Image: King William I (‘The Conqueror’) (Public Domain)

On this day in history, December 25, 1066, William the Conqueror is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, completing the Norman conquest of England.

William was born to Duke Robert I of Normandy and his mistress Herleva. His mother had another child with Robert and then married a Norman noble named Herluin, with whom she had another two children, including Odo, later a bishop and regent of England. In 1035Duke Robert died on pilgrimage, leaving William as his only son and entitled heir: Norman lords had agreed to accept William as Robert’s successor, and the King of France had endorsed this. However, William was only eight and illegitimate – he was known as ‘The Bastard’ – so while the Norman nobility initially accepted him as ruler, they did so, conscious of their authority. Due to still developing succession privileges, illegitimacy was not yet a block to power, making William dependent on others.

Normandy soon fell into conflict as ducal authority collapsed, and all the aristocracy began constructing their castles and assuming the powers of William’s government. Wars were often battled between these nobles, and three of William’s protectors were murdered. William’s steward was probably slain while William napped in the same room. Herleva’s family was afforded the best protection. William began to take a role in Normandy’s proceedings when he turned 15 in 1042, and for the next nine years, he firmly took royal rights and control, fighting a series of wars against radical nobles. He had the backing of Henry I of France, especially during the battle of Val-es-Dunes in 1047 when the Duke and his King beat a coalition of Norman nobles. William learned much about warfare and government throughout this time, making him firm about maintaining full command over his territories. It also made him brutal and adept at cruelty.

William married in 1052 to the daughter of Baldwin V of Flanders, despite the Pope ruling that marriage was illegal because of consanguinity. By 1059 William was back in the good graces of the papacy. He had four sons, three of whom would go on to rule.

The bond between the Norman and English ruling families had started in 1002 with a marriage. It had continued when Edward – later known as ‘the Confessor’ – had escaped from Cnut’s attacking force and hid at the Norman court. Edward had regained the English throne but became old and childless, and during the 1050s, there were discussions between Edward and William over who would take the throne. William maintained he had been guaranteed the crown. He also claimed that another suitor, Harold Godwineson, the most powerful noble in England, had promised to support William’s claim while visiting Normandy. Sources vary over whether Harold or William received the promise of the throne as the king lay dying.

Nevertheless, when Edward died in 1066, William claimed the throne and announced he would invade to take it from Harold, and he had to induce the council of Norman nobles, who were convinced this was too dangerous an undertaking. William promptly amassed an invasion fleet that included noblemen from all over France – an indicator of William’s superior status as a leader – and may have even gained support from the Pope. Notably, he also took actions to guarantee that Normandy stayed faithful while he was away, including giving key partners significant powers. William eventually sailed on September 27^th, landing the following day. Harold had been compelled to advance north to fight another invading suitor, Harold Hardrada, at Stamford Bridge.

Harold moved south and assumed a defensive posture at Hastings. William attacked his adversary, and the Battle of Hastings followed, killing Harold and many English nobility. William followed the triumph by threatening the country and, on Christmas Day, 1066, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London.

William now had to overcome insurrections in England and, at times, did it viciously. Despite that, after 1072, he spent most of his time in Normandy, dealing with unruly citizens there. The borders of Normandy proved challenging, and William had to deal with aggressive neighbors and a stronger French king. He tried to stabilize the situation with moderate success through diplomacy and war.

There were further insurrections in England, including a plot involving Waltheof, the last English earl, whom William subsequently executed. At Dol, in 1076, William suffered his first significant military defeat to the King of France. More problematically, William’s eldest son, Robert, rebelled, created an army, partnered with William’s rivals, and began attacking Normandy. William also had a falling out with his brother, bishop, and sometime regent, Odo, who was seized and imprisoned. Odo may have been about to maneuver his way into the papacy. If so, William opposed the enormous army Odo was proposing to move from England to help him.

While trying to retake Mantes, he endured an injury – possibly while on horseback – which ultimately was lethal. On his deathbed, William negotiated a concession with his sons: he gave Robert his French possessions and William Rufus England. He died on September 9, 1087, aged 60. As he died, he requested that prisoners be released, everyone except Odo. William’s body was so obese it would not fit into the prepared tomb and erupted out with a nauseating stench as they tried to stuff it into it.

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