William the Conqueror was the son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy. Following his father’s death in 1035 William I came into power. William’s great uncle initially served as regiment, however, in 1042 William began to lead on his own His greatest strength was his military which enabled him to manage many rebellions and truly live up to his name.
In terms of love life, William I had a successful marriage to Matilda of Flanders. However, like all marriage, it had its ups and downs. At the time William I had first fallen for Matilda, she did not wish to marry him, as he was an illegitimate child. After discovering that she could not be persuaded William I attacked her by dragging her into a pit of mud (romantic?)! Despite the fact that this infuriated her father, she decided to marry him because she felt that she knew him better and was impressed by his show ‘courage’ in hurting her on her fathers land. Alternatively sources claim, however, that William I actually beat her until she agreed to his hand in marriage, (which wouldn’t be too difficult to believe considering his cruel acts). The Battle of Hastings was a defining moment in William I’s success. In the battle of Hastings, William I’s army had killed King Harold Godwinson of England, which led to their victory. William I and his wife were crowned king and queen of England in 1066. After being crowned, William I stabilised his borders. The South of England readily accepted William I, but the North was not happy. They did not want to follow him, so in 1069, they rebelled. The response they were faced with was not what they hoped for. William I decided to strike back brutally with the harrying of the North. In the harrying of the North William I burnt his peoples houses and crops, and killed many of them. Those he did not kill were left there to starve. This destroyed the lands, and sources of the time show that even 16 years after this act, the North of England remained empty. William’s life came to an end after he suffered many injuries from falling off his horse, during Siege of Mantes. His land was split between two his sons. |
For more information on William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders, go to;
http://arrayedingold.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/wife-of-conqueror-matilda-of-flanders.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/william_i_king.shtml
http://arrayedingold.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/wife-of-conqueror-matilda-of-flanders.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/william_i_king.shtml