WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

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William the Conqueror



The Duke of Normandy in the Bayeux Tapestry

King of the English

Reign 25 December 1066 – 9 September 1087

Coronation 25 December 1066

Predecessor Edgar Ætheling (uncrowned)

(otherwise) Harold II

Successor William II

Duke of the Normans

Reign 3 July 1035 – 9 September 1087

Predecessor Robert I the Magnificent

Successor Robert II Curthose



Spouse Matilda of Flanders

among othersIssue

Robert II, Duke of the Normans

Richard, Duke of Bernay

William II

Adela, Countess of Blois

Henry I

House Norman dynasty

Father Robert I, Duke of Normandy

Mother Herlette of Falaise

Born c. 1027[1]

Château de Falaise, Falaise, Normandy, France

Died 9 September 1087 (aged c.60)

Convent of St. Gervais, Rouen, France

Burial Saint-Étienne de Caen, France

William the Conqueror (French: Guillaume le Conquérant) (c. 1027 or 1028[1] – 9 September 1087), also known as William I of England, was the King of England from Christmas, 1066 until his death. He was also William II, Duke of Normandy, from 3 July 1035 until his death. Before his conquest of England, he was known as "William the Bastard" because of the illegitimacy of his birth.



To press his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans, Bretons, Flemish people, and Frenchmen (from Paris and Île-de-France) to victory over the English forces of King Harold Godwinson (who died in the conflict) at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.[2]



His reign, which brought Norman-French culture to England, had an impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages. The details of that impact and the extent of the changes have been debated by scholars for over a century. In addition to the obvious change of ruler, his reign also saw a programme of building and fortification, changes to the English language, a shift in the upper levels of society and the church, and adoption of some aspects of continental church reform.