We continue our series on famous British historical figures with a profile of William The Conqueror.
William the Conqueror was the Duke of Normandy and the King of England. He is most famous for his successful invasion and conquest of England in 1066, which led to the Norman Conquest of England.
BIRTH
William was born in the year 1028 in the region of Falaise, Normandy, in modern-day France. His father was Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and his mother was Herleva, a tanner’s daughter. William was illegitimate, which is why he was also known as William the Bastard. Despite this, his father recognized him as his legitimate son and named him as his successor.
William grew up to be a skilled warrior and military strategist. In 1035, when he was just seven years old, his father died and he became the Duke of Normandy. He faced several challenges and revolts in the early years of his rule, but he was able to maintain his position as the Duke of Normandy through his military prowess and political savvy.
DISPUTED ENGLISH THRONE
In 1066, William embarked on a mission to conquer England. At the time, England was ruled by King Harold II, who had recently seized the throne after the death of his predecessor, King Edward the Confessor.
William believed that he had a claim to the English throne, as King Edward had promised it to him before his death.
William assembled a large and well-trained army and set sail for England in the autumn of 1066.
On October 14, his forces landed at Pevensey Bay in Sussex, and within a few days, they had captured the nearby town of Hastings.
BATTLE OF HASTINGS
The Battle of Hastings was fought on October 14, 1066, between the Norman Army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English Army of King Harold II. The battle took place near the town of Hastings, in Sussex, England, and it was a decisive victory for the Normans, which led to the Norman Conquest of England.
King Harold, who was then in the north of England fighting against a Viking invasion, quickly marched his army south to meet the Normans. On October 14, the two armies met at the Battle of Hastings.
The English army was heavily outnumbered, and they were also at a disadvantage due to the fact that they had recently fought a gruelling battle against the Vikings.
Despite this, the English fought bravely and were able to hold off the Normans for much of the day. However, towards the end of the battle, King Harold was killed and the English army was defeated.
The Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England and the beginning of Norman rule. Duke William was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066.
The Battle of Hastings is remembered as one of the most significant battles in English history, and it is still celebrated and remembered every year on October 14. The battle is also remembered for the legend of the “arrow in the eye,” which tells the story of how King Harold was killed by an arrow in the eye during the battle as depicted on the Bayeaux Tapestry.
THE NEW KING
After his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror became the King of England and embarked on a long and eventful reign.
One of William’s first actions as king was to suppress any remaining resistance to his rule.
He faced several revolts and challenges from English nobles, but he was able to put these down with the help of his Norman allies.
He also faced a challenge from the Vikings, who had invaded England several times during the early years of his reign, but he was able to defeat them as well.
DOOMSDAY BOOK
In order to better administer and tax his new kingdom, William commissioned the Domesday Book in 1085, a comprehensive survey of the English countryside and its resources.
This helped him to gain a better understanding of the wealth and resources of his kingdom, and it also helped him to more effectively collect taxes from the English people.
REBELLION
Despite his many successes, William’s reign was not without its challenges. He faced opposition from some English nobles, who resented the fact that they had lost power and influence to the Normans. He also faced a number of rebellions, including the Revolt of the Earls in 1075, which was led by Ralph de Guader, Earl of East Anglia, and Roger de Breteuil, Earl of Hereford.
LEGACY
William the Conqueror is remembered as one of the most significant figures in English history. His conquest of England marked the beginning of a new era in English history, and the Norman Conquest had a profound impact on the culture, language, and society of England.
William is also remembered for his many building projects, including the construction of castles and the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey. He died in 1087 at the age of 59 and was succeeded by his son, William Rufus.
His other main legacy was the many castles dotted around England, either built during his life or soon after.
(Quiz Answers: 1. White; 2. Earth mound; 3. Courtyard; 4. France; 5.1066; 6. Castle Drogo; 7. Four; 8. Village; 9. Northman; 10. Rufus; 11. Harold; 12. Battle; 13.Keep; 14. Moat; 15. Speed of construction; 16. Dec 25; 17. Tower of London; 18. Murder; 19. 1085; 20. Cousin).