William I the Conqueror


Overview

William I, Born most likely in late 1028, usually known as William the Conqueror was the first Norman king of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 1087. A descendant of Rollo, he was Duke of Normandy from 1035 onward. By 1060, following a long struggle to establish his throne, his hold on Normandy was secure. In 1066, following the death of Edward the Confessor, William invaded England, leading an army of Normans to victory over the Anglo-Saxon forces of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest. The rest of his life was marked by struggles to consolidate his hold over England and his continental lands, and by difficulties with his eldest son, Robert Curthose.


Early Life


William was born in either 1027 or 1028 at Falaise, Duchy of Normandy, most likely towards the end of 1028. He was the only son of Robert I, son of Richard II. His mother Herleva was a daughter of Fulbert of Falaise, a tanner. Herleva was possibly a member of the ducal household, but did not marry Robert. She later married Herluin de Conteville, with whom she had two sons – Odo of Bayeux and Count Robert of Mortain – and a daughter whose name is unknown. One of Herleva's brothers, Walter, became a supporter and protector of William during his minority. Robert I also had a daughter, Adelaide, by another mistress.

Conquest of England


In 1066, William invaded England with an army of Norman knights and infantry, landing in the south of England near Hastings. The English army, led by King Harold Godwinson, met William's forces in a fierce battle at Hastings on October 14, 1066. Despite being outnumbered, William emerged victorious and was crowned King of England on Christmas Day of the same year.




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Contact Info


Email: simonrieve@g.hayscisd.net

Phone: (505) 503-4455

Date: January 26th, 2023