William the Conqueror

**William the Conqueror** (1028 &ndash; 9 September  1087), also known as **William I of England**, was a Norman statesman and warlord. He was the first Norman King of England (1066–1087). He was also the Duke of Normandy from 1035 to his death.

Every monarch of England and later of Great Britain and of the United Kingdom is indirectly descended from William.

At the Battle of Hastings, William defeated Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. The event is shown on the Bayeux Tapestry.

William changed the course of both Norman and English history. He and Harold fought over the English throne. Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

## Early life and minority 
William was the son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, by his concubine Herleva. He was born in Falaise, Normandy, in 1027 or 1028. William became the duke of Normandy after his father went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1035 and did not return.

However William's minority rule of Normandy did not start well. Some Normans did not want a boy as their duke. Robert II, Archbishop of Rouen, was a powerful man in Normandy and protected William. King Henry I of France also approved of William. In 1035, William's father Robert died. Without his support, Norman nobles began fighting among themselves. Some wanted William out of the way and tried to kill him. One of William's servants was killed in the very room in which William slept. Two of William's other protectors died during this time. Normandy was in complete disorder.

In 1042, William held a church council in Normandy. There, the Church made a new law, the Truce of God,

William probably reached the age of majority in about 1044. He no longer needed tutors and could now rule on his own. By the fall of 1046, many of the families in lower Normandy began plotting to replace William as duke. William gave Guy castles at Brionne and Vernon, but Guy wasn't happy with that and decided that he should rule Normandy himself.

A church council met in October 1047 near the battlefield to consider a new Truce of God. No private wars would be allowed from Wednesday evening to Monday morning. Also no such fighting was allowed during Advent, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. William's peace in Normandy was now supported by the Church.

### Rise to power
The battle of Val-es-Dunes was the start of William's rise to power. As the king had stepped in, it was mostly his victory. who was the daughter of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela of France, who was the daughter of King Robert II of France. Around 1052, Geoffrey of Anjou and the king suddenly made peace. Just as suddenly, the king turned on William. Duke William sent his two uncles away from Normandy. His brother Odo led the second force east of the Seine River. Those who survived were taken prisoner and held for ransom. When the king got the news that his brother's army had been destroyed, his army was struck with panic. The king and his men left Normandy as fast as they could.

King Henry I agreed to a peace that lasted three years but broke the peace in 1058 and invaded Normandy again. Just as before. William kept the king's army close but waited for the best time to strike. That came as the French army was crossing the Dives River at Varaville. The king had already crossed the river and watched as his army was destroyed as it entered the water. He took what remained of his army and left Normandy for good. The king died a short time later. The new king, his young son Phillip, was under the care of William's father-in-law, Baldwin V. France was no longer against Normandy, which allowed William the freedom to expand. The alliance formed by this marriage had far-reaching effects. Harold Godwinson was in Normandy in 1065 and promised Duke William to support him as successor to the English throne.

On 5 January 1066, Edward the king died, but Harold did not respect his oaths. The next day, when the funeral occurred, Harold was crowned King of England. But the news of the king's death and of Harold's taking the throne must have been a surprise to others. He called a meeting of his greatest men. William made plans to gather a large army from all over France. His influence and wealth meant he could mount a large campaign. While William was planning his invasion, Harald Hardrada of Norway was planning the same. Harold knew that both would be coming but kept his ships and forces in the southern England, where William might land. 
  
William may have had as many as 1,000 ships in his invasion fleet. They had favourable winds to leave Normandy on the night of 27 September 1066. William's ship, the *Mora*, was a gift of his wife, Matilda. Harold also received news that William had landed at Pevensey and so came south as quickly as he could. Harold rested at London for a few days before he took his army to meet William and his French forces. that was called Senlay Hill. He found the Norman army marching up the valley in front of the English. Harold had more soldiers than William, but they were tired from the 60 mi (96 km) forced march from London. but they were attacking uphill and so could not gain any speed. Harold's front line simply stood fast and fended off all attacks. William then did something new. His attacks by knights and soldiers had been separate movements, but he now used them together. They had lost their king but were still trying to reorganise. William rested his army for five days before he moved towards London. His victory at Hastings gave Duke William the nickname that he has been known by ever since: 'William the Conqueror'.

## King of England
### Early reign
William chose to be crowned at Christmas. That was partly because he thought the English would be less likely to riot on the high feast day. It was also a good choice because he believed that it was God's will for him to be king. He then returned to Normandy and left England in the hands of two capable men: his half-brother Odo, who was the Bishop of Bayeux, and William FitzOsbern. Odo was made the Earl of Kent while FitzOsbern became the earl of Hereford. The remaining three English earls were left in place. Hertfordshire had been raided by Mercians. Also, Exeter had not accepted the rule of the new king. At the same time, others were fleeing England. Edgar Atheling, along with his mother and sisters, left for Scotland, where they were welcomed. After building another castle, William left Earl William FitzOsbern in charge. William and his army were in the south to guard against any incursions. William knew that he was in trouble. He began by calling in all his commanders and troops to combine his forces. The king knew that with a smaller army, he had to deal with one group of rebels at a time. However, one group proved more stubborn at Chester, and after a forced march during Winter, William surprised it before it was ready. After it surrendered, William built two more castles there and returned to Winchester. The Danish fleet came back in 1070 this time led by King Swen. They joined a small group of rebels on the Isle of Ely led by Hereward the Wake.

William now ruled both England and Normandy. He found that he had to be present to keep things under control. When he was in Normandy, trouble often broke out in England.

In 1082, William arrested his half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent. The reasons are uncertain, but Odo was trying to raise an army to march on Rome, as he planned was to become the next pope. She had been very close with her husband but disagreed over their son Robert Curthose. William came back to England in the autumn with many soldiers. He had to pay and feed them at great cost. The king wanted to know how many people lived in his realm. He wanted to know the size of every property, what each was worth and how much income it brought in. That became the Domesday Book but would be bound into books only almost another century later.

* Robert (–1134), Duke of Normandy succeeded his father.
* Richard (–).
* William (–1100). Succeeded his father as King of England.
* Henry (1068–1135). Succeeded his brother William as King of England.
* Agatha; promised in marriage to Alfonso VI of León and Castile but died before the wedding.
* Adeliza.
* Cecily (–1127), Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen.
* Adela (died 1137), married Stephen I, Count of Blois. 
* Constance (died 1090),  married Alan IV, Duke of Brittany.
* Matilda.

## Notes
## References