William the Conqueror - King of England and Duke of Normandy - 25 Interesting Facts

William the Conqueror - King of England and Duke of Normandy - 25 Interesting Facts

William I (born c. 1028, Falaise, Normandy [France]—died September 9, 1087, Rouen) was a noble who made himself the mightiest in France and then changed the course of England’s history through his conquest of that country in 1066.  One of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages, he was Duke of Normandy from 1035 and King of England, as William I, from 1066 until his death.

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 13 years old.  It is clear that William expected some sort of reward from Edward; thus, when Edward’s marriage proved unfruitful, William began to develop an ambition to become his kinsman’s heir.  Edward, whose childlessness was a diplomatic asset, probably at times encouraged William’s hopes.

When Edward died childless on January 5, 1066, Harold was accepted as king by the English magnates, and William decided on war.  He proceeded carefully, however, first taking steps to secure his duchy and to obtain international support for his venture.  He took council with his leading nobles, bestowed special authority on his wife, Matilda, and his son Robert, and appointed key supporters to important positions in the ducal administration.  He petitioned the pope in Rome and received the blessing of Alexander II, who was encouraged by Archdeacon Hildebrand (the future Pope Gregory VII) to support the invasion.  He also appealed to volunteers to join his army of invasion and won numerous recruits from outside Normandy.

On September 27, 1066, after cold and rainy weather, the wind turned in William’s favor.  William embarked his army and set sail for the southeastern coast of England.  The trip was not without incident: William’s ship lost touch with the rest of the fleet, but he calmed his crew by supping as if he were at home, and contact with the other ships was made not long after.  The following morning he landed, took the unresisting towns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead with 4,000 to 7,000 cavalry and infantry.

On October 13, King Harold of England emerged from the forest to confront William and the Normans, but the hour was too late to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensive position instead.  Early the next day, before Harold had prepared his exhausted troops for battle, William attacked.  The English phalanx, however, held firm against William’s archers and cavalry.  The failure to break the English lines caused disarray in the Norman army.  As William’s cavalry fled in confusion, Harold’s soldiers abandoned their positions to pursue the enemy.  William rallied the fleeing horsemen, however, and they turned and slaughtered the foot soldiers chasing them.  On two subsequent occasions, William’s horsemen feigned retreat, which fooled Harold’s soldiers, who were then killed by their opponents.  Harold’s brothers were also killed early in the battle. Toward nightfall King Harold fell, struck in the eye by an arrow according to Norman accounts, and the English gave up.  William’s coolness and tenacity secured him victory in this fateful battle.  He then moved quickly against possible centers of resistance to prevent 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.

We review a video about William and his consolidation of power in Normandy and his later conquest of England.  As always we discuss the 25 Interesting Facts about William the Conqueror!

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