rallied the fugitives, however, and broughtthem back into the fight and in the end wore down his opponents. Harold'sbrothers were killed early in the battle. Toward nightfall the Kinghimself fell and the English gave up. William's coolness and tenacitysecured him victory in this fateful battle, and he then moved againstpossible centres of resistance so quickly that he prevented a new leaderfrom emerging. On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned king in WestminsterAbbey. In a formal sense the Norman Conquest of England had taken place.
William was already an experienced ruler. In Normandie he had replaceddisloyal nobles and ducal servants with his own friends, limited privatewarfare, and recovered usurped ducal rights, defining the feudal dutiesof his vassals. The Norman church flourished under his rule. He wanted achurch free of corruption but subordinate to him. He would not tolerateopposition from bishops and abbots or interference from the papacy. Hepresided over church synods and reinforced ecclesiastical discipline withhis own. In supporting Lanfranc, prior of Bec, against Berengar of Toursin their dispute
over the doctrine of the Eucharist, he found himself on the side oforthodoxy. He was never guilty of the selling of church office (simony).He disapproved of clerical marriage. At the same time he was a stern andsometimes rough master, swayed by political necessities, and he was notgenerous to the church with his own property. The reformer Lanfranc wasone of his advisers; but perhaps even more to his taste were the worldlyand soldierly bishops Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Coutances.
William left England early in 1067 but had to return in Decemberbecause of English unrest. The English rebellions that began in 1067reached their peak in 1069 and were finally quelled in 1071. Theycompleted the ruin of the highest English aristocracy and gave William adistaste for his newly conquered kingdom. Since his position on theContinent was deteriorating, he wanted to solve English problems ascheaply as possible. To secure England's frontiers, he invaded Scotlandin 1072 and Wales in 1081 and created special defensive marcher countiesalong the Scottish and Welsh borders.
In the last 15 years of his life he was more often in Normandie thanin England, and there were five years, possibly seven, in which he didnot visit the kingdom at all. He retained most of the greatestAnglo-Norman barons with him in Normandie and confided the government ofEngland to bishops, trusting especially his old friend Lanfranc, whom hemade archbishop of Canterbury. Much concerned that the natives should notbe unnecessarily disturbed, he allowed them to retain their own laws andcourts.
William returned to England only when it was absolutely necessary: in1075 to deal with the aftermath of a rebellion by Roger, earl ofHereford, and Ralf, earl of Norfolk, which was made more dangerous by theintervention of a Danish fleet; and in 1082 to arrest and imprison hishalf brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux and earl of Kent, who was planning totake an army to Italy, perhaps to make himself pope. In the spring of1082 William had his son Henry knighted, and in August at Salisbury hetook oaths of fealty from all the important landowners in England,whosoever's vassals they might be. In 1085 he returned with a large armyto meet the threat of an invasion by Canute IV (Canute the Holy) ofDenmark. When this came to nothing owing to Canute's death in 1086,William ordered an economic and tenurial survey to be made of thekingdom, the results of which are summarized in the two volumes ofDomesday Book.
William was preoccupied with the frontiers of Normandie. The dangerspots were in Maine and the Vexin on the Seine, where Normandie borderedon the French royal demesne. After 1066 William's continental neighboursbecame more powerful and even more hostile. In 1068 Fulk the Surlysucceeded to Anjou and in 1071 Robert the Frisian to Flanders. Philip Iof France allied with Robert and Robert with the Danish king, Canute IV.There was also the problem of William's heir apparent, Robert Curthose,who, given no appanage and seemingly kept short of money, left Normandiein 1077 and intrigued with his father's enemies. In 1081 William made acompromise with Fulk in the treaty of Blancheland: Robert Curthose was tobe count of Maine but as a vassal of the count of Anjou. The eastern partof the Vexin, the county of Mantes, had fallen completely into KingPhilip's hands in 1077 when William had been busy with Maine. In 1087William demanded from Philip the return of the towns of Chaumont, Mantes,
and Pontoise. In July he entered Mantes by surprise, but while the townburned he suffered some injury from which he never recovered. He wasthwarted at the very moment when he seemed about to enforce his lastoutstanding territorial claim.
William was taken to a suburb of Rouen, where he lay dying for fiveweeks. He had the
assistance of some of his bishops and doctors, and in attendance were hishalf brother Robert, count of Mortain, and his younger sons, WilliamRufus and Henry. Robert Curthose was with the King of France. It hadprobably been his intention that Robert, as was the custom, shouldsucceed to the whole inheritance. In the circumstances he was tempted tomake the loyal Rufus his sole heir. In the end he compromised: Normandieand Maine went to Robert and England to Rufus. Henry was given greattreasure with which he could purchase an appanage. William died atdaybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buried in ratherunseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built at Caen.

To cite this page: "William I" Encyclopædia Britannica
<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?query=william+the+conquerer&eu=79080>

Reigned 1066-1087. Duc de Normandie 1035-1087. Invaded England defeatedand killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King.The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by theestablishment of feudalism under which his followers were granted land inreturn for pledges of service and loyalty. King William was noted for hisefficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman and otherforeign personnel especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085started the Domesday Book.

NOTES: William of the House of Normandie; The first Norman King; On 28Sep 1066 William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Normaninvasion of England. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.William introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath ofSalisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thusestablishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrodehis fealty to his immediate lord. During a campaign against King Philip Iof France, William fell from a horse and was fatally injured. William wasthe illegitimate son of Robert I, Duc de Normandie and Arletta, atanner's daughter. He is sometimes called "William the Bastard".

REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William requested a largenumber of Jews to move to England after his conquest. They spoke Norman &did well under his reign.

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: The victory of William I, 'theConqueror' (reigned 1066-1087) at Hastings and his subsequent coronationin Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 did not give him completecontrol of England. Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushedand castles were built to control the country (including a fortress onthe site of Windsor Castle, and the White Tower at the Tower of London).The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given to William's followers inreturn for military service by a certain number of knights, so that thetenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to the king. This firmlyestablished the feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the DomesdayBook, to record land holdings for the
assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods inNormandie to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions andFrench invasions.
William died in 1087 leaving Normandie to his eldest son, Robert, andEngland to his second son, William II Rufus (reigned 1087-1100).

REF: "Royal Descents of Famous People" Mark Humphreys: Steve Jones' book"In the Blood: God, Genes, & Destiny" 1996, estimates that 25% of thepopulation of Britain is descended from William the Conqueror. Consideryou need two parents, four grandparents, etc. Assuming an average of abt25 years per generation, you only need go back to 1200, quite withinhistorical times, to need more separate ancestors than the population ofthe world. Therefor we all must descend from cousin marriages, many timesover, even within the last few hundred years. Davenport claimed "nopeople of English descent are more distantly related than 30th cousins".

William I, byname WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, or THE BASTARD, or WILLIAM OFNormandie, French GUILLAUME LE

William I (of England), called The Conqueror (1027-87), first Norman kingof England (1066-87) , who has been called one of the first modern kingsand is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in westernEuropean history.

Born in Falaise, France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I,Duke of Normandy (die d 1035), and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and istherefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of hisfather, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, acceptedWilliam as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke outalmost immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, King of France, he won a decisivevictory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor,King of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement thathe should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban,William married Matilda of Flanders (died 1083), daughter of Baldwin V,count of Flanders (died 1067) and a descendant of King Alfred the Great,thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearingthe strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from themarriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke,but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Conquest of England

About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, wasshipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He securedhis release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne.When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council ) electedHarold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured thesanction of Pope Alexander II (died 1073) for a Norman invasion ofEngland. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28,1066.On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at thecelebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William thenproceeded to London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way.On Christmas Day he was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.

The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William metthe opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west,with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of greatareas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces hadarrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of Englandwas complete.

William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm IIIMacDuncan (died 1093 ) to pay him homage. During the succeeding years theConqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, includingthat incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and RogerFitzwilliam, Earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy ledby his eldest son Robert (1054?-1134), who later became Robert II, Dukeof Normandy.

His Achievements

One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of theEnglish feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the greatearldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxonpredecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English tohis trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system offeudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords sworeallegiance to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal'sloyalty to the king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudallords were compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts,which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions.The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power ofthe papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstandingaccomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in theDomesday Book in 1086 .

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, Williamburned the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell inthe vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. He died in Rouen onSeptember 7 and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeyshe and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance fortheir defiance of the pope. William was succeeded by his third-born son,William II.

Biographic entry: B1581

"William I (of England)," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c)1993Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation

BIOGRAPHY: He is most well known, of course, for conquering England in 1066. A notable achievement, no doubt, and a catchy nickname to boot! Here's what the Encyclopaedia Britannica has to say about his death:

BIOGRAPHY: William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buried in rather unseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built at Caen.
OK. What's unseemly? Is there something they're not telling us? Don't your ears perk up when you hear this? Now listen to what The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain has to say about it:

BIOGRAPHY: On 9 September 1087, William I died. His body was carried to his great church of St. Stephen at Caen. Towards the end of his life he had grown very fat, and when the attendants tried to force the body into the stone sarcophagus, it burst, filling the church with a foul smell. It was an unfortunate ending to the career of an unusually fortunate and competent king.

BIOGRAPHY: Alright, now we're talking! In fact, after reading this account, one of our visitors, George O. Huber, in a remarkable display of one-upsmanship, found an even more detailed description of the unusual funeral. From Extraordinary Endings of Practically Everything and Everybody by C. Panati:

BIOGRAPHY: From postmortem decay the abscess had turgidly putrefied, bloating the corpse and expanding its girth. A group of bishops applied pressure on the king's abdomen to force the body downward (in the coffin) but it moved only inches; the lid still would not shut. Again they pushed, and the abdominal wall, already under intense internal pressure, burst. Pus and putrefaction drenched the king's death garb and seeped throughout the coffin. The stench so overpowered chapel mourners that, hands to noses, many raced for the doors ...
P
erhaps a little more than we needed to know, but, there it is. While still on the topic of William, we should note that his coronation was in the still brand spankin' new (in 1066!) Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. According, again, to the Oxford Illustrated History of Britain:

BIOGRAPHY: The shouts of acclamation -- in English as well as in French -- alarmed the Norman guards stationed outside the abbey. Believing that inside the church something had gone horribly wrong, they set fire to the neighbouring houses. Half a century later, a Norman monk recalled the chaos of that day. 'As the fire spread rapidly, the people in the church were thrown into confusion and crowds of them rushed outside, some to fight the flames, others to take the chance to go looting.

BIOGRAPHY: Why's it called the Dark Ages? Sounds like there was lots of excitement to me. I just wouldn't want to be the king. Those are some poor quality guards; and hardly the show of pomp and power you want at a coronation.

_P_CCINFO 1-2782

William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William'sbirth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded thebarons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years,whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithfultoMatilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edwardpromise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelancesfromall over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but thewindsof the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For whileWilliam cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, whoarrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Twodays later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscatedand given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not goneun-noticed byeither France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, includingone where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money forthis warcould be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another disputewith the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to theChurch of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph Griffiths.
!Name; William I, "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/
1 TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]

!Place; Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France

William the Conqueror
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=29eeb34d-ea4d-4443-b3d8-aef2c203eab1&tid=5698773&pid=-1276299701

_P_CCINFO 1-7369

Other: Was also known as: Guilaume 1 "Le Conquberant" De Normandie

Guilherme sucedeu ao pai como Guilherme II da Normandia em 1035, com apenas sete anos. O ducado foi entregue a um grupo de regentes e Guilherme foi viver para a corte de França, onde foi feito cavaleiro por Henrique I de França aos quinze anos. Pouco depois assumiu a governação da Normandia e teve de lidar com revoltas e tentativas de usurpação. Foi com a ajuda de Henrique de França que Guilherme assegurou definitivamente o seu ducado após a batalha de Val-ès-Dunes em 1047.

King William de Normandie "the Conqueror"

William the Conqueror acknowledges Harold's of allegiance
Scene from the Bayeux Tapestry

Statue of William the Conqueror
erected in Falaise, his birthplace, in 1851.

Abbaye-aux-Dames
founded by William the Conquerer and Matilda, in Cane France.

Abbaye-aux-Hommes
founded by William the Conquerer and Matilda, in Cane France.

William I, called "William the Conqueror", was an illegitimate son of Robert I, dukeof Normandy. His mother was a tanner's daughter. William succeeded his father when he was only 7 years old. At 24 hehad made himself the mightiest feudal lord in all France by various conquests, but his ambition was not satisfied. Helaid plans to become king of England also.

William's wife Matilda was descended from the old Anglo-Saxon line of kings. Among their children were foursons: Robert, future duke of Normandy; Richard, who died as a youth; William Rufus, who succeeded his father as kingof England; and Henry, who succeeded William Rufus. One daughter, Adela, became the mother of England's King Stephen.

Edward the Confessor, king of England, was William's cousin. William used hisconnection with Flanders to put pressure on Edward to extort a promise that he would become heir to the Englishthrone. It is probable that Edward made some kind of pledge to William as early as 1051. Edward died childless on Jan.5, 1066. William then claimed the throne on the basis of this promise. The English, however, chose Harold, earl ofWessex, as their king.

William prepared a large expedition and set sail for England. On Oct. 14, 1066, he defeated and killed Harold atHastings in one of the decisive battles of the world (see Hastings, Battle of). Then he marched on London, and onChristmas day he was crowned king.

After subduing England's powerful earls, William seized their lands for his Norman nobles and ordered the noblesto build fortified stone castles to protect their lands. As payment for their fiefs, the nobles supplied the king witharmed knights. French became the language of the king's court and gradually blended with the Anglo-Saxon tongue.

William won the loyalty of the mass of the people by wisely retaining the old Anglo-Saxon laws, courts, andcustoms with only a few changes. Thus the principle of self-government, which lies at the root of the political systemof English-speaking peoples, was preserved and strengthened. At the same time, William taught the English theadvantages of a central government strong enough to control feudal lords.

Toward the end of his reign, William ordered a great census to be taken of all the lands and people of England.This survey was called Domesday Book. Two of the original books may still be seen at the Public Records Office inLondon. "So very narrowly did he cause the survey to be made," complained the old Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, "that therewas not a single rood of land, nor an ox, or a cow, or a pig passed by, and that was not set down in the accounts."

William was often on the continent dealing with his widespread holdings. He died there in 1087 from injuriesreceived while warring with Philip I of France. William was a man of great stature and had a tremendous voice. Suchwas the good order he established that, according to a quaint historian of his time, "any man, who was himself aught,might travel over the kingdom with a bosom of gold unmolested, and no man durst kill another, however great the injuryhe might have received from him." He was succeeded in Normandy by his eldest son, Robert, and in England by his secondson, William II, called William Rufus.

He invaded England defeating the English forces in the Battle of Hastings in Oct. 1066. He became King ofEngland on Christmas Day 1066 and ruled until his death in 1087.

He appointed the Norman nobles to high positions and divided the land among Norman's, forcing most Anglo-Saxonsto become servants. William had England surveyed to determine how much property there was in England and who owned it.This survey became known as Doomsday Book. It is claimed that the ancestral lineage of William also is directlytraceable to Charlemagne and then on back to Julius Caesar.

William and Matilda founded two monastic communities in Caen, France. The Abbaye-auz-Hommes, dedicated to St. Stephan for men, and the Abbaye-aux-Dames for women.
For more information see the Our Folk - Hart family Web Site

from "Our Folk" by Albert D Hart, Jr.

Guillaume le Bâtard, Guillaume Ier roi d'Angleterre

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England,
defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and
became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072
aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers
were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As
King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His
administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started
Domesday Book.

1 BIRT 2 DATE 14 OCT 1024 2 PLAC Falaise, Calvados, Normandy, France 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 DEAT 2 DATE 9 SEP 1087 2 PLAC Rouen, France 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001

[De La Pole.FTW]
Sources: RC 81, 89, 140, 141; Kings and Queens of Britain; Coe; Norr; A. Roots 121, 121E, 169; AF; Kraentzler 1062, 1156, 1218, 1241, 1265, 1342, 1346, 1350; Butler; Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants; Pfafman; AIS; Davis.
Roots: Duke of Normandy and King of England. Descents: William I, the Conqueror, King of England, died 1087. AIS: William the Conqueror, King of England, born 14 Oct. 1024, Falaise, France; died 9 Sept. 1087, Hermenbraville, France. Crowned King of England Dec. 25, 1066, after the Battle of Hastings. Reigned from 1066-1087, first of the English Royal House of Normandy. Davis: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy 1035-1087 and King of England 1066-1087. About one-fifth or one-sixth of William's 1066 invasion force was from outside Normandy, notably from Brittany, Flanders, Artois and Picardy. K-1350: William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, born 14 Oct. 1024 at Falais, Calvados, France; married Matilda about 1053; died 9 Sept. 1087 at Hermenbraville, S-Infr., France. Norr lists six or seven children by Matilda: Adelia, William II, Henry I, Adelaide, Robert and Constance (and/or) Daughter, born about 1066. AF lists an Anna born about 1066. Others could be children of mistresses, not by Matilda. He had several other children besides the five listed by Butler, Butler says. K. is the only one who lists Gundred as a daughter. He could be wrong.

[large-G675.FTW]

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeatedand killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King.The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by theestablishment of feudalism under which his followers were granted land inreturn for pledges of service and loyalty. King William was noted forhis efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman andother foreign personnel especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In1085 started the Domesday Book.

NOTES: William of the House of Normandy; The first Norman King; On 28 Sep1066 William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Normaninvasion of England. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.William introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath ofSalisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thusestablishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrodehis fealty to his immediate lord. During a campaign against King Philip Iof France, William fell from a horse and was fatally injured. William wasthe illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy and Arletta, atanner's daughter. He is sometimes called "William the Bastard".

REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William requested a largenumber of Jews to move to England after his conquest. They spoke Norman& did well under his reign.

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: The victory of William I, 'theConqueror' (reigned 1066-1087) at Hastings and his subsequent coronationin Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 did not give him completecontrol of England. Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushedand castles were built to control the country (including a fortress onthe site of Windsor Castle, and the White Tower at the Tower of London).The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given to William's followers inreturn for military service by a certain number of knights, so that thetenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to the king. This firmlyestablished the feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the DomesdayBook, to record land holdings for the
assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods inNormandy to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions andFrench invasions.
William died in 1087 leaving Normandy to his eldest son, Robert, andEngland to his second son, William II Rufus (reigned 1087-1100).

REF: "Royal Descents of Famous People" Mark Humphreys: Steve Jones' book"In the Blood: God, Genes, & Destiny" 1996, estimates that 25% of thepopulation of Britain is descended from William the Conqueror. Consideryou need two parents, four grandparents, etc. Assuming an average of abt25 years per generation, you only need go back to 1200, quite withinhistorical times, to need more separate ancestors than the population ofthe world. Therefor we all must descend from cousin marriages, manytimes over, even within the last few hundred years. Davenport claimed"no people of English descent are more distantly related than 30thcousins".

Acceded Oct 1066-1087.

William I
The victory of William I, 'the Conqueror' (1066-1087), Duke of Normandy,at Hastings and his subsequent coronation in Westminster Abbey onChristmas Day 1066 did not give him complete control of England.Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushed and castles built tocontrol the country (including a fortress at Windsor, and the White Towerat the Tower of London). The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given toWilliam's followers in return for military service by a certain number ofknights, so that the tenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to theKing. This firmly established the feudal system. In 1086, Williamcommissioned the Domesday Book, to record land holdings for theassessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods inNormandy to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions andFrench invasions. William died in 1087 in Normandy, leaving his duchy tohis eldest son, Robert, and England to his next surviving son, WilliamRufus.

[large-G675.FTW]

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeatedand killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King.The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by theestablishment of feudalism under which his followers were granted land inreturn for pledges of service and loyalty. King William was noted forhis efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman andother foreign personnel especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In1085 started the Domesday Book.

NOTES: William of the House of Normandy; The first Norman King; On 28 Sep1066 William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Normaninvasion of England. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.William introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath ofSalisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thusestablishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrodehis fealty to his immediate lord. During a campaign against King Philip Iof France, William fell from a horse and was fatally injured. William wasthe illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy and Arletta, atanner's daughter. He is sometimes called "William the Bastard".

REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William requested a largenumber of Jews to move to England after his conquest. They spoke Norman& did well under his reign.

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: The victory of William I, 'theConqueror' (reigned 1066-1087) at Hastings and his subsequent coronationin Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 did not give him completecontrol of England. Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushedand castles were built to control the country (including a fortress onthe site of Windsor Castle, and the White Tower at the Tower of London).The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given to William's followers inreturn for military service by a certain number of knights, so that thetenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to the king. This firmlyestablished the feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the DomesdayBook, to record land holdings for the
assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods inNormandy to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions andFrench invasions.
William died in 1087 leaving Normandy to his eldest son, Robert, andEngland to his second son, William II Rufus (reigned 1087-1100).

REF: "Royal Descents of Famous People" Mark Humphreys: Steve Jones' book"In the Blood: God, Genes, & Destiny" 1996, estimates that 25% of thepopulation of Britain is descended from William the Conqueror. Consideryou need two parents, four grandparents, etc. Assuming an average of abt25 years per generation, you only need go back to 1200, quite withinhistorical times, to need more separate ancestors than the population ofthe world. Therefor we all must descend from cousin marriages, manytimes over, even within the last few hundred years. Davenport claimed"no people of English descent are more distantly related than 30thcousins".

[large-G675.FTW]

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeatedand killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King.The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by theestablishment of feudalism under which his followers were granted land inreturn for pledges of service and loyalty. King William was noted forhis efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman andother foreign personnel especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In1085 started the Domesday Book.

NOTES: William of the House of Normandy; The first Norman King; On 28 Sep1066 William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Normaninvasion of England. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.William introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath ofSalisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thusestablishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrodehis fealty to his immediate lord. During a campaign against King Philip Iof France, William fell from a horse and was fatally injured. William wasthe illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy and Arletta, atanner's daughter. He is sometimes called "William the Bastard".

REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William requested a largenumber of Jews to move to England after his conquest. They spoke Norman& did well under his reign.

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: The victory of William I, 'theConqueror' (reigned 1066-1087) at Hastings and his subsequent coronationin Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 did not give him completecontrol of England. Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushedand castles were built to control the country (including a fortress onthe site of Windsor Castle, and the White Tower at the Tower of London).The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given to William's followers inreturn for military service by a certain number of knights, so that thetenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to the king. This firmlyestablished the feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the DomesdayBook, to record land holdings for the
assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods inNormandy to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions andFrench invasions.
William died in 1087 leaving Normandy to his eldest son, Robert, andEngland to his second son, William II Rufus (reigned 1087-1100).

REF: "Royal Descents of Famous People" Mark Humphreys: Steve Jones' book"In the Blood: God, Genes, & Destiny" 1996, estimates that 25% of thepopulation of Britain is descended from William the Conqueror. Consideryou need two parents, four grandparents, etc. Assuming an average of abt25 years per generation, you only need go back to 1200, quite withinhistorical times, to need more separate ancestors than the population ofthe world. Therefor we all must descend from cousin marriages, manytimes over, even within the last few hundred years. Davenport claimed"no people of English descent are more distantly related than 30thcousins".

[large-G675.FTW]

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England defeatedand killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became King.The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by theestablishment of feudalism under which his followers were granted land inreturn for pledges of service and loyalty. King William was noted forhis efficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman andother foreign personnel especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In1085 started the Domesday Book.

NOTES: William of the House of Normandy; The first Norman King; On 28 Sep1066 William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Normaninvasion of England. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.William introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath ofSalisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thusestablishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrodehis fealty to his immediate lord. During a campaign against King Philip Iof France, William fell from a horse and was fatally injured. William wasthe illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy and Arletta, atanner's daughter. He is sometimes called "William the Bastard".

REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William requested a largenumber of Jews to move to England after his conquest. They spoke Norman& did well under his reign.

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: The victory of William I, 'theConqueror' (reigned 1066-1087) at Hastings and his subsequent coronationin Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 did not give him completecontrol of England. Remaining resistance was, however, severely crushedand castles were built to control the country (including a fortress onthe site of Windsor Castle, and the White Tower at the Tower of London).The lands of defeated Saxon nobles were given to William's followers inreturn for military service by a certain number of knights, so that thetenants' foremost obligation was allegiance to the king. This firmlyestablished the feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the DomesdayBook, to record land holdings for the
assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent long periods inNormandy to maintain his authority there, dealing with rebellions andFrench invasions.
William died in 1087 leaving Normandy to his eldest son, Robert, andEngland to his second son, William II Rufus (reigned 1087-1100).

REF: "Royal Descents of Famous People" Mark Humphreys: Steve Jones' book"In the Blood: God, Genes, & Destiny" 1996, estimates that 25% of thepopulation of Britain is descended from William the Conqueror. Consideryou need two parents, four grandparents, etc. Assuming an average of abt25 years per generation, you only need go back to 1200, quite withinhistorical times, to need more separate ancestors than the population ofthe world. Therefor we all must descend from cousin marriages, manytimes over, even within the last few hundred years. Davenport claimed"no people of English descent are more distantly related than 30thcousins".

Line 790 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
NAME William I "The Conqueror" /England/
!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when she died, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chance for a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights, and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years, William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded England,
defeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and
became King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072
aided by the establishment of feaudalism under which his followers
were granted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As
King William was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His
administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell
especially Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 started
Domesday Book.

William I, byname WILLIAM The CONQUEROR, or The BASTARD, or WILLIAM of NORMANDY, French GUILLAUME le CONQUÉRANT, or le BÂTARD, or GUILLAUME de NORMANDIE (b. c. 1028, Falaise, Normandy--d. Sept. 9, 1087, Rouen), duke of Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066, one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He made himself the mightiest feudal lord in France and then changed the course of England's history by his conquest of that country.

Early years

William was the elder of two children of Robert I of Normandy and his concubine Herleva, or Arlette, the daughter of a burgher from the town of Falaise. In 1035 Robert died when returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and William, his only son, whom he had nominated as his heir before his departure, was accepted as duke by the Norman magnates and his feudal overlord, King Henry I of France. William and his friends had to overcome enormous obstacles. His illegitimacy (he was generally known as the Bastard) was a handicap, and he had to survive the collapse of law and order that accompanied his accession as a child.

Three of William's guardians died violent deaths before he grew up, and his tutor was murdered. His father's kin were of little help; most of them thought that they stood to gain by the boy's death. But his mother managed to protect William through the most dangerous period. These early difficulties probably contributed to his strength of purpose and his dislike of lawlessness and misrule.

Ruler of Normandy.

By 1042, when William reached his 15th year, was knighted, and began to play a personal part in the affairs of his duchy, the worst was over. But his attempts to recover rights lost during the anarchy and to bring disobedient vassals and servants to heel inevitably led to trouble. From 1046 until 1055 he dealt with a series of baronial rebellions, mostly led by kinsmen. Occasionally he was in great danger and had to rely on Henry of France for help. In 1047 Henry and William defeated a coalition of Norman rebels at Val-ès-Dunes, southeast of Caen. It was in these years that William learned to fight and rule.

William soon learned to control his youthful recklessness. He was always ready to take calculated risks on campaign and, most important, to fight a battle. But he was not a chivalrous or flamboyant commander. His plans were simple, his methods direct, and he exploited ruthlessly any advantage gained. If he found himself at a disadvantage, he withdrew immediately. He showed the same
qualities in his government. He never lost sight of his aim to recover lost ducal rights and revenues, and, although he developed no theory of government or great interest in administrative techniques, he was always prepared to improvise and experiment. He seems to have lived a moral life by the standards of the time, and he acquired an interest in the welfare of the Norman church. He made his half brother, Odo, bishop of Bayeux in 1049 at the age of about 16, and Odo managed to combine the roles of nobleman and prelate in a way that did not greatly shock contemporaries. But William also welcomed foreign monks and scholars to Normandy. Lanfranc of Pavia, a famous master of the liberal arts, who entered the monastery of Bec about 1042, was made abbot of Caen in 1063.

According to a brief description of William's person by an anonymous author, who borrowed extensively from Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, he was just above average height and had a robust, thick-set body. Though he was always sparing of food and drink, he became fat in later life. He had a rough bass voice and was a good and ready speaker. Writers of the next generation agree that he was exceptionally strong and vigorous. William was an out-of-doors man, a hunter and soldier, fierce and despotic, generally feared; uneducated, he had few graces but was intelligent and shrewd and soon obtained the respect of his rivals.

New alliances.

After 1047 William began to take part in events outside his duchy. In support of his lord, King Henry, and in pursuit of an ambition to strengthen his southern frontier and expand into Maine, he fought a series of campaigns against Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. But in 1052 Henry and Geoffrey made peace, there was a serious rebellion in eastern Normandy, and, until 1054 William was again in serious danger. During this period he conducted important negotiations with his cousin Edward the Confessor, king of England, and took a wife.

Norman interest in Anglo-Saxon England derived from an alliance made in 1002, when King Ethelred II of England married Emma, the sister of Count Richard II, William's grandfather. Two of her sons, William's cousins once removed, had reigned in turn in England, Hardecanute (1040-42) and Edward the Confessor (1042-66). William had met Edward during that prince's exile on the Continent and may well have given him some support when he returned to England in 1041. In that year Edward was about 36 and William 14. It is clear that William expected some sort of reward from Edward and, when Edward's marriage proved unfruitful, began to develop an ambition to become his kinsman's heir. Edward probably at times encouraged William's hopes. His childlessness was a diplomatic asset.

In 1049 William negotiated with Baldwin V of Flanders for the hand of his daughter, Matilda. Baldwin, an imperial vassal with a distinguished lineage, was in rebellion against the Western emperor, Henry III, and in desperate need of allies. The proposed marriage was condemned as incestuous (William and Matilda were evidently related in some way) by the Emperor's friend, Pope Leo IX, at the Council of Reims in October 1049; but so anxious were the parties for the alliance that before the end of 1053, possibly in 1052, the wedding took place. In 1059 William was reconciled to the papacy, and as penance the disobedient pair built two monasteries at Caen. Four sons were born to William and Matilda: Robert (the future duke of Normandy), Richard (who died young), William Rufus (the Conqueror's successor in England), and Henry (Rufus' successor). Among the daughters was Adela, who was the mother of Stephen, king of England.

Edward the Confessor was supporting the Emperor, and it is possible that William used his new alliance with Flanders to put pressure on Edward and extort an acknowledgment that he was the English king's heir. At all events, Edward seems to have made some sort of promise to William in 1051, while Tostig, son of the greatest nobleman in England, Earl Godwine, married Baldwin's half sister. The immediate purpose of this tripartite alliance was to improve the security of each of the parties. If William secured a declaration that he was Edward's heir, he was also looking very far ahead.

Between 1054 and 1060 William held his own against an alliance between King Henry I and Geoffrey Martel of Anjou. Both men died in 1060 and were succeeded by weaker rulers. As a result, in 1063 William was able to conquer Maine. In 1064 or 1065 Edward sent his brother-in-law, Harold, earl of Wessex, Godwine's son and successor, on an embassy to Normandy. William took him on a campaign into Brittany, and in connection with this Harold swore an oath in which, according to Norman writers, he renewed Edward's bequest of the throne to William and promised to support it.

When Edward died childless on Jan. 5, 1066, Harold was accepted as king by the English magnates, and William decided on war. Others, however, moved more quickly. In May Tostig, Harold's exiled brother, raided England, and in September he joined the invasion forces of Harald III Hardraade, king of Norway, off the Northumbrian coast. William assembled a fleet, recruited an army, and gathered his forces in August at the mouth of the Dives River. It is likely that he originally intended to sail due north and invade England by way of the Isle of Wight and Southampton Water. Such a plan would give him an offshore base and interior lines. But adverse winds detained his fleet in harbour for a month, and in September a westerly gale drove his ships up-Channel.

The Battle of Hastings.

William regrouped his forces at Saint-Valéry on the Somme. He had suffered a costly delay, some naval losses, and a drop in the morale of his troops. On September 27, after cold and rainy weather, the wind backed south. William embarked his army and set sail for the southeast coast of England. The following morning he landed, took the unresisting towns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead with between 4,000 and 7,000 cavalry and infantry.

William's forces were in a narrow coastal strip, hemmed in by the great forest of Andred, and, although this corridor was easily defensible, it was not much of a base for the conquest of England. The campaigning season was almost past, and when William received news of his opponent it was not reassuring. On September 25 Harold had defeated and slain Tostig and Harald Hardraade at Stamford Bridge, near York, and was retracing his steps to meet the new invader. On October 13, when Harold emerged from the forest, William was taken by surprise. But the hour was too late for Harold to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensive position. Early the next day William went out to give battle. He attacked the English phalanx with archers and cavalry but saw his army almost driven from the field. He rallied the fugitives, however, and brought them back into the fight and in the end wore down his opponents. Harold's brothers were killed early in the battle. Toward nightfall the King himself fell and the English gave up. William's coolness and tenacity secured him victory in this fateful battle, and he then moved against possible centres of resistance so quickly that he prevented a new leader from emerging. On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. In a formal sense the Norman Conquest of England had taken place.

King of England

William was already an experienced ruler. In Normandy he had replaced disloyal nobles and ducal servants with his own friends, limited private warfare, and recovered usurped ducal rights, defining the feudal duties of his vassals. The Norman church flourished under his rule. He wanted a church free of corruption but subordinate to him. He would not tolerate opposition from bishops and abbots or interference from the papacy. He presided over church synods and reinforced ecclesiastical discipline with his own. In supporting Lanfranc, prior of Bec, against Berengar of Tours in their dispute over the doctrine of the Eucharist, he found himself on the side of orthodoxy. He was never guilty of the selling of church office (simony). He disapproved of clerical marriage. At the same time he was a stern and sometimes rough master, swayed by political necessities, and he was not generous to the church with his own property. The reformer Lanfranc was one of his advisers; but perhaps even more to his taste were the worldly and soldierly bishops Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Coutances.

William left England early in 1067 but had to return in December because of English unrest. The English rebellions that began in 1067 reached their peak in 1069 and were finally quelled in 1071. They completed the ruin of the highest English aristocracy and gave William a distaste for his newly conquered kingdom. Since his position on the Continent was deteriorating, he wanted to solve English problems as cheaply as possible. To secure England's frontiers, he invaded Scotland in 1072 and Wales in 1081 and created special defensive "marcher" counties along the Scottish and Welsh borders.

In the last 15 years of his life he was more often in Normandy than in England, and there were five years, possibly seven, in which he did not visit the kingdom at all. He retained most of the greatest Anglo-Norman barons with him in Normandy and confided the government of England to bishops, trusting especially his old friend Lanfranc, whom he made archbishop of Canterbury. Much concerned that the natives should not be unnecessarily disturbed, he allowed them to retain their own laws and courts.

William returned to England only when it was absolutely necessary: in 1075 to deal with the aftermath of a rebellion by Roger, earl of Hereford, and Ralf, earl of Norfolk, which was made more dangerous by the intervention of a Danish fleet; and in 1082 to arrest and imprison his half brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux and earl of Kent, who was planning to take an army to Italy, perhaps to make himself pope. In the spring of 1082 William had his son Henry knighted, and in August at Salisbury he took oaths of fealty from all the important landowners in England, whosoever's vassals they might be. In 1085 he returned with a large army to meet the threat of an invasion by Canute IV (Canute the Holy) of Denmark. When this came to nothing owing to Canute's death in 1086, William ordered an economic and tenurial survey to be made of the kingdom, the results of which are summarized in the two volumes of Domesday Book.

William was preoccupied with the frontiers of Normandy. The danger spots were in Maine and the Vexin on the Seine, where Normandy bordered on the French royal demesne. After 1066 William's continental neighbours became more powerful and even more hostile. In 1068 Fulk the Surly succeeded to Anjou and in 1071 Robert the Frisian to Flanders. Philip I of France allied with Robert and Robert with the Danish king, Canute IV. There was also the problem of William's heir apparent, Robert Curthose, who, given no appanage and seemingly kept short of money, left Normandy in 1077 and intrigued with his father's enemies. In 1081 William made a compromise with Fulk in the treaty of Blancheland: Robert Curthose was to be count of Maine but as a vassal of the count of Anjou. The eastern part of the Vexin, the county of Mantes, had fallen completely into King Philip's hands in 1077 when William had been busy with Maine. In 1087 William demanded from Philip the return of the towns of Chaumont, Mantes, and Pontoise. In July he entered Mantes by surprise, but while the town burned he suffered some injury from which he never recovered. He was thwarted at the very moment when he seemed about to enforce his last outstanding territorial claim.

Death

William was taken to a suburb of Rouen, where he lay dying for five weeks. He had the assistance of some of his bishops and doctors, and in attendance were his half brother Robert, count of Mortain, and his younger sons, William Rufus and Henry. Robert Curthose was with the King of France. It had probably been his intention that Robert, as was the custom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. In the circumstances he was tempted to make the loyal Rufus his sole heir. In the end he compromised: Normandy and Maine went to Robert and England to Rufus. Henry was given great treasure with which he could purchase an appanage. William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buried in rather unseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built at Caen. [Encyclopaedia Britannica CD, 1996, WILLIAM I]

William I, byname WILLIAM The CONQUEROR, or The BASTARD, or WILLIAM of NORMANDY, French GUILLAUME le CONQUÉRANT, or le BÂTARD, or GUILLAUME de NORMANDIE (b. c. 1028, Falaise, Normandy--d. Sept. 9, 1087, Rouen), duke of Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066, one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He made himself the mightiest feudal lord in France and then changed the course of England's history by his conquest of that country.

Early years

William was the elder of two children of Robert I of Normandy and his concubine Herleva, or Arlette, the daughter of a burgher from the town of Falaise. In 1035 Robert died when returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and William, his only son, whom he had nominated as his heir before his departure, was accepted as duke by the Norman magnates and his feudal overlord, King Henry I of France. William and his friends had to overcome enormous obstacles. His illegitimacy (he was generally known as the Bastard) was a handicap, and he had to survive the collapse of law and order that accompanied his accession as a child.

Three of William's guardians died violent deaths before he grew up, and his tutor was murdered. His father's kin were of little help; most of them thought that they stood to gain by the boy's death. But his mother managed to protect William through the most dangerous period. These early difficulties probably contributed to his strength of purpose and his dislike of lawlessness and misrule.

Ruler of Normandy.

By 1042, when William reached his 15th year, was knighted, and began to play a personal part in the affairs of his duchy, the worst was over. But his attempts to recover rights lost during the anarchy and to bring disobedient vassals and servants to heel inevitably led to trouble. From 1046 until 1055 he dealt with a series of baronial rebellions, mostly led by kinsmen. Occasionally he was in great danger and had to rely on Henry of France for help. In 1047 Henry and William defeated a coalition of Norman rebels at Val-ès-Dunes, southeast of Caen. It was in these years that William learned to fight and rule.

William soon learned to control his youthful recklessness. He was always ready to take calculated risks on campaign and, most important, to fight a battle. But he was not a chivalrous or flamboyant commander. His plans were simple, his methods direct, and he exploited ruthlessly any advantage gained. If he found himself at a disadvantage, he withdrew immediately. He showed the same
qualities in his government. He never lost sight of his aim to recover lost ducal rights and revenues, and, although he developed no theory of government or great interest in administrative techniques, he was always prepared to improvise and experiment. He seems to have lived a moral life by the standards of the time, and he acquired an interest in the welfare of the Norman church. He made his half brother, Odo, bishop of Bayeux in 1049 at the age of about 16, and Odo managed to combine the roles of nobleman and prelate in a way that did not greatly shock contemporaries. But William also welcomed foreign monks and scholars to Normandy. Lanfranc of Pavia, a famous master of the liberal arts, who entered the monastery of Bec about 1042, was made abbot of Caen in 1063.

According to a brief description of William's person by an anonymous author, who borrowed extensively from Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, he was just above average height and had a robust, thick-set body. Though he was always sparing of food and drink, he became fat in later life. He had a rough bass voice and was a good and ready speaker. Writers of the next generation agree that he was exceptionally strong and vigorous. William was an out-of-doors man, a hunter and soldier, fierce and despotic, generally feared; uneducated, he had few graces but was intelligent and shrewd and soon obtained the respect of his rivals.

New alliances.

After 1047 William began to take part in events outside his duchy. In support of his lord, King Henry, and in pursuit of an ambition to strengthen his southern frontier and expand into Maine, he fought a series of campaigns against Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. But in 1052 Henry and Geoffrey made peace, there was a serious rebellion in eastern Normandy, and, until 1054 William was again in serious danger. During this period he conducted important negotiations with his cousin Edward the Confessor, king of England, and took a wife.

Norman interest in Anglo-Saxon England derived from an alliance made in 1002, when King Ethelred II of England married Emma, the sister of Count Richard II, William's grandfather. Two of her sons, William's cousins once removed, had reigned in turn in England, Hardecanute (1040-42) and Edward the Confessor (1042-66). William had met Edward during that prince's exile on the Continent and may well have given him some support when he returned to England in 1041. In that year Edward was about 36 and William 14. It is clear that William expected some sort of reward from Edward and, when Edward's marriage proved unfruitful, began to develop an ambition to become his kinsman's heir. Edward probably at times encouraged William's hopes. His childlessness was a diplomatic asset.

In 1049 William negotiated with Baldwin V of Flanders for the hand of his daughter, Matilda. Baldwin, an imperial vassal with a distinguished lineage, was in rebellion against the Western emperor, Henry III, and in desperate need of allies. The proposed marriage was condemned as incestuous (William and Matilda were evidently related in some way) by the Emperor's friend, Pope Leo IX, at the Council of Reims in October 1049; but so anxious were the parties for the alliance that before the end of 1053, possibly in 1052, the wedding took place. In 1059 William was reconciled to the papacy, and as penance the disobedient pair built two monasteries at Caen. Four sons were born to William and Matilda: Robert (the future duke of Normandy), Richard (who died young), William Rufus (the Conqueror's successor in England), and Henry (Rufus' successor). Among the daughters was Adela, who was the mother of Stephen, king of England.

Edward the Confessor was supporting the Emperor, and it is possible that William used his new alliance with Flanders to put pressure on Edward and extort an acknowledgment that he was the English king's heir. At all events, Edward seems to have made some sort of promise to William in 1051, while Tostig, son of the greatest nobleman in England, Earl Godwine, married Baldwin's half sister. The immediate purpose of this tripartite alliance was to improve the security of each of the parties. If William secured a declaration that he was Edward's heir, he was also looking very far ahead.

Between 1054 and 1060 William held his own against an alliance between King Henry I and Geoffrey Martel of Anjou. Both men died in 1060 and were succeeded by weaker rulers. As a result, in 1063 William was able to conquer Maine. In 1064 or 1065 Edward sent his brother-in-law, Harold, earl of Wessex, Godwine's son and successor, on an embassy to Normandy. William took him on a campaign into Brittany, and in connection with this Harold swore an oath in which, according to Norman writers, he renewed Edward's bequest of the throne to William and promised to support it.

When Edward died childless on Jan. 5, 1066, Harold was accepted as king by the English magnates, and William decided on war. Others, however, moved more quickly. In May Tostig, Harold's exiled brother, raided England, and in September he joined the invasion forces of Harald III Hardraade, king of Norway, off the Northumbrian coast. William assembled a fleet, recruited an army, and gathered his forces in August at the mouth of the Dives River. It is likely that he originally intended to sail due north and invade England by way of the Isle of Wight and Southampton Water. Such a plan would give him an offshore base and interior lines. But adverse winds detained his fleet in harbour for a month, and in September a westerly gale drove his ships up-Channel.

The Battle of Hastings.

William regrouped his forces at Saint-Valéry on the Somme. He had suffered a costly delay, some naval losses, and a drop in the morale of his troops. On September 27, after cold and rainy weather, the wind backed south. William embarked his army and set sail for the southeast coast of England. The following morning he landed, took the unresisting towns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead with between 4,000 and 7,000 cavalry and infantry.

William's forces were in a narrow coastal strip, hemmed in by the great forest of Andred, and, although this corridor was easily defensible, it was not much of a base for the conquest of England. The campaigning season was almost past, and when William received news of his opponent it was not reassuring. On September 25 Harold had defeated and slain Tostig and Harald Hardraade at Stamford Bridge, near York, and was retracing his steps to meet the new invader. On October 13, when Harold emerged from the forest, William was taken by surprise. But the hour was too late for Harold to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensive position. Early the next day William went out to give battle. He attacked the English phalanx with archers and cavalry but saw his army almost driven from the field. He rallied the fugitives, however, and brought them back into the fight and in the end wore down his opponents. Harold's brothers were killed early in the battle. Toward nightfall the King himself fell and the English gave up. William's coolness and tenacity secured him victory in this fateful battle, and he then moved against possible centres of resistance so quickly that he prevented a new leader from emerging. On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. In a formal sense the Norman Conquest of England had taken place.

King of England

William was already an experienced ruler. In Normandy he had replaced disloyal nobles and ducal servants with his own friends, limited private warfare, and recovered usurped ducal rights, defining the feudal duties of his vassals. The Norman church flourished under his rule. He wanted a church free of corruption but subordinate to him. He would not tolerate opposition from bishops and abbots or interference from the papacy. He presided over church synods and reinforced ecclesiastical discipline with his own. In supporting Lanfranc, prior of Bec, against Berengar of Tours in their dispute over the doctrine of the Eucharist, he found himself on the side of orthodoxy. He was never guilty of the selling of church office (simony). He disapproved of clerical marriage. At the same time he was a stern and sometimes rough master, swayed by political necessities, and he was not generous to the church with his own property. The reformer Lanfranc was one of his advisers; but perhaps even more to his taste were the worldly and soldierly bishops Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Coutances.

William left England early in 1067 but had to return in December because of English unrest. The English rebellions that began in 1067 reached their peak in 1069 and were finally quelled in 1071. They completed the ruin of the highest English aristocracy and gave William a distaste for his newly conquered kingdom. Since his position on the Continent was deteriorating, he wanted to solve English problems as cheaply as possible. To secure England's frontiers, he invaded Scotland in 1072 and Wales in 1081 and created special defensive "marcher" counties along the Scottish and Welsh borders.

In the last 15 years of his life he was more often in Normandy than in England, and there were five years, possibly seven, in which he did not visit the kingdom at all. He retained most of the greatest Anglo-Norman barons with him in Normandy and confided the government of England to bishops, trusting especially his old friend Lanfranc, whom he made archbishop of Canterbury. Much concerned that the natives should not be unnecessarily disturbed, he allowed them to retain their own laws and courts.

William returned to England only when it was absolutely necessary: in 1075 to deal with the aftermath of a rebellion by Roger, earl of Hereford, and Ralf, earl of Norfolk, which was made more dangerous by the intervention of a Danish fleet; and in 1082 to arrest and imprison his half brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux and earl of Kent, who was planning to take an army to Italy, perhaps to make himself pope. In the spring of 1082 William had his son Henry knighted, and in August at Salisbury he took oaths of fealty from all the important landowners in England, whosoever's vassals they might be. In 1085 he returned with a large army to meet the threat of an invasion by Canute IV (Canute the Holy) of Denmark. When this came to nothing owing to Canute's death in 1086, William ordered an economic and tenurial survey to be made of the kingdom, the results of which are summarized in the two volumes of Domesday Book.

William was preoccupied with the frontiers of Normandy. The danger spots were in Maine and the Vexin on the Seine, where Normandy bordered on the French royal demesne. After 1066 William's continental neighbours became more powerful and even more hostile. In 1068 Fulk the Surly succeeded to Anjou and in 1071 Robert the Frisian to Flanders. Philip I of France allied with Robert and Robert with the Danish king, Canute IV. There was also the problem of William's heir apparent, Robert Curthose, who, given no appanage and seemingly kept short of money, left Normandy in 1077 and intrigued with his father's enemies. In 1081 William made a compromise with Fulk in the treaty of Blancheland: Robert Curthose was to be count of Maine but as a vassal of the count of Anjou. The eastern part of the Vexin, the county of Mantes, had fallen completely into King Philip's hands in 1077 when William had been busy with Maine. In 1087 William demanded from Philip the return of the towns of Chaumont, Mantes, and Pontoise. In July he entered Mantes by surprise, but while the town burned he suffered some injury from which he never recovered. He was thwarted at the very moment when he seemed about to enforce his last outstanding territorial claim.

Death

William was taken to a suburb of Rouen, where he lay dying for five weeks. He had the assistance of some of his bishops and doctors, and in attendance were his half brother Robert, count of Mortain, and his younger sons, William Rufus and Henry. Robert Curthose was with the King of France. It had probably been his intention that Robert, as was the custom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. In the circumstances he was tempted to make the loyal Rufus his sole heir. In the end he compromised: Normandy and Maine went to Robert and England to Rufus. Henry was given great treasure with which he could purchase an appanage. William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buried in rather unseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built at Caen. [Encyclopaedia Britannica CD, 1996, WILLIAM I]

BIOGRAPHY: King of England from 25 December 1066. He was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert the Devil whom he succeeded as Duke of Normandy in 1035. Claiming that his relative King Edward the Confessor had bequeathed him the English throne, William invaded England in 1066, defeating Harold (II) Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, and was crowned king of England.

William's coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066. He completed the establishment of feudalism in England, compiling detailed records of land and property in the Domesday Book, and kept the barons firmly under control. He died in Rouen after a fall from his horse and is buried in Caen, France. He was succeeded by his son William II.

William's early years were marked by violence and disorder. In 1046 his cousin, Guy of Burgundy, led a revolt which forced the young duke to seek the aid of his overlord, Henry I of France. With Henry's help, William defeated Guy at Val-és-Dunes, and firmly secured control over Normandy. In 105152 William and Henry besieged and captured Domfront castle and Alençon in Maine, France. Almost immediately afterwards, William, Count of Arques, rebelled against the duke with the support of Henry I, who was increasingly concerned about Normandy's growing power. William quickly besieged the rebel Arques-la-Bataille castle and it was surrendered to him in 1053. In 1054 Henry I and Geoffrey of Anjou invaded Normandy, but the annihilation of part of their force at Mortimer forced them to withdraw. Their second invasion, in 1057, was defeated at Varaville. In 1051 Edward the Confessor had nominated William as heir to the English throne, but when he died in January 1066 Harold (II) Godwinson was crowned. William immediately began preparations for an invasion of England. On 28 September his forces landed unopposed at Pevensey, Sussex. Harold was in the north of England defeating an invasion led by Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, but immediately marched south to meet William. Their armies clashed in the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. Harold was slain and William achieved a decisive victory. In 1067 William forcibly brought southwest England under his control.

In 1068 he marched north and east to establish a number of strategic fortifications. In the summer of 1069 Swein Estrithson of Denmark landed with a considerable force in the Humber and was welcomed by the northern English earls who joined him in expelling the Norman garrison at York. William immediately marched north, destroying everything in his path, and reoccupied York. He undertook a systematic harrying of the north, setting his troops to kill and burn in order to leave nothing that could support future rebellion. The Danish fleet was bought off and departed. In 1072 William led an invasion that forced King Malcolm of Scotland to surrender hostages and swear fealty. In 1073 he was back in France suppressing rebellion in Maine. His regents dealt with a rebellion by the English earls in 1075, and in the latter years of his reign, William twice faced rebellion in Normandy led by his eldest son, Robert (II) Curthose. In 1087 William sacked the French-controlled town of Mantes in the Vexin. In the fighting he suffered a fatal internal injury after being thrown against the pommel of his saddle. He was taken to the priory of Saint-Gervais near Rouen where on 9 September he died.

-- http://www.begent.net/history

Hertug av Normanfie

He was the first Norman king of England, also duke of Normandy, who has
been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one
of the outstanding figures in western European history.

William was an illegitimate son and is therefore sometimes called William
the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring
their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion
against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his
position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I,
king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king
of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he
should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban,
William married a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby
strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the
strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage,
attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on
both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Conquest of England

About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was
shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured
his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne.
When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council) elected
Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the
sanction of Pope Alexander II (died 1073) for a Norman invasion of
England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066.
On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated
Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to
London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas
Day he was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey.

The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met
the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with
strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of
the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to
aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.

William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III
MacDuncan (died 1093) to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the
Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that
incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger
Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led
by his eldest son Robert, who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy.

His Achievements

One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the
English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great
earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon
predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to
his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of
feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance
to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the
king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were
compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which
William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The
ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the
papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding
accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the
Domesday Book in 1086.

In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned
the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the
vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. William was succeeded by his
third-born son, William II.

_P_CCINFO 1-20792
[anc.regfilmer.FTW]

1 NOTE Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded Englanddefeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings and becameKing. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072 aided by theestablishment of feaudalism under which his followers were granted land in returnfor pledges of service and loyalty. As King William was noted for hisefficient if harsh rule. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreignpersonnell especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1085 startedDomesday Book

AKA - Guillaume I "Le Conquaernt" de Normandie

Buried Abbey of St. Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France. King of England1066-1087, Duke of Normandy. The Falaise Roll is not an accurate list. The list of persons actuallyknown to have been at the Battle of Hastirigs on the side of William theConqueror is printed in the second edition of Cokayne?s *Complete Peeragvol )91, Part 1, Appendix pp. 47-48, as part of Appendix L. Numbers 1-12are recorded by William of Poitiers, number 13 is portrayed in a battle scene in theBayeux Tapestry, and 14 and 15 are named by Ordedc. 16-1? were inWilliam?s army and almost certainly at the battle (16 named by William ofPoitiers, 17-19 portrayed in the Bayeux Tapestry), but there is no directstatement that they actually were at the Battle of Hastings. Number 20is stated by Ordedc to have taken part in fights in the English warbefore Wiliam became King. 1. Robert de Beaumont, afterwards Count of Meulan and Earl of Leicester 2. Eustace, Count of Boulogne 3. William, afterwards 3rd Count of Evreux 4. Geoffrey of Mortagne, afterwards Count of Perche 5. William FitzOsbem, afterwards Earl of Hereford 6. Aimery, vicomte of Thouars 7. Hugh de Montfort, seigneur of Montfort-sur-Risle 8. Walter Giffard, seigneur of Longueille, 9. Ralph de Toeni, seigneur of Conches 10. Hugh de Grandmesnil, seigneur of Grandmesnil 11. Wiliam de Warenne, afterwards Earl of Surrey 12. William Malet, seigneur of Graville 13. Eudes, Bishop of Bayeux, aterwards, Earl of Kent 14. Turstin FitzRou 15. Engenulf de Laigle, seigneur of Laigle 16. Geoffrey de Mowbray, Bishop of Coutances 17. Robert, Count of Mortain, afterwards Earl of Cornwall 18. Wadard 19. Vital 20. Goubert d?Auffay, seigneur of Auffay

Sources: RC 81, 89, 140, 141; Kings and Queens of Britain; Coe; Norr;A. Roots 121, 121E, 169; AF; Kraentzler 1062, 1156, 1218, 1241, 1265, 1342,1346, 1350; Butler; Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants; Pfafman; AIS;Davis.
Roots: Duke of Normandy and King of England.
Descents: William I, the Conqueror, King of England, died 1087.
AIS: William the Conqueror, King of England, born 14 Oct. 1024,Falaise, France; died 9 Sept. 1087, Hermenbraville, France.
Crowned King of England Dec. 25, 1066, after the Battle of Hastings.Reigned from 1066-1087, first of the English Royal House of Normandy.
Davis: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy 1035-1087 and King ofEngland 1066-1087. About one-fifth or one-sixth of William's 1066invasion force was from outside Normandy, notably from Brittany,Flanders, Artois and Picardy.
K-1350: William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, born 14 Oct.1024 at Falais, Calvados, France; married Matilda about 1053; died 9 Sept.1087 at Hermenbraville, S-Infr., France.
Norr lists six or seven children by Matilda: Adelia, William II, HenryI, Adelaide, Robert and Constance (and/or) Daughter, born about 1066. AFlists an Anna born about 1066. Others could be children of mistresses,not by Matilda.
He had several other children besides the five listed by Butler,Butler says. K. is the only one who lists Gundred as a daughter. He could bewrong.

William I, King of England; William II of Normandy.

From Encyclopedia Britannica Online, Article entitled William I, TheConquerer:

"Reigned 1066-1087. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Invaded Englanddefeated and killed his rival Harold at the Battle of Hastings andbecame King. The Norman conquest of England was completed by 1072aided by the establishment of feudalism under which his followers weregranted land in return for pledges of service and loyalty. As KingWilliam was noted for his efficient if harsh rule. His administrationrelied upon Norman and other foreign personnell especially LanfrancArchbishop of Canterbury.

"The arrival and conquest of William and the Normans radically alteredthe course of English history. Rather than attempt a wholesalereplacement of Anglo-Saxon law, William fused continental practiceswith native custom. By disenfranchising Anglo-Saxon landowners, heinstituted a brand of feudalism in England that strengthened themonarchy. Villages and manors were given a large degree of autonomy inlocal affairs in return for military service and monetary payments.The Anglo-Saxon office of sheriff was greatly enhanced: sheriffsarbitrated legal cases in the shire courts on behalf of the king,extracted tax payments and were generally responsible for keeping thepeace. "The Domesday Book" was commissioned in 1085 as a survey ofland ownership to assess property and establish a tax base.

"Within the regions covered by the Domesday survey, the dominance ofthe Norman king and his nobility are revealed: only two Anglo-Saxonbarons that held lands before 1066 retained those lands twenty yearslater. All landowners were summoned to pay homage to William in 1086.William imported an Italian, Lanfranc, to take the position ofArchbishop of Canterbury; Lanfranc reorganized the English Church,establishing separate Church courts to deal with infractions of Canonlaw. Although he began the invasion with papal support, Williamrefused to let the church dictate policy within English and Normanborders. He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. He diedSeptember 9, 1087 from complications of a wound he received in a siegeon the town of Mantes."

Name Prefix: Duke of Normandy, King of England Nickname: "the Conqueror" Ancestral File Number: 8XHZ-SV
!"The Oxford History of Britain" by Kenneth Morgan, 1984, pp.101-144. "The Kings and Queens of England" by Nicholas Best, 1995, p.9. "Western Europe in the Middle Ages,300-1475"by Tierney, 1978,pp.178-183. (King of England, 1066-1087) "France in the Middle Ages,987-1460" by George Duby,1987, chart 6. "Royal Ancestors" by Michel Call, 1989, Chart # 11420.

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king of England (1066-87), who has been called one of the first

English throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot

figures in western European history. Born in Falaise, France, William

I, king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near

Caen. During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the

defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of

Baldwin V, count of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the

Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry

I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting

The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William

EVEN:
TYPE Acceded
DATE 1066
PLAC Westminster Abbey, London, EN

William the Conqueror
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=b56758a2-f17e-432a-91d2-6d86c308c5b7&tid=8976248&pid=-762110282

William_the_Conqueror_Statue
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=4831d641-3b7b-4f8c-873b-9358c473de2b&tid=8976248&pid=-762110282

Source:
Stuart Roderick, W.
Royalty for Commoners, 3rd Edit. Published, Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltomore, MD. 1998,
ISBN-0-8063-1561-X Text 324-40
Source II
Alison Weir, Britains Royal Family A Complete Genealogy 1999, ppg 41-44

William, now known to us as The Conqueror, was known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. His mother, Herleva, bore the only son of Robert, Duke of Normandy in the year 1028. After William's birth his mother was married to one of Robert's followers and had two more sons, Robert and Odo. Although William was illegitimate, the Duke, soon to leave on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, persuaded the barons of Normandy to recognize William's birthright. On his way home, Robert was killed and at the age of seven William became Duke of Normandy. Because of William's young age, his ascension meant unrule for approximately 10 years. Although plots to kill or capture him were aloft, William survived and in the mid 1040's started to rule for himself. Normandy was constantly at war during these years, whether it be rebel bands of Normans or William's neighbours, and William gained a reputation as a ruthless campaigner. It was at this time that William asked Count Baldwin of Flanders (one of William's few allies) for the hand of his daughter Matilda. The Count approved, but the Pope refused the marriage on the grounds that Matilda and William were too closely related. But William was not a man easily deterred. He went ahead with the marriage not only because of the important alliance with Flanders, but because he was in love. According to contemporary accounts William was never unfaithful to Matilda and she bore him nine children. They were also an odd-looking couple. The skeletal remains found in their graves show that William was about 5' 10'' and Matilda 4' 2". In 1050 Edward the Confessor, King of England and a distant relation to William, dangled the promise of the English throne before William if he would only support Edward in his dispute with Earl Godwin, Edward's father-in-law. However, although monarchs were not yet chosen by strict rules of heredity, there were other candidates of English blood who were more closely related to Edward, namely Harold, son of Earl Godwin and brother of Edward's wife Edith. As could have been predicted, by 1066 Edward reconciled with Godwin and on his death bed named Harold as his successor. William was incensed. Not only did Edward promise him the throne, William asserted, but Harold had sworn alligiance to him when he visited Normady two years earlier. It was this sworn alligiance that branded Harold a usurper and a perjurer, and William was granted papal approval to invade England and claim his rights. William's preparation for battle may have won him England before he ever set foot on the island fortress. Normandy, a small duchy, could not supply all the men needed for an expedition of this size, but the prospect of invading England, with its natural resources and wealth, was an appealing one. Soldiers and freelances from all over France and Flanders joined the campaign. William's ranks swelled, and throughout the spring and summer he built ships and gathered supplies. By August William was ready to sail, but the winds of the English Channel were against him. He waited throughout August and September, all the while cursing the weather, yet unaware that his biggest problems were being solved for him. For while William cooled his heels, Harold and his army were waiting for him. If William had landed and managed to defeat the English army, he would have moved forward only to encounter Harold Herdrada of Norway, who arrived in September also to conquer England. Instead, as Harold waited for William to land at Penvensey, he heard of the Norse invasion and marched north to meet Harold Hardrada on September 25. Two days later William set sail and made an unopposed landing at Pevensey. Harold Godwinsson rushed back to meet William, and the two armies met at Hastings on October 14. The Battle of Hastings left William victor and Harold dead. With no leader, further English resistance was futile. The English barons submitted to William, and on Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. But the English submission did not last long. Soon, one revolt after another broke out, but each rebellion was met with swift defeat and equally swift retribution. English estates were confiscated and given to Normans. By 1071 the native English ruling class was wiped out. England was now ruled by a French speaking aristocracy. In 1071 William returned to Normandy. It had not gone un-noticed by either France or Flanders that William was now the most powerful monarch in Northern Europe, and they saw their opportunity to change the balance of power in William's first-born son, Robert. Long ignored by William, Robert felt entitled to his father's wealth and power and was easily manipulated by William's enemies into conspiracies against his father. After a few botched plots, including one where Robert actually wounded William, the Conqueror's attentions were again focused on England. King Swein of Denmark was planning to invade England. In an attempt to see where money for this war could be found, William commissioned a census of sorts. Representatives of the crown went from shire to shire cataloging the holding of every land-owner in England. The results became one the most famous documents of Norman England, the Domesday Book. However, the Domesday Book was of little use to William. Before monetary benefits could be reaped, Normandy called. In yet another dispute with the King of France over Norman territory, William attempted a surprise attack on the town Mantes. While winning the town, William received serious injury and on September 9, 1087 he died. William was brought to the Church of St., Stephen at Caen for burial, but unfortunately in his later years William had grown very fat. (King Philip of France said he looked like a pregnant woman.) While trying to stuff his body into the stone sarcophagus the corpse burst open and according to witnesses filled the church with a foul odor. It was an unceremonious end to the man who changed the destiny of England forever. Biographical information from The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England, ed. Antonia Frasier and The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy, ed. John Cannon and Ralph Griffiths.

EVEN:
TYPE Acceded
DATE 1066
PLAC Westminster Abbey, London, EN

WILLIAM I 'THE CONQUEROR' (r. 1066-1087)

Born around 1028, William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, and Herleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Falaise. Known as 'William the Bastard' to his contemporaries, his illegitimacy shaped his career when he was young.

On his father's death in 1035, William was recognised by his family as the heir - an exception to the general rule that illegitimacy barred succession. His great uncle looked after the Duchy during William's minority, and his overlord, King Henry I of France, knighted him at the age of 15.

From 1047 onwards, William successfully dealt with rebellion inside Normandy involving his kinsmen and threats from neighbouring nobles, including attempted invasions by his former ally King Henry I of France in 1054 (the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer) and 1057.

William's military successes and reputation helped him to negotiate his marriage to Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders. At the time of his invasion of England, William was a very experienced and ruthless military commander, ruler and administrator who had unified Normandy and inspired fear and respect outside his duchy.

William's claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that, in 1051, Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne (he was a distant cousin) and that Harold II - having sworn in 1064 to uphold William's right to succeed to that throne - was therefore a usurper.

Furthermore, William had the support of Emperor Henry IV and papal approval. William took seven months to prepare his invasion force, using some 600 transport ships to carry around 7,000 men (including 2,000-3,000 cavalry) across the Channel.

On 28 September 1066, with a favourable wind, William landed unopposed at Pevensey and, within a few days, raised fortifications at Hastings. Having defeated an earlier invasion by the King of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York in late September, Harold undertook a forced march south, covering 250 miles in some nine days to meet the new threat, gathering inexperienced reinforcements to replenish his exhausted veterans as he marched.

At the Battle of Senlac (near Hastings) on 14 October, Harold's weary and under-strength army faced William's cavalry (part of the forces brought across the Channel) supported by archers. Despite their exhaustion, Harold's troops were equal in number (they included the best infantry in Europe equipped with their terrible two-handled battle axes) and they had the battlefield advantage of being based on a ridge above the Norman positions.

The first uphill assaults by the Normans failed and a rumour spread that William had been killed; William rode among the ranks raising his helmet to show he was still alive. The battle was close-fought: a chronicler described the Norman counter-attacks and the Saxon defence as 'one side attacking with all mobility, the other withstanding as though rooted to the soil'. Three of William's horses were killed under him.

William skilfully co-ordinated his archers and cavalry, both of which the English forces lacked. During a Norman assault, Harold was killed - hit by an arrow and then mowed down by the sword of a mounted knight. Two of his brothers were also killed. The demoralised English forces fled. (In 1070, as penance, William had an abbey built on the site of the battle, with the high altar occupying the spot where Harold fell. The ruins of Battle Abbey, and the town of Battle, which grew up around it, remain.)

William was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey. Three months later, he was confident enough to return to Normandy leaving two joint regents (one of whom was his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was later to commission the Bayeux Tapestry) behind to administer the kingdom. However, it took William six years to consolidate his conquest, and even then he had to face constant plotting and fighting on both sides of the Channel.

In 1068, Harold's sons raided the south-west coast of England (dealt with by William's local commanders), and there were uprisings in the Welsh Marches, Devon and Cornwall. William appointed earls who, in Wales and in all parts of the kingdom, undertook to guard the threatened frontiers and maintain internal security in return for land.

In 1069, the Danes, in alliance with Prince Edgar the Aetheling (Ethelred's great-grandson) and other English nobles, invaded the north and took York. Taking personal charge, and pausing only to deal with the rising at Stafford, William drove the Danes back to their ships on the Humber.

In a harsh campaign lasting into 1070, William systematically devastated Mercia and Northumbria to deprive the Danes of their supplies and prevent recovery of English resistance. Churches and monasteries were burnt, and agricultural land was laid to waste, creating a famine for the unarmed and mostly peasant population which lasted at least nine years.

Although the Danes were bribed to leave the north, King Sweyn of Denmark and his ships threatened the east coast (in alliance with various English, including Hereward the Wake) until a treaty of peace was concluded in June 1070.

Further north, where the boundary with Scotland was unclear, King Malcolm III was encroaching into England. Yet again, William moved swiftly and moved land and sea forces north to invade Scotland. The Treaty of Abernethy in 1072 marked a truce, which was reinforced by Malcolm's eldest son being accepted as a hostage.

William consolidated his conquest by starting a castle-building campaign in strategic areas. Originally these castles were wooden towers on earthen 'mottes' (mounds) with a bailey (defensive area) surrounded by earth ramparts, but many were later rebuilt in stone. By the end of William's reign over 80 castles had been built throughout his kingdom, as a permanent reminder of the new Norman feudal order.

William's wholesale confiscation of land from English nobles and their heirs (many nobles had died at the battles of Stamford Bridge and Senlac) enabled him to recruit and retain an army, by demanding military duties in exchange for land tenancy granted to Norman, French and Flemish allies.

He created up to 180 'honours' (lands scattered through shires, with a castle as the governing centre), and in return had some 5,000 knights at his disposal to repress rebellions and pursue campaigns; the knights were augmented by mercenaries and English infantry from the Anglo-Saxon militia, raised from local levies. William also used the fyrd, the royal army - a military arrangement which had survived the Conquest.

The King's tenants-in-chief in turn created knights under obligation to them and for royal duties (this was called subinfeudation), with the result that private armies centred around private castles were created - these were to cause future problems of anarchy for unfortunate or weak kings. By the end of William's reign, a small group of the King's tenants had acquired about half of England's landed wealth. Only two Englishmen still held large estates directly from the King. A foreign aristocracy had been imposed as the new governing class.

The expenses of numerous campaigns, together with an economic slump (caused by the shifts in landed wealth, and the devastation of northern England for military and political reasons), prompted William to order a full-scale investigation into the actual and potential wealth of the kingdom to maximise tax revenues.

The Domesday survey was prompted by ignorance of the state of land holding in England, as well as the result of the costs of defence measures in England and renewed war in France. The scope, speed, efficiency and completion of this survey was remarkable for its time and resulted in the two-volume Domesday Book of 1086, which still exists today. William needed to ensure the direct loyalty of his feudal tenants. The 1086 Oath of Salisbury was a gathering of William's 170 tenants-in-chief and other important landowners who took an oath of fealty to William.

William's reach extended elsewhere into the Church and the legal system. French superseded the vernacular (Anglo-Saxon). Personally devout, William used his bishops to carry out administrative duties. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070, was a first-class administrator who assisted in government when William was absent in France, and who reorganised the Church in England.

Having established the primacy of his archbishopric over that of York, and with William's approval, Lanfranc excommunicated rebels, and set up Church or spiritual courts to deal with ecclesiastical matters. Lanfranc also replaced English bishops and abbots (some of whom had already been removed by the Council of Winchester under papal authority) with Norman or French clergy to reduce potential political resistance. In addition, Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals were rebuilt and some of the bishops' sees were moved to urban centres.

At his coronation, William promised to uphold existing laws and customs. The Anglo-Saxon shire courts and 'hundred' courts (which administered defence and tax, as well as justice matters) remained intact, as did regional variations and private Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions.

To strengthen royal justice, William relied on sheriffs (previously smaller landowners, but replaced by influential nobles) to supervise the administration of justice in existing county courts, and sent members of his own court to conduct important trials. However, the introduction of Church courts, the mix of Norman/Roman law and the differing customs led to a continuing complex legal framework.

More severe forest laws reinforced William's conversion of the New Forest into a vast Royal deer reserve. These laws caused great resentment, and to English chroniclers the New Forest became a symbol of William's greed. Nevertheless the King maintained peace and order. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declared 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will ... Amongst other things the good security he made in this country is not to be forgotten.'

William spent the last months of his reign in Normandy, fighting a counter-offensive in the French Vexin territory against King Philip's annexation of outlying Normandy territory. Before his death on 9 September 1087, William divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. The scene was set for centuries of expensive commitments by successive English monarchs to defend their inherited territories in France.

William bequeathed Normandy as he had promised to his eldest son Robert, despite their bitter differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandy, and even wounded and defeated his father in a battle there in 1079). His son, William Rufus, was to succeed William as King of England, and the third remaining son, Henry, was left 5,000 pounds in silver.

William was buried in his abbey foundation of St Stephen at Caen. Desecrated by Huguenots (1562) and Revolutionaries (1793), the burial place of the first Norman king of England is marked by a simple stone slab.

William I Conqueror 1024-1087
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=6f17c691-6387-4e57-9e29-5e17df975f1a&tid=10844759&pid=-554106130

A Wikipedia Moment: William The Conqueror
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=08918b1a-0da5-47f0-81a1-6064b297db16&tid=10844759&pid=-554106130

William takes control of England.
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=e455e744-2e07-48d9-804e-4034e9689a57&tid=10844759&pid=-554106130

He was the first Norman king of England, also duke of Normandy, who has been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in western European history. William was an illegitimate son and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen. During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces. Conquest of England About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II (died 1073) for a Norman invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066. On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey. The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete. William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III MacDuncan (died 1093) to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert, who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy. His Achievements One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086. In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. William was succeeded by his third-born son, William II.

Vilhelm Erobreren (Vilhelm I av England, hertug Vilhelm II av Normandie, Vilhelm bastarden, fransk navn Guillaume, engelsk William (the Conqueror), tysk/eldre norsk skrivemåte Wilhelm) (født ca. 1027, død 9. september 1087 var konge av England fra 1066 til sin død.

Han var ?uekte? sønn av Robert, hertug av Normandie, og garverdatteren Herleva. Vilhelm ble født i Falaise i Normandie. Han erobret Englands krone ved å beseire Harald II av England i slaget ved Hastings i 1066, og ble dermed den første normanniske konge av England. Det finnes ikke noe autentisk bilde av ham; den vanlige avbildningen med rustning oppsto flere århundrer senere.

Tidlig liv
Vilhelm var i slekt med den britiske kongeslekten, da han var grandnevø av dronning Emma, som var gift med Ethelred den rådville, og som senere giftet seg med Knut den store.

Bare syv år gammel, i 1035, arvet han farens hertugtittel, og ble dermed hertug Vilhelm II av Normandie. Tre av hans regenter ble drept under forsøk på å ta Vilhelms plass. Som 15-åring ble han slått til ridder av Henrik I av Frankrike. Da han var 19 hadde han selv kontroll over Normandie, og tok seg med stor kraft av opprør og invasjoner. Med hjelp fra kong Henriks styrker slo han opprørske baroner ved Caen i slaget ved Val-ès-Dunes i 1047.

Han giftet seg i 1050 eller 1051 med Matilda av Flandern, mot pavens ønske. De fikk fire sønner og antagelig seks døtre. Hans halvbrødre Odo av Bayeux og Robert, greve av Mortain skulle også spille viktige roller i hans liv.

Erobringen av England
Etter Edvard Bekjennerens død i januar 1066 krevde Vilhelm tronen i England, og hevdet at Edvard, som var barnløs, hadde utnevnt ham til tronarving da Vilhelm besøkte ham noen år tidligere, antagelig i 1052. Harald Godwinson skal ha erklært sin støtte til Vilhelm etter å ha lidd skipbrudd utenfor Normandie ca. 1064. Dette løftet ble gitt i fangenskap, og Harald skal ha blitt tvunget til å sverge ved en helgens ben at han ville gi tronen til Vilhelm. Selv om historien er sann, ville Harald neppe følt seg tvunget til å holde seg til et løfte avgitt under press.

Witenagemot, en samling av Englands ledende skikkelser, godkjente Haralds tiltredelse, og hans kroning som fant sted 5. januar 1066. Vilhelm sørget raskt for å få pavens støtte for sitt krav, og mottok et pavelig banner som han fikk rett til å bære i felt. Han samlet en invasjonsstyrke med omkring 600 skip og 7000 menn. De steg i land ved Pevensey i Sussex 28. september 1066, og satte opp en tømmerfestning med prefabrikerte elementer de hadde hatt med seg. Ettersom Sussex var Haralds personlige eiendom, var dette en sterk provokasjon. Vilhelms menn begynte raskt å plyndre området, noe som økte presset mot Harald. Dette kan vært årsaken til at Harald straks begynte å gå mot Vilhelm, i stedet for å vente på forsterkninger fra London.

Harald var i det nordlige England da Vilhelm steg i land, og hadde akkurat seiret i slaget ved Stamford Bridge. Han hadde en hær på samme størrelse som Villiams, men måtte gå omkring 400 km på ni dager for å komme frem. Hærens hans var da allerede sliten etter marsjen nordover og slaget mot Harald Hardråde. Styrkene møtte hverandre et stykke fra Hastings, ved landsbyen Senla som senere fikk navnet Battle. I slaget falt Harald, og det som var igjen av de angelsaksiske styrkene flyktet etter hans død.

De gjenværende saksiske adelsmennene overgav seg til Vilhelm ved Berkhamstead i Hertfordshire, og han ble utropt til konge. Han ble så kronet 25. desember 1066 i Westminster Abbey.

Det sørlige England ble raskt lagt under Vilhelms styre, men i nord var det væpnet motstand inntil 1072. Den største trusselen mot Vilhelm var danske og skotske invasjonsforsøk. Det var også et invasjonsforsøk fra Haralds sønner, samt opprør i Wales og i Stafford. Vilhelm nedkjempet alle sine fiender, og tok kontroll i nord. Northumbria ble lagt øde for å hindre fienden ressurser. Det siste alvorlige opprøret var jarlenes opprør i 1075.

Vilhelms styre
Vilhelm innførte en del forandringer i styresettet. Noe av det viktigste var en revidering av den angelsaksiske loven, som han kombinerte med normannisk lov. I 1085 beordret han at det skulle gjøres en fortegnelse over all eiendom i riket, noe som resulterte i Domesday Book i 1086. Boken minner sterkt om moderne folketellinger, og man må flere hundre år framover i tid før en lignende mengde opplysninger ble samlet igjen.

Han beordret også byggingen av flere slott, blant annet Tower of London. Som slottsherrer satte han sine normanniske støttespillere, og han erstattet dermed den gamle angelsaksiske adelen med en ny normannisk. Flere fra den gamle adelen skal ha blitt deportert, og havnet i slaveri i det muslimske Spania og andre mauriske områder; en del av dem brukte sine erfaringer til å sikre sin frihet og fikk gode posisjoner der.

Graven til Vilhelm erobreren i St. Stefans kirke i CaenVilhelm døde omkring 60 år gammel i klosteret St. Gervais ved Rouen i Frankrike den 9. september 1087. Dødsårsaken var skader i mageregionen etter at han slo seg mot salknappen under fall fra en hest ved beleiringen av Mantes. Han ble gravlagt i St. Stefans kirke i Caen i Normandie. Hans begravelse ble ikke en konge verdig; i sine siste år var han blitt svært korpulent, og hans legeme fikk ikke plass i sarkofagen som var forberedt til ham. Biskopene som var tilstede, måtte dytte legemet på plass, noe som resulterte i at gasser i kroppen tvang seg ut slik at de sørgende flyktet fra kirken.

Han ble etterfulgt som konge av England av sin sønn Vilhelm Rufus, mens hans eldre sønn Robert Curthose ble hertug av Normandie. Dette førte til uvennskap mellom brødrene, som året etter utløste opprøret i 1088. Hans yngste sønn, Henrik, ble konge av England da Vilhelm Rufus døde barnløs.

Barn av Vilhelm og Matilda
Det er uklart hvor mange døtre paret fikk, og listen kan derfor inneholde noen som ikke var datter av de to, og/eller mangle en eller flere døtre.

Robert Curthose (ca. 1054-1134), hertug av Normandie, gift med Sybil av Conversano, datter av Geoffrey av Conversano
Adeliza (Alice) (c. 1055-?), angivelig forlovet med Harald II av England (det er usikkert om hun har eksistert)
Cecilia (c. 1056-1126), abbedisse i Caen
Vilhelm Rufus (1056-1100), konge av England
Richard (1057-c. 1081), drept i jaktulykke, under mistenkelige omstendigheter, i New Forest
Adela (c. 1062-1138), gift med Stephen, greve av Blois
Agatha (c. 1064-c. 1080), forlovet først med Harold av Wessex og deretter med Alfonso VI av Castilla
Constance (c. 1066-1090), gift med Alan IV Fergent, hertug av Bretagne; myrdet med gift, muligens av sine egne tjenere
Matilda (obskur, har muligens ikke eksistert)
Henrik Beauclerc (1068-1135), konge av England, gift først med Matilda (eller Edith) av Skottland, datter av Malcolm III av Skottland, og deretter med Adeliza av Louvain

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NAME William I "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/

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TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]/

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Illegitiment With the town was burning, he suffered an injuryfrom whichhe never recovered..He was taken to a Suburb ofRouen, where he lay dyingfor 5 weeks Said to have been buriedin an unseenly fashion Reigned1066-1087, by conquest 1st Kingof the House of Normandy Line of kings.

William IWilliam I, King of England (William the Conqueror) Duke of Normandy and one of the greatest English kings, William I, b. c.1028, d. Sept. 9, 1087, led the Norman conquest of England and provided stability and firm government in an age of great disorder. The illegitimate son of the Norman duke Robert I, he inherited Normandy in 1035, consolidating his rule in the face of baronial opposition in about 1042. He successfully faced further rebellions and after 1050 began to take an interest in acquiring land in England--perhaps given some encouragement by the English king EDWARD THE CONFESSOR. After Edward's death (Jan. 5, 1066), Vikings under King HAROLD III of Norway moved on England, and William soon followed with an invasion force of his own. The new English king, HAROLD II, defeated the Vikings and confronted the Normans near Hastings in October 1066 (see HASTINGS, BATTLE OF). William's forces achieved a decisive victory, and on Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned king of England, founding the Anglo-Norman monarchy and realm. A highly capable, intelligent, and determined man, William I established a strongly personal monarchy. He imposed Norman institutions and personnel both on the state and on the church, and he brought England into the mainstream of continental development. Imposing royal authority directly on courts and other institutions, William ordered the inquests that resulted in the monumental DOMESDAY BOOK. He revolutionized the social, political, and military structures of England, replacing the English nobility with French nobles, thus strengthening his authority, and introducing continental FEUDALISM, a structure in which nobles held land in return for service in the royal army. As the Anglo-Saxon state was Normanized, so too was the English church: English bishops and abbots were replaced by noted churchmen from the Continent, including LANFRANC of Bec, who became (1070) archbishop of Canterbury. The Conqueror had been a great reformer of the church in Normandy, and he continued this role in England. He established the archbishop of Canterbury as primate of the English church, held reforming councils (which he attended), and exercised not only his rights but also his responsibilities over the church. The bishops were among his closest advisors and officials. William I kept a close but cool relationship with the papacy, supporting ecclesiastical reform while carefully maintaining his control over the English church. He was succeeded as duke of Normandy by his eldest son, Robert II, and as king of England by his sons, first William II, then Henry I. James W. Alexander Bibliography: Barlow, Frank, William I and the Norman Conquest (1965); Brown, Reginald A., The Normans and the Norman Conquest (1968); Douglas, David C., William the Conqueror (1964); Matthew, D. J. A., The Norman Conquest (1966)

King William I the Conqueror of England

King William i of England
Guillaume ii Duc De Normandie

!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when she died, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chance for a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights, and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years, William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when shedied, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chancefor a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights,and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years,William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.
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William the Conqueror
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=8d5557c4-53bc-4d07-a84f-36a27cc2863f&tid=6959821&pid=-1168189256

children of William Conquerer and Matilda of Flanders
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=cdafd253-f47d-478d-92fc-c1cf385f335e&tid=6959821&pid=-1168189256

WilliamTheConqueror
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=7b5c837c-2fa7-4ce4-880f-5c4da37cd8ec&tid=6959821&pid=-1168189256

William the Conqueror
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=8d5557c4-53bc-4d07-a84f-36a27cc2863f&tid=6959821&pid=-1168189256

children of William Conquerer and Matilda of Flanders
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=cdafd253-f47d-478d-92fc-c1cf385f335e&tid=6959821&pid=-1168189256

Survived his father as (William II) Duke of Normandy 1035, conqueredMaine 1063, obtained crown of England by conquest 14 Oct 1066.Crowned at Westminster Abbey by Ealdred, Archbishop of York, 25 Dec1066. He died at the Priory of St Gervais, near Rouen and was buriedat the Abbey of St. Stephen.

He was the first Norman king of England, also duke of Normandy, whohas been called one of the first modern kings and is generallyregarded as one of the outstanding figures in western Europeanhistory. William was an illegitimate son and is therefore sometimescalled William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Normannobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as hissuccessor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out almostimmediately, however, and his position did not become secure until1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, king of France, he won a decisivevictory over a rebel force near Caen. During a visit in 1051 to hischildless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William issaid to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to theEnglish throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married adescendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claimto the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond betweenNormandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasionsWilliam defeated the French king's forces. Conquest of England About1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, wasshipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. Hesecured his release by swearing to support William's claim to theEnglish throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royalcouncil) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his claim,William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II (died 1073) for aNorman invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevenseyon September 28, 1066. On October 14, the Normans defeated the Englishforces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold wasslain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance heencountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned king ofEngland in Westminster Abbey. The English did not accept foreign rulewithout a struggle. William met the opposition, which was particularlyviolent in the north and west, with strong measures; he wasresponsible for the devastation of great areas of the country,particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to aid theSaxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king MalcolmIII MacDuncan (died 1093) to pay him homage. During the succeedingyears the Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers,including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl ofNorfolk, and Roger Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series ofuprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert, who later becameRobert II, duke of Normandy. His Achievements One feature of William'sreign as king was his reorganization of the English feudal andadministrative systems. He dissolved the great earldoms, which hadenjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, anddistributed the lands confiscated from the English to his trustedNorman followers. He introduced the Continental system of feudalism;by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance toWilliam, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty tothe king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lordswere compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts,which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions.The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power ofthe papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Anotheroutstanding accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken andincorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086. In 1087, during a campaignagainst King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes(now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the vicinity of Mantes,fatally injuring him. William was succeeded by his third-born son,William II.

KNOWN AS "THE CONQUEROR"; SURVIVED HIS FATHER (AS WILLIAM II) 7TH DUKE
OF NORMANDY 1035; CONQUERED MAINE 1063; OBTAINED CROWN OF ENGLAND BY CONQUEST
10/14/1066; ACCEDED BY CONQUEST 12/25/1066 (CROWNED AT WESTMINSTER BY EALDRED,
ARCHBISHOP OF YORK); HUGUENOTS (1662) AND REVOLUTIONARIES (1793) DESTROYED HIS
TOMB AND SCATTERED HIS BONES

He was christened as an adult during the Norman Conquest.

28th great grandfather

William I, King of England (William the Conqueror)
Duke of Normandy and one of the greatest English kings, William I, b. c. 1028, d. Sept. 9, 1087, led the Norman conquest of England and provided stability and firm government in an age of great disorder. The illegitimate son of the Norman duke Robert I, he inherited Normandy in 1035, consolidating his rule in the face of baronial opposition in about 1042. He successfully faced further rebellions and after 1050 began to take an interest in acquiring land in England - perhaps given some encouragement by the English king Edward the Confessor. After Edward�s death (Jan. 5, 1066), Vikings under King Harold III of Norway moved on England, and William soon followed with an invasion force of his own. The new English king, Harold II, defeated the Vikings and confronted the Normans near Hastings in October 1066 (see Hastings, Battle of). William�s forces achieved a decisive victory, and on Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned king of England, founding the Anglo-Norman monarchy and realm. A highly capable, intelligent, and determined man, William I established a strongly personal monarchy. He imposed Norman institutions and personnel both on the state and on the church, and he brought England into the mainstream of continental development. Imposing royal authority directly on courts and other institutions, William ordered the inquests that resulted in the monumental Domesday Book. He revolutionized the social, political, and military structures of England, replacing the English nobility with French nobles, thus strengthening his authority, and introducing continental feudalism, a structure in which nobles held land in return for service in the royal army. As the Anglo-Saxon state was Normanized, so too was the English church: English bishops and abbots were replaced by noted churchmen from the Continent, including Lanfranc of Bec, who became (1070) archbishop of Canterbury. The Conqueror had been a great reformer of the church in Normandy, and he continued this role in England. He established the archbishop of Canterbury as primate of the English church, held reforming councils (which he attended), and exercised not only his rights but also his responsibilities over the church. The bishops were among his closest advisors and officials. William I kept a close but cool relationship with the papacy, supporting ecclesiastical reform while carefully maintaining his control over the English church. He was succeeded as duke of Normandy by his eldest son, Robert II, and as king of England by his sons, first William II, then Henry I. James W. Alexander Bibliography: Barlow, Frank, William I and the Norman Conquest (1965); Douglas, David C., William the Conqueror (1964); Lloyd, A., The Making of the King (1990); Loyn, H. R., Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 2d ed. (1991). [Grolier�s On-Line Encyclopedia]

William (I) the Conqueror (c. 1027-1087) King of England from 1066. He was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert the Devil and succeeded his father as duke of Normandy 1035. Claiming that his relative King Edward the Confessor had bequeathed him the English throne, William invaded the country 1066, defeating Harold II at Hastings, Sussex, and was crowned king of England. He was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066. He completed the establishment of feudalism in England, compiling detailed records of land and property in the Domesday Book, and kept the barons firmly under control. He died in Rouen after a fall from his horse and is buried in Caen, France. He was succeeded by his son William II. © Copyright Helicon Publishing Ltd 1996. [The Hutchinson Encyclopedia]

Notes on King William I "the Conqueror"
He was born at Falaise, the bastard son of Robert III, Duke of Normandy, by Robert�s mistress Arletta, a tanner�s daughter. On his Father�s death in 1035, the Norman nobles accepted him as Duke; but his youth was passed in difficulty and danger. In 1047, the lords of the western part of the duchy rebelled, but King Henry I of France came to his help, and the rebels were defeated at Val-es-dunes. In 1051 he visited his cousin, Edward the Confessor, and received the promise of the English succession. He married Matilda, daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, in 1053. In the In the next ten years William repulsed two French invasions, and in 1063 conquered Maine. Probably in 1064, Harold Hardicanute was at William�s court, and swore to help him to gain the English crown on King Edward�s death. When, however, Edward died, in 1066, Harold became king. William laid his claim before the pope and Western Christendom. The pope approved his claim, and on 14 Oct William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings or Senlac. Harold was slain, and William was crowned at Winchester on Christmas Day. The west and north of England were subdued in 1068; but next year, the north revolted, and William devastated the country between York and Durham. The constitution under William assumed a feudal aspect, the old Witan (national assembly) becoming a council of the king�s tenants-in-chief. All title to land being derived from the King�s grant. The Domesday Book records the extensive land settlement to Norman nobles throughout England. He brought the English Church into closer relations with Rome. The Conqueror�s rule was stern and orderly. In 1070, there was a rebellion in the Fen country of East Anglia, and under the leadership of Hereward the Wake, the rebels for some time held out in the Isle of Ely. English exiles were sheltered by the Scottish king, Malcolm, who plundered the northern shires. But William in 1072, compelled Malcolm to do him homage at Abernethy. In 1073, William reconquered Maine. He made a successful expedition into South Wales. His eldest son, Robert, rebelled against him in Normandy in 1079. In 1087, having entered on a war with Philip I of France, William burned Nantes. As he rode through the burning town, his horse stumbled, and he received an injury, of which he died at Rouen on September 9. He left Normandy to his son Robert, and England to William Rufus. {Burke�s Peerage and Chamber�s Biographical Dictionary} [GADD.GED]

On reaching England it is recorded that he fell when stepping ashore at Pevensey Bay, an unlucky accident which was greeted with the cry "Mal signe est ci!" This was turned by him to an advantage when he replied "See Seignors, I have grasped England with my two hands!" Family records state that he was helped to his feet by Robert St. Leger (Roman de Rou). His English capital was Winchester but he ruled mainly from Normandy and was buried there in the "Abbaye des Hommes." [THELMA.GED]

Additional information: Britannia.com http://britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon22.html

Also have birth as 1024. [Our Family Museum]

William I The Conqueror, King of England from 1066 to 1087, was a man of remarkable political and military skill and a dominant force in Western Europe. The Domesday Survey of 1086 was a striking illustration of his administrative capabilities. William was the illegitimate son of Robert I of Normandy and Herleve, a Tanner's daughter from Falaise, and became Duke of Normandy as a child in 1035. William the Conqueror died while campaigning to maintain his hold on Maine and was buried in his own monastic foundation of Saint-Etienne at Caen. "The Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages" Norman F. Cantor, General Editor.

Norman Coat of Arms
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William The Conqueror
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Overview of William
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Line 790 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
NAME William I "The Conqueror" /England/
!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when shedied, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chancefor a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights,and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years,William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when shedied, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chancefor a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights,and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years,William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)

!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when shedied, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.

!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chancefor a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights,and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years,William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

Line 790 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
NAME William I "The Conqueror" /England/

!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when shedied, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chancefor a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights,and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years,William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

King WIlliam I
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King William I of England
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William the Conqueror
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William the Conqueror was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert the Devil, or the Magnificent. His father is said, in a romantically unlikely story, to have fallen in love with a young girl he was washing clothes in a stream as he looked out from his castle at Falaise. He wooed her, installed her as his official mistress, and in due course she bore William and also probably a daughter. The girl's name was Herleve, and her father, Fulbert, a citizen of Falaise, is usually described as a tanner, although opinions differ as to the exact rendering of his occupation, ranging from what we would now call an undertaker to furrier. unions such as that between Duke Robert and Herleve had been by no means uncommon in the ducal House of Normandy. Its founder, Rollo the Ganger (reckoned as Duke Robert I from the name he received in Christian baptism) was succeeded by the son of one Popa, or Papie, the pagan wife or concubine he repudiated in order to marry the daughter of the King of France. When she died childless, Rollo resumed his relationship with Papie. Their son, Duke William Longsword was also succeeded by the son of a concubine, Duke Richard the Fearless, who married his mistress Gunnor, the mother of all his children, after the death of his first wife. One of Gunnor's daughters was Emma, who was twice Queen of England. Gunnor's eldest son, Duke Richard the Good, was the first Duke of Normandy to be succeeded by undisputedly legitimate sons, first Duke Richard III, who reigned for just under a year, then Duke Robert II, William the Conqueror's father. The taint of bastardy, therefore, mattered very little where the ducal succession was concerned and it can hardly have had any psychological effect on William, as some have claimed.
William was only seven or eight years old when he succeeded to the duchy on the death of his father in 1035. His mother married Herluin de Conteville, a Norman noble, after Duke Robert's death and bore him two sons, who later, as Robert, Count of Mortain, and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent, were to be among the staunchest supporters of their elder half-brother. William grew up under the protection of Alan, Count of Brittany, Gilbert, Count of Brionne, and Osborn the Seneschal. All three fell victim to an assassin. When William was still under twenty he defeated an attempt to wrest the duchy from his control by his cousin, Count Guy of Burgundy, and a fraction of dissatisfied nobles.
In 1053 William made an advantageous marriage with Matilda, the daughter of his neighbor, Count Baldwin of Flanders. There was some ecclesiastical objection to the marriage which has never been satisfactorily unravelled and it was not until 1059 that the Pope gave his approval. The couple expiated their 'sin' by founding two abbeys - the Abbaye-aux-Hommes (St Stephen's) and the Abbaye-aux-Dames (Holy Trinity) - at Caen. William and Matilda became devoted to each other and, in an age when marital infidelity was the norm, we hear of no mistresses and the two bastards attributed to William can both be proved spurious.
William's marriage may well have been partly motivated by his growing ambition to gain the throne of England, for Matilda was a direct descendant of Alfred the Great. William had visited his first cousin once removed, Edward the Confessor, in 1051, when he had been well received and designated as Edward's successor. In 1064 fortune played into his hands when Harold, Earl of Wessex, was driven ashore on the coast of Ponthieu. He was received with great honor, but before sending him home William extracted an oath from him to uphold his claim to the English throne on the death of Edward.
Edward died early in 1066 and Harold was crowned king in January 1066. William at once began careful preparations for an invasion. He was not hurried and, when he was ready to set sail in the late summer, was delayed further by an adverse wind. Harold, meanwhile, was forced to march north to deal with the Norwegian invasion and while he was away the wind changed and William landed with his troops at Pevensey on 28 September. He stumbled on leaping ashore, but allayed the fears of those of his supporters who saw this as an ill omen by holding aloft a handful of sand and shouting that he had already taken possession of his kingdom. William bided his time at Hastings and began constructing a castle there while waiting for Harold to arrive from the north. He may have thought that Harold would surrender easily, exhausted by his action against the Norwegians and his march south, but the battle, when it took place on 14 October, was hard fought, and after a full day's fighting ended with Harold's death. William marched to London with his victorious army, laying the land waste around the city until local resistance collapsed and the English nobles led by Edgar Atheling submitted to the Conqueror.
On Christmas Day 1066 William was crowned at Westminster Abbey by Aldred, Archbishop of York. The shouts of acclamation - in English as well as French - from the congregation inside the abbey alarmed the Norman guards stationed outside. Mistaking the noise for signs of an insurrection, they began a massacre of the Saxons living nearby, burning and pillaging their houses until the King himself appeared at the doorway of the Abbey to quell the tumult.
Although the south and east of England quickly submitted to William's rule, over the next five years there were risings in various parts of the country. The south-west submitted in 1068 and the rebellion in the north of the Earls Edwin and Morcar was put down in person by William in 1069 and was followed by the 'harrying of the north', a laying waste from York to Durham. A rising in the Isle ofEly led by Hereward the Wake was put down in 1071. During this period the Normans had to live like an army of occupation, building castles from which a few men could dominate the subject population.
Gradually during William's reign English lords were superseded by Norman and other French barons and the Continental system of feudal land tenure was introduced. In the Church too English bishops were replaced by Continental prelates and Lanfrane of Pavia, who was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, reorganized the English Church on European lines. The Domesday Survey, commanded in 1086, gave the King, as chief lord of this feudal system, an exact account of his power and resources for administrative purposes.
After 1071 William felt secure enough in England to turn again to his Continental possessions which were more vulnerable to attack than his island kingdom. His borders were continually threatened byhis neighbors, the King of France and the Count of Anjou, who enlisted the support of William's disaffected eldest son Robert. The rest of William's reign was taken up with a series of intrigues by these enemies.
The French King's facetious remarks about William's excessive corpulence prompted him to threaten to 'set all France ablaze'. In 1087 the French garrison at Mantes made a raid into Normandy and William retaliated by sacking Mantes. As he was urging on his men his horse stumbled on a hot cinder and he was flung violently against the high pommel of his saddle. He sustained grave internal injuries, probably a ruptured bladder, from which peritonitis ensued, and he died after much suffering on 8 September.
His burial in his foundation of St Stephen at Caen was fraught with incident. As the cortege neared the church a citizen barred the way, claiming that it had been built on land illegally seized fromhis family, and was only appeased by an on the spot payment of cash. On reaching the grave it was found that it had been made too small and the bearers, in attempting to force the already fast decomposing corpse into it, burst it open so that a vile stench filled the church, causing all but the hardiest to flee, and the burial was completed by a handful of faithful retainers.
The writer of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, who knew William and at one time lived in his court, summed him up as 'a man of great wisdom and power, and surpassed in honour and in strength all those who had gone before him. Though stern beyond measure to those who opposed his will, he was kind to those good men who loved God...He wore his royal crown three times a year as often as he was in England;at Easter at Winchester, at Whitsuntide at Westminster, at Christmas at Gloucester. On these occasions all the great men of England were assembled about him.' He was grasping and mendacious but a great ruler and far in advance of his times as a legislator.
William, who was about sixty at the time of his death, was a tall man of ruddy complexion, always inclined to corpulence and for most of his life probably clean shaven. The only contemporary likenesses of him are in the Bayeux Tapestry. Long popularly supposed to have been the work of Queen Matilda and her ladies, it is now believed to have been commissioned by William's half-brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. The figures depicted in it are hardly portraits but do convey some idea of personality and appearance and, above all, costume.

Line 2235 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
NAME William I "The Conqueror" King Of /ENGLAND/

Line 2236 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
TITL [DUKE OF NORMANDY]/

Line 2248 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long: BURI PLAC Abbey of St Stephen, Caen, Calvados, France

He was Duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087. He became King of England after the Norman conquest in 1066.

William the Conqueror
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King William I of England
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William the Conqueror
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William the Conqueror flag
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William the Conqueror
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William The Conqueror
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William I the Conqueror
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children of William Conquerer and Matilda of Flanders
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family
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Battle of Hastings and life events - highs and lows and noxious gas!
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life
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History of William
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William The Conqueror
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William I the Conqueror
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children of William Conquerer and Matilda of Flanders
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History of William
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He was Duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087. He became King of England after the Norman conquest in 1066.

He was at war with France when his horse stumbled. He was taken to the
Convent at St Gervais where he eventually died, having never recovered from
his injuries. He became William the First of England.

william conq
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William the Conqueror, King of England - 1066
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WilliamThe Conqueror
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William the Conqueror
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story
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!SOURCES:
1. The Kings of Eng., Eng. 176, p. 1-12
2. The Royal Daughters of England, Eng. 120, v. 1, p. 1-38
3. The Royal Lines of Succession, A16A225, p. 8
4. Burke's Peerage, Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 252
5. George's Gen. Tab., Eng. 102
6. Anderson's Royal Gen., Eng. 132
7. Espolin (GS #12462, pt 1, p. 98)
!RESEARCH NOTES:
1. Child #5 Alice or Adelaide is the one claimed to have been betrothed to Harald II, King of England; even though there is some disputation as to when shedied, Harald II makes a claim she died before the invasion of England in 1066.
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
For hundreds of years before 1066, England had been ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings. When Edward "the Confessor" died in 1066, William of Normandy saw his chancefor a successful invasion of England. He built a fleet, attracted many knights,and obtained the pope's blessing. He gained victory at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England on Christmas of 1066. During the next few years,William presided over a gradual redistribution of land in England. Saxon rebellions led to the confiscation of lands, which the Norman Barons received. As a result of this Norman invasion, the English people today are of both Norman and Anglo-Saxon extraction.

"William loved the tall deer as if he had been their father, perservedthem for his own sport. Anyone who wothout royal permission killed ahart or a hind was blinded. See "Life in the Castle in MedievalEngland", Published by British Heritage Press, by John Burke, page 46.

Christened during the Norman Conquest.

Upon his father's death in 1035, William succeeded to the duchy at the age of seven or eight, the Duke of Normandy. As promised by King Edward the Confessor, who had no children, the crown would go to him. And he was crowned king in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.
William was a man of prodigious energy, a builder of castles (including the Tower of London), and the architect of the feudal system in England. It was his command that the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086 to record the names of all landowners and tenants.
While the Danes were invading England, other Norsemen raided the coast of France. On the southern shore of the English Channel they established the Duchy of Normandy. These Norsemen, or Normans, became French in language and culture. In the 11th century the Duchy of Normandy was rich, populous, and powerful.

When Edward the Confessor died childless, William, duke of Normandy, claimed the English crown. He was a second cousin of Edward, and he had exacted an oath from Harold, earl of Wessex, to support his claim. The English Witan nevertheless elected Harold king. William appealed to the pope. The pope supported William and declared Harold guilty of perjury.

William gathered together a "host of horsemen, slingers, and archers" and set sail for England. Harold met him with foot soldiers armed with battle-axes. The two armies clashed in the famous battle of Hastings on Oct. 14, 1066.

Harold was killed on the battlefield. The victorious William went up to London and was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. (See also Harold, Kings of England; William, Kings of England; Hastings, Battle of.)

Feudal System Under William I

For five years William I was busy putting down revolts in his new kingdom. He seized the land of all Saxons who fought against him and distributed it among his Norman followers except for vast tracts that he kept for himself as crown lands. On his own estates and on those of favored barons he ordered strong fortified castles built.

In return for the grant of land called a fief each lord had to swear loyalty to the king, furnish knights for the king's army, attend the king's court, and aid the king with money on certain occasions. Farmers were reduced to the class of serfs, or villeins, as the Normans called them. A villein could not leave the manor on which he was born. This system of land tenure was the basis of feudalism, which held sway all over Europe in the Middle Ages. (See also Feudalism; Knighthood; Middle Ages.)

The efficiency of William's rule is shown by the survey he had made of all the property in England. His agents visited every manor, found out who owned it, how many people lived there, and reported what the feudal lord ought to pay the king in taxes and feudal service. The findings were recorded in the famous Domesday Book. It was called Domesday (day of doom) because no one could escape its judgment.

The date of the Norman Conquest 1066 is one of the most important dates in English history. The Conquest cut England's ties with Scandinavia and connected England with France. French, the language of the Norman rulers, became blended with the Anglo-Saxon speech of the common people, enriching the native language with many new words and ideas. Wooden churches and abbeys were replaced with beautiful stone buildings in the Norman style. Foreign monks and bishops, brought in by the Normans, made the monasteries centers of learning. Anyone who wanted to study went into the church as a matter of course. The king's secretaries, judges, and most of his civil servants were churchmen, because only churchmen had the necessary education.

When he was crowned, William I, the Conqueror, promised to govern according to the laws of Edward the Confessor. The Witan survived in his great council of advisers, the curia regis, which was attended by earls, barons, bishops, and abbots; but the council no longer had the power to choose the king. As feudal overlord of the whole country, William bequeathed England to his second son, William II. He left Normandy to his eldest son, Robert.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright © 1993, 1994 Compton’s NewMedia, Inc.

William I (of England), called The Conqueror (1027-87), first Norman king of England (1066-87), who has been called one of the first modern kings and is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in western European history.
Born in Falaise, France, William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta, a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry I, king of France, he won a decisive victory over a rebel force near Caen.
During a visit in 1051 to his childless cousin, Edward the Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's agreement that he should succeed to the English throne. In 1053, defying a papal ban, William married Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Baldwin V, count of Flanders and a descendant of King Alfred the Great, thereby strengthening his claim to the crown of England. Henry I, fearing the strong bond between Normandy and Flanders resulting from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French king's forces.

Conquest of England
About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He secured his release by swearing to support William's claim to the English throne. When King Edward died, however, the witenagemot (royal council) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his claim, William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Norman invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on September 28, 1066. On October 14, the Normans defeated the English forces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was slain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance he encountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey.
The English did not accept foreign rule without a struggle. William met the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and west, with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of great areas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish forces had arrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman conquest of England was complete.
William invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III MacDuncan to pay him homage. During the succeeding years the Conqueror crushed insurrections among his Norman followers, including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and Roger Fitzwilliam, earl of Hereford, and a series of uprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert, who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy.
His Achievements
One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-Saxon predecessors, and distributed the lands confiscated from the English to his trusted Norman followers. He introduced the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086 all landlords swore allegiance to William, thus establishing the precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrode his fealty to his immediate lord. The feudal lords were compelled to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the local courts, which William retained along with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The ecclesiastical and secular courts were separated, and the power of the papacy in English affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding accomplishment was the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book in 1086.
In 1087, during a campaign against King Philip I of France, William burned the town of Mantes (now Mantes-la-Jolie). William's horse fell in the vicinity of Mantes, fatally injuring him. He died in Rouen on September 7 and was buried at Caen in Saint Stephen's, one of the abbeys he and Matilda had founded at the time of their marriage as penance for their defiance of the pope. William was succeeded by his third-born son, William II.

"William I (of England)," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.

Also known as William I "The Conqueror" King Of England. he was the natural son of Robert, Duke Of Normandy. He was brought up at the court of the King Of France and succeeded to the duchy at the age of eight. On the death of Edward the Confessor, King Of England, William made a formal claim to the crown, alleging a bequest in his favor by Edward, and a promise which he had extorted from Harold. His claim being denied he at once prepared for an invasion of England,effected a landing at Pevensey, September 27, 1066, while Harold engaged in opposing the Norwegians in the north, and fortified a camp near Hastings. The decisive battle of Hastings (or, more properly, Senlac) was fought on Saturday, October 14, 1066. Harold was defeated and slain, and the Norman Conquest began. William's rival, Edgar Atheling, was supported by some of the leading men for a short time, but they all made submission to William at Berkhampstead, and on the following Christmas Day he was crowned at Westminster by Aldred, Archbishop Of York. A riot occurred and some lives were lost and some houses burned.
William married, while he was Duke of Normandy, his cousin Matilda, daughter of Baldwin, Count Of Flanders. He and Matilda had seven daughters and four sons, two of whom, William and Henry, became Kings Of England.
The building of the Tower Of London was started by William I in about 1080.
In his latter years William was engaged in war with his own sons, and with the King Of France; and in August, 1087, he burned the town of Mantes. His horse stumbled while he was riding through the burning ruins, he was injured, carried to Rouen, and died in the Abbey of St. Gervas on September 9, 1087. The monument erected to him by his son William II was destroyed during the Huguenot wars and all that remains is a cement slab.

William the Conqueror
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Coat of Arms - Normandie
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_P_CCINFO 1-3597

William I The Conqueror, King of England from 1066 to 1087, was a man ofremarkable political and military skill and a dominant force in WesternEurope. The Domesday Survey of 1086 was a striking illustration of hisadministrative capabilities. William was the illegitimate son of Robert Iof Normandy and Herleve, a Tanner's daughter from Falaise, and becameDuke of Normandy as a child in 1035. William the Conqueror died whilecampaigning to maintain his hold on Maine and was buried in his ownmonastic foundation of Saint-Etienne at Caen. "The Encyclopedia of theMiddle Ages" Norman F. Cantor, General Editor.

1 BIRT 2 DATE 14 OCT 1024 2 PLAC Falaise, Calvados, Normandy, France 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 DEAT 2 DATE 9 SEP 1087 2 PLAC Rouen, France 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001

[De La Pole.FTW]
Sources: RC 81, 89, 140, 141; Kings and Queens of Britain; Coe; Norr; A. Roots 121, 121E, 169; AF; Kraentzler 1062, 1156, 1218, 1241, 1265, 1342, 1346, 1350; Butler; Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants; Pfafman; AIS; Davis.
Roots: Duke of Normandy and King of England. Descents: William I, the Conqueror, King of England, died 1087. AIS: William the Conqueror, King of England, born 14 Oct. 1024, Falaise, France; died 9 Sept. 1087, Hermenbraville, France. Crowned King of England Dec. 25, 1066, after the Battle of Hastings. Reigned from 1066-1087, first of the English Royal House of Normandy. Davis: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy 1035-1087 and King of England 1066-1087. About one-fifth or one-sixth of William's 1066 invasion force was from outside Normandy, notably from Brittany, Flanders, Artois and Picardy. K-1350: William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, born 14 Oct. 1024 at Falais, Calvados, France; married Matilda about 1053; died 9 Sept. 1087 at Hermenbraville, S-Infr., France. Norr lists six or seven children by Matilda: Adelia, William II, Henry I, Adelaide, Robert and Constance (and/or) Daughter, born about 1066. AF lists an Anna born about 1066. Others could be children of mistresses, not by Matilda. He had several other children besides the five listed by Butler, Butler says. K. is the only one who lists Gundred as a daughter. He could be wrong.

His Achievements :

in 1086. In 1087, during a campaign . . .

(royal council) elected Harold king. Determined to make good his

September 28, 1066. On October 14, the Normans defeated the English

forces at the celebrated Battle of Hastings, in which Harold was

slain. William then proceeded to London, crushing the resistance he

great areas of the country, particularly in Yorkshire, where Danish

forces had arrived to aid the Saxon rebels. By 1070 the Norman

English feudal and administrative systems. He dissolved the great

the Continental system of feudalism; by the Oath of Salisbury of 1086

all landlords swore allegiance to William, thus establishing the

precedent that a vassal's loyalty to the king overrode his fealty to

his immediate lord. The feudal lords were compelled to acknowledge

the jurisdiction ofthe local courts, which William retained along

affairs was greatly curtailed. Another outstanding accomplishment was

was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and Arletta,

a tanner's daughter, and is therefore sometimes called William the

Bastard. Upon the death of his father, the Norman nobles, honoring

powerful duke, but on both occasions William defeated the French

king's forces.

Conquest of England:

About 1064, the powerful English noble, Harold, earl of Wessex, was

shipwrecked on the Norman coast and taken prisoner by William. He

secured his release by swearing to support William's claim to the

agreement that he should succeed to the English throne. In 1053,

from the marriage, attempted in 1054 and again in 1058 to crush the

encountered on the way. On Christmas Day he was crowned king of

who later became Robert II, duke of Normandy.

One feature of William's reign as king was his reorganization of the

earldoms, which had enjoyed virtual independence under his Anglo-

Saxon predecessors, anddistributed the lands confiscated from the

position did not become secure until 1047 when, with the aid of Henry

and forced the Scottish king Malcolm III MacDuncan to pay him homage.

During the succeeding years the Conqueror crushed insurrections among

his Norman followers, including that incited in 1075 by Ralph de

and a series of uprisings in Normandy led by his eldest son Robert,

with many other Anglo-Saxon institutions. The ecclesiastical and

secular courts were separated, and the power of the papacy in English

William I (of England), called The Conqueror (1027-87), first Norman

their promise to Robert, accepted William as his successor. Rebellion

against the young duke broke out almost immediately, however, and his

England in Westminster Abbey.

conquest of England was complete. William invaded Scotland in 1072

Guader, 1st earl of Norfolk, and RogerFitzwilliam, earl of Hereford,

English to his trusted Norman followers. He introduced

modern kings and is generally regarded as one of the outstanding

Confessor, king of England, William is said to have obtained Edward's

invasion of England. The duke and his army landed at Pevensey on

met the opposition, which was particularly violent in the north and

west, with strong measures; he was responsible for the devastation of

the economic survey undertaken and incorporated in the Domesday Book

westminster abbey
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claim, William secured the sanction of Pope Alexander II for a Norman

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Ancestors (and descendant) of William "the Conqueror" FitzRobert

Richard FitzRichard
963-1026

Judith of Brittany
983-1017

Fulbert
± 978-± 1017

Doda
980-> 1014

Robert FitzRichard
1000-1035

Herleva
± 1003-± 1050

William "the Conqueror" FitzRobert
1024-1087

1053

Matilda
± 1031-1083



				Adela de Normandie 1066-1137		Henry 1068-1135

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Historical events

Christening day September 21, 1993

Christening day September 21, 1993

The temperature on September 21, 1993 was between 9.7 °C and 19.2 °C and averaged 15.9 °C. There was 0.1 mm of rain during 0.5 hours. There was 4.0 hours of sunshine (32%). The partly or heavily clouded was. The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the southwest. Source: KNMI
Koningin Beatrix (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) was from April 30, 1980 till April 30, 2013 sovereign of the Netherlands (also known as Koninkrijk der Nederlanden)
In The Netherlands , there was from Tuesday, November 7, 1989 to Monday, August 22, 1994 the cabinet Lubbers III, with Drs. R.F.M. Lubbers (CDA) as prime minister.
In the year 1993: Source: Wikipedia
- The Netherlands had about 15.2 million citizens.
- April 24 » An IRA bomb devastates the Bishopsgate area of London.
- September 22 » A barge strikes a railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama, causing the deadliest train wreck in Amtrak history. Forty-seven passengers are killed.
- October 4 » Tanks bombard the Russian parliament, while demonstrators against President Yeltsin rally outside.
- November 18 » In the United States, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is approved by the House of Representatives.
- November 20 » Macedonia's deadliest aviation disaster occurs Avioimpex Flight 110, a Yakovlev Yak-42 crashes near Ohrid killing all 116 people on board.
- November 20 » Savings and loan crisis: The United States Senate Ethics Committee issues a stern censure of California senator Alan Cranston for his "dealings" with savings-and-loan executive Charles Keating.

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1257 » Przemysł II of Poland († 1296)
1404 » Marie of Anjou († 1463)
1425 » Alesso Baldovinetti, Italian painter († 1499)
1465 » Konrad Peutinger, German humanist and antiquarian († 1547)
1493 » Shimazu Tadayoshi, Japanese daimyō († 1568)
1542 » Philip IV, Count of Nassau-Weilburg († 1602)

Source: Wikipedia

1031 » Gang Gam-chan, Korean general (b. 948)
1087 » William the Conqueror, English king (b. 1028)
1191 » Conrad II, duke of Bohemia
1271 » Yaroslav of Tver, Russian Grand Prince (b. 1230)
1282 » Ingrid of Skänninge, Swedish abbes and saint
906 » Adalbert von Babenberg, Frankish nobleman

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Family tree Den Hollander en Van Dueren den Hollander » William "the Conqueror" (William "the Conqueror") "William the Bastard" FitzRobert Duke of Normandy, King of England (1024-1087)