Remove Ads

William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror

Original Name
de Normandie
Birth
Falaise, Département du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France
Death
9 Sep 1087 (aged 58–59)
Rouen, Département de la Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
Burial
Caen, Département du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France
Memorial ID
View Source
Suggest Edits Suggest

Remove Ads

Remove Ads

British Monarch. William I, the first Norman King of England, ascended to the throne in 1066 shortly after the death of his second cousin, Edward the Confessor. Edward had no heir, but requested William to be his heir apparent to the throne. William was the son of the Norman Duke Robert the Magnificent and the unnamed daughter of a tanner. At age seven he became the Duke of Normandy. He married Matilia, daughter of the Count of Flanders, and to the union four sons and five daughters were born. Since the English Witan did not make him their first choice for King, he invaded England along with other armies, conquering the newly appointed King Harold Godwinson and his Saxon army at the Battle of Hastings, thus winning the throne and the name of William the Conqueror. He was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey. The English government became much more stable during his 21-year reign. England adopted the culture of West European countries instead of those of the northern Scandinavian countries, feudal tenure of land was introduced, landowners started paying taxes to the king, and the English church was reorganized. He was considered a fair man, with only one man being executed during his time in power, but he strongly enforced the hunting-gaming laws and mutilated many for breaking them. William was injured at the siege of Mantes while fighting against his feudal overlord, the King of France. He died at Convent of St. Gervais near Rouen in Normandy. His third son Rufus was his heir becoming William II of England. His disappointed first son Robert became the heir of Normandy.
British Monarch. William I, the first Norman King of England, ascended to the throne in 1066 shortly after the death of his second cousin, Edward the Confessor. Edward had no heir, but requested William to be his heir apparent to the throne. William was the son of the Norman Duke Robert the Magnificent and the unnamed daughter of a tanner. At age seven he became the Duke of Normandy. He married Matilia, daughter of the Count of Flanders, and to the union four sons and five daughters were born. Since the English Witan did not make him their first choice for King, he invaded England along with other armies, conquering the newly appointed King Harold Godwinson and his Saxon army at the Battle of Hastings, thus winning the throne and the name of William the Conqueror. He was crowned on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey. The English government became much more stable during his 21-year reign. England adopted the culture of West European countries instead of those of the northern Scandinavian countries, feudal tenure of land was introduced, landowners started paying taxes to the king, and the English church was reorganized. He was considered a fair man, with only one man being executed during his time in power, but he strongly enforced the hunting-gaming laws and mutilated many for breaking them. William was injured at the siege of Mantes while fighting against his feudal overlord, the King of France. He died at Convent of St. Gervais near Rouen in Normandy. His third son Rufus was his heir becoming William II of England. His disappointed first son Robert became the heir of Normandy.

Bio by: Linda Davis

Inscription

†
HIC SEPULTUS EST
INVICTISSIMUS
GUILLELMUS
CONQUESTOR,
NORMANNIÆ DUX,
ET ANGLIÆ REX,
HUJUSCE DOMUS CONDITOR,
QUI OBIT ANNO
M.LXXXVII.

Family Members

Parents
Spouse
Siblings Half Siblings
Children

Remove Ads

See more William the Conqueror memorials in:

Plant Memorial Tree

Explore more

Remove Ads

How famous was William the Conqueror?

Current rating:

302 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: 25 Apr 1998
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1948/william_the_conqueror: accessed ), memorial page for William the Conqueror (c.1028–9 Sep 1087), Find a Grave Memorial ID 1948, citing Abbey of Saint Stephen, Caen, Département du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France; Maintained by Find a Grave.