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William the Conqueror[ a ] (c. 1028[ 1 ] – 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, [ 2 ][ b ] was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was Duke of Normandy (as William II) [ 3 ] from 1035 onward.
- Overview
- Death of William I
- Legacy
William was taken to the priory of St. Gervais just outside 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 William’s intention that Robert, as was the custom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. Although William 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 to purchase an appanage. William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year.
His burial in St. Stephen’s Church, which he had built at Caen, was as eventful as his life. The funeral procession was disrupted by a fire in the town, a local noble complained that he had been dispossessed of the land in which William was to be buried, and William’s body was broken as it was being forced into the stone coffin. The tomb itself was desecrated by Calvinists in the 16th century and by revolutionaries in the 18th.
William was taken to the priory of St. Gervais just outside 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 William’s intention that Robert, as was the custom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. Although William 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 to purchase an appanage. William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year.
His burial in St. Stephen’s Church, which he had built at Caen, was as eventful as his life. The funeral procession was disrupted by a fire in the town, a local noble complained that he had been dispossessed of the land in which William was to be buried, and William’s body was broken as it was being forced into the stone coffin. The tomb itself was desecrated by Calvinists in the 16th century and by revolutionaries in the 18th.
William left a profound mark on both Normandy and England and is one of the most important figures of medieval English history. His personal resolve and good fortune allowed him to survive the anarchy of Normandy in his youth, and he gradually transformed the duchy into the leading political and military power of northern France. His support for mo...
- Frank Barlow
1. What was the significance of the Battle of Hastings in William the Conqueror's reign? The Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked the decisive victory of William the Conqueror over King Harold II of England, leading to William's conquest of England and the establishment of Norman rule. 2.
Sep 24, 2024 · Quick Facts. Byname: William the Conqueror or William the Bastard or William of Normandy. French: Guillaume le Conquérant or Guillaume le Bâtard or Guillaume de Normandie. Born: c. 1028, Falaise, Normandy [France] Died: September 9, 1087, Rouen. Title / Office: king (1066-1087), England. duke (1035-1087), Normandy. House / Dynasty:
- Frank Barlow
- Before he became the king of England, William I was one of the mightiest nobles in France as the duke of Normandy, but he is best remembered for le...
- William was the elder of the two children of Robert I, duke of Normandy and his concubine Herleva (the daughter of a tanner or undertaker from the...
- At the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, William, duke of Normandy, defeated the forces of Harold II, king of England, and then was himself c...
- In July 1087, while attempting to enforce his claim to Mantes, on the border of Normandy and the French royal demesne, William either suffered a fa...
Feb 23, 2017 · On 9 September, King William I the Conqueror dies at the Priory of St Gervase in Rouen, Normandy, France. His body is buried at the Abbey Church of Saint Stephen in Caen, Normandy. Interesting Facts About King William I the Conqueror. Illegitimate Birth. William was born to parents who were not married.
Eldest son Robert was given the duchy of Normandy, Richard died in a hunting accident, William succeeded his father as king of England, and Henry succeeded his brother as Henry I of England. The daughters were Cecilia, Agatha, Adeliza, Adela, Constance and Matilda. Coronation.
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Mar 3, 2023 · Summary. R obert 's father died at the priory of Saint-Gervase in Rouen soon after dawn on Thursday 9 September 1087. In late July of that year, William had launched an attack on Mantes but during the fighting had been severely injured. The dying man had been taken back to the priory of Saint-Gervase in Rouen.
