What can you tell me about William the Conqueror?

Question

I need to know whatever I can about The invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1006 A.D! Information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Answer 1

William was  the illegitimate son of Robert, Duke of Normandy.  His father acknowledged him as his heir and persuaded the nobles of the duchy to swear to support him.  Meanwhile, England was ruled by Edward the Confessor, whose mother had been Robert's aunt.  Edward had no children, and one candidate to succeed him was his brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson.  A few years before 1066, Harold was shipwrecked in Normandy, where William received him hospitably but persuaded him to swear to support William's claim to the English throne.  However, when Edward died, around the beginning of 1066, Harold had himself proclaimed King.  In the autumn of that year, Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, invaded England at Stamford Bridge, in Yorkshire.  Harold led his army north from London and defeated Hardrada, and then learned almost immediately that William had landed in Sussex.  The English army made a forced march south again and faced the Normans at Hastings on October 14.  The battle went on until after dark, but ultimately Harold was killed and the remnants of his army were routed.  William proceeded to London, where he was accepted as King and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on Christmas.  He made some effort to concilate the English and even tried to learn the language, but on his deathbed he admitted that his only claim to the throne was that of force of arms.

Will that do?

Answer 2

I know I am a direct descendant of him!  I know that probably doesn't really help you though :)  but the first answerer is correct it should be 1066.  

Answer 3

He was a b*****d and it was 1066 ad

Answer 4

just go to this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_o...

Answer 5

It was 1066 (that enough?)

Answer 6

just find out on the intenet.

Answer 7

he is the one who conquered Britain from the Anglo-Saxons in 1066 and not 1006  

Answer 8

Its supposed to be 1066 A.D.

You're confused.

Answer 9

The English King, Edward "the Confessor", supposedly named his first cousin once removed, William Duke of Normandy, as his successor to the English throne to prevent the powerful family of Godwine claiming it.

However, the son of Earl Godwine, Harold Godwineson, practically became King in all but name during Edward's declining years. It was during this time that on a trip to France, Harold's ship was overturned during a storm in the channel and he was washed up on the Normandy beaches. William took this opportunity to "rescue" him and get him to swear an oath to support William's claim to the English throne.

Once back in England Harold forgot this oath, for Edward was dying and on his deathbed he named Harold as his successor, ignoring William completely. William, somewhat annoyed, mounted an invasion to claim what he thought was rightfully his.

He was not the only invading army, for Harold's banished and jealous brother, Tostig, along with the King of Norway landed in Northumbria in the north of England to claim the Crown. But Harold marched his army to meet them and near York managed to defeat them. Three days later William landed in Sussex on the south coast and Harold had to turn his army around and march to fight him. They covered 240 miles in 13 days and met William just outside Hastings (the town that is there now is called Battle).

Although a smaller force, William used his cunning to lure the Saxon army in fighting away from their stronger defensive position on a hill, during which Harold was killed and the fight went rapidly out of his men. The Bayeux Tapestry gives an a visual account of the battle. Supposedly Harold was killed by an arrow in the eye since there is a figure on the tapestry clutching at an arrow in his eye next to the latin words "King Harold dies", although it is now believed to refer to one of the figures beneath, killed by a sword after falling from a horse in a cavalry charge.

This was the last successful invasion of England by a foreign country and the greatest wholescale suppression of a people by Norsemen/Vikings as the Normans were originally Viking settlers and Normandy at that time was a seperate principality from France.

With no one left to stand in his way, William "the Conqueror" was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066. He ravaged the country so severely it took generations to recover. William ordered a detailed inventory of his new kingdom, leading to the creation of the Domesday Book in 1086 one of the earliest census and surveys (still viewable at the British National Archives).

In September 1087 William died after the pommel of his saddle struck him in the stomach while campaigning in France and his crown passed to his son William II.

Answer 10

battle of Hastings actually in 1066, last invasion of England ever, most successful Viking (the Normans were descended from the Norsemen, or Vikings) ever.

Answer 11

Moriarty and Aida have supplied good basic information, however they repeat the unproven claim that Edward the Confessor promised the throne of England to William and that Harold swore an oath to recognize William's right to succeed.

Neither of these claims has any real proof to back them up.  Only records written AFTER William became king, and written by people who supported him, mention Edward's promise or Harold's oath.

William had never visited England prior to invading it, and the only occasion on which Edward and William were in the same place at the same time was when William was about 5 or 6 years old.  

Also, the claim that Harold was rescued or captured by William and gave the oath either because he was forced to do so or because it was his way of showing gratitude is, again, not mentioned anywhere until after William conquered England.

Prior to the Norman conquest, Kings of England had to be approved by the Witan, a council of nobles and important elders, and although the previous monarchs had all come from the same family, there was no requirement that they do so.  Harold Godwinsson was the richest and most powerful man in England, a great warrior, and he was also Edward's brother-in-law and since Edward died childless and other male relatives were very young or unproven, the Witan chose Harold to be King.  William was also related through marriage (his aunt had been married to Ethelred II and then to the Danish king Canute) and he had married Matilda of Flanders who was a fifth generation descendant of Alfred the Great.  He believed he had a better claim than Harold but he was not the King that the Anglo-Saxon people wanted.

However, the other general information supplied by Moriarty and Aida is correct.  

Answer 12

Just google it there is alot of information on the web.