William the Conqueror

In 1047, the lords in western Normandy opposed William another time. They failed again but because of these two situations William learnt not to trust anyone. He also became a victim of the violent time he lived in. He believed that if someone betrayed him or a village or town betrayed him, then he should show no mercy. In 1051, citizens in the town of Alençon, which William was besieging, taunted him about being illegitimate. Once the town had fallen to him, he commanded that his abusers should have their hands and feet cut off.

In 1051, William met Edward the Confessor. William claimed that at this meeting, Edward promised him the throne of England on Edward's death. However, there were no definite witnesses, just people who wanted to keep on William’s good side.

In 1053, William married Matilda of Flanders. They had nine children altogether and seven survived.

During the next 10 years, William had to keep fighting invaders off his territory. He always succeeded and managed to build up a fearsome and professional army whose main power was based on cavalry - horse borne soldiers who were highly trained.

Upon his defeat of Harold at the Battle of Hastings, William used the Feudal System to have control over England. This control was continued a great deal by the Domesday Book.

William died in September 1087 from significant internal injuries when his horse was scared by embers in a burning Norman village, causing it to rear and drive the pommel on the saddle into William's stomach. He took several days to die and when he did, he was buried but was too big for his coffin and his body had to be stuffed into it. According to legend, the body rotted so much before the burial that it split open.

The entire contents of his coffin was stolen in 1562 - apart from a thigh bone. This was in fact removed during the French Revolution, which means no-one knows the location of William’s skeleton.

See also:

The Laws of William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror and Consolidation of Power 1066-1087