William I of England

William I (c. 1028 – 9 September 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087, and as Guillaume II was Duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087. Known alternatively as William of Normandy (Fr. Guillaume de Normandie), William the Conqueror (Fr. Guillaume le Conquérant) and William the Bastard (Fr. Guillaume le Bâtard), he was the illegitimate and only son of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, the daughter of Fulbert, a tanner. Born in Falaise, Normandy, now in France, William succeeded to the throne of England by right of conquest by winning the Battle of Hastings in 1066 in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.

Early life history

William was born the grandnephew of Queen Emma, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and later of King Canute.

Related Topics:
Grandnephew - Emma - Ethelred the Unready - Canute

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William succeeded to his father's Duchy of Normandy at the young age of 7 in 1035 and was known as Duke William II of Normandy (Fr. Guillaume II, duc de Normandie). He lost three guardians to plots to usurp his place. Count Alan of Brittany was a later guardian. King Henry I of France knighted him at the age of 15. By the time he turned 19 he was himself successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of King Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047.

Related Topics:
Duchy of Normandy - 1035 - Fr. - Alan of Brittany - Henry I of France - Caen - Battle of Val-ès-Dunes - 1047

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He married his cousin Matilda of Flanders, against the wishes of the pope in 1053 at the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Eu, Eu, Normandy (now in Seine-Maritime). He was 26, she was 22. Their marriage produced four sons and six daughters (see list below).

Related Topics:
Matilda of Flanders - Pope - 1053 - Notre Dame at Eu - Eu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain played significant roles in his life.

Related Topics:
Odo of Bayeux - Robert, Count of Mortain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~