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When William the Conqueror defeated Harold Godwinson at Hastings in 1066, it brought about the end of centuries of Anglo-Saxon rule over England. The island nation was then substantially transformed, as it forever changed the entire social and political structure of the kingdom. As a result, the Battle of Hastings has become a key turning point when discussing the history of the English ...
William was very successful in keeping together his large army in a foreign country. Harold’s army appeared invincible for much of the battle but William and his commanders continued to fight.
Mother. Herleva of Falaise. 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. By 1060, following a long struggle, his ...
William’s army was then able to turn round and attack Harold’s weakened position. Army strength: William had a greater range of soldiers for the battle. As well as foot soldiers, he had a ...
- Family & Personal Life
- Duke of Normandy
- The Norman Conquest of England
- Post-Conquest Reign
- Domesday Book
- Death & Legacy
William was born in Falaise, Normandy c. 1027. He was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy (1028-1035), hence he is sometimes referred to as William the Bastard. William's mother was Herleve of Falaise, daughter of a wealthy merchant in Rouen who also performed the duties of a chamberlain to the ducal court. William's half-brothers (th...
When Duke Robert died in Asia Minor while on pilgrimage, William became the Duke of Normandy in 1035. Fortunately for William, his father had already secured oaths of loyalty from his barons regarding his son as his chosen heir. In reality, though, William was still only a child and so a guardian ruled in his name, Gilbert of Brionne. In 1040, a ci...
It must be said that William was rather lucky in his invasion of England because his enemy Harold II was obliged to face another invasion just a few weeks before the Conqueror arrived, this one by Harald Hardrada, the king of Norway (aka Harold III, r. 1046-1066). Harold saw off Harald at the Battle of Stamford Bridgenear York on 25 September 1066 ...
William might have got himself a rich new kingdombut he did not ignore his lands in France, and he frequently returned there, often leaving England to be ruled by his half-brother Odo of Bayeux, Earl of Kent and his close friend William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford. Indeed, sometimes William had to fight to maintain his lands in France, notably aga...
Far from being a mere warlord, William was an able administrator. In 1086-7 the king ordered a comprehensive survey and record of all the landowners, property, tenants, and serfs of England. After the changeover of the Anglo-Saxon elite to Normans and massive redistributions of estates, the king was likely interested to know who owned what in his k...
Fortunately for William, the Danish invasion never materialised. Canute IV of Denmark (r. 1080-1086), who was planning the escapade, was murdered as part of a rebellion that was fuelled by the king's imposition of taxes and fines to pay for his invasion fleet and army. Then, out of the blue, disaster struck while William was attacking the town of M...
- Mark Cartwright
William died in 1087. In July 1087, William led a raid in France but was thrown from the saddle of his horse. By this time he was very fat, and it caused serious internal injuries. He died after several weeks of suffering. On his death, the nobility fled to secure their castles from attack while the servants stole everything they could.
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Why did William fight in 1073?
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Why did William return to Normandy in 1073?
May 3, 2022 · William I, usually known as William the Conqueror (and sometimes William the Bastard) was the first Norman king of England. He seized the throne after victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066…. The victory enjoyed by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings brought the dominance of the Anglo-Saxons to an end and ushered in the Norman ...
