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William the Conqueror, King of England, Duke of Normandy

William the Conqueror, King of England, Duke of Normandy

Male 1024 - 1087  (62 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William the Conqueror 
    Suffix King of England, Duke of Normandy 
    Birth 14 Oct 1024  Chateau de Falaise, Falaise, Normandy, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3] 
    Christening 1066  Dives-sur-Mer, Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Gender Male 
    Death 9 Sep 1087  Rouen, Normandy, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    • at the Priory of St. Gervase...
    Burial 10 Sep 1087  St. Stephen Abbey, Caen, Calvados, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Residence Hastings, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Military Victor over the English in the Battle of Hastings, 1066  [4] 
    Burial Saint-Etienne de Caen, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    • The Abbey of Saint-âEtienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ("Men's Abbey"), is a former Benedictine monastery in the French city of Caen, Normandy, dedicated to Saint Stephen. It was founded in 1063[1] by William the Conqueror and is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in Normandy.

      Photos, history & source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Saint-%C3%89tienne,_Caen
    Person ID I37353  The Hennessee Family
    Last Modified 8 Dec 2018 

    Father Duke Robert de Normandie, II,   b. ~1005, Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Jul 1035, Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 30 years) 
    Mother Harriette de Falaise, Countess of Montaigne,   b. 1003, Falaise, Calvados, Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. ~1050, Mortagne-au-Perche, Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 47 years) 
    _MARRIED N 
    _MSTAT Partners 
    Family ID F18913  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Matilda of Flanders, Queen of England,   b. Abt 1031, Flanders, Belgium Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Nov 1083, Caen, Calvados, Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 52 years) 
    Marriage 1053  Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 8] 
    • The problem has been and maybe still is that William the Conqueror and Matilda (dau. of Baldwin V of Flanders & Adelaide of France) had relatively great difficulty is obtaining a papal dispensation for their marriage. It was not immediately obvious that there was any impediment that needed a dispensation. This problem of what the relationship between Matilda and William was that required a dispensation generated a vigorous debate earlier this century. Weis or Weis's source (as you report it) goes for a theory that makes Matilda and William cousins of sorts.
    Children 
     1. Adela of Normandy,   b. ~ 1067, Normandy, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Mar 1137, Marcigny-sur-Loire, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 70 years)
     2. Henry I, King of England,   b. 1068-1070, Selby, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Dec 1135, Saint-Denis-en-Lyons, Normandy, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
    Photos
    The signatures of William I and Matilda are the first two large crosses on the Accord of Winchester from 1072.    		The signatures of William I and Matilda are the first two large crosses on the Accord of Winchester from 1072.

    The Accord of Winchester is the 11th century document that establishes the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the Archbishop of York...
    Family ID F13813  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 14 Oct 1024 - Chateau de Falaise, Falaise, Normandy, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1053 - Normandie, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristening - 1066 - Dives-sur-Mer, Normandie, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 9 Sep 1087 - Rouen, Normandy, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 10 Sep 1087 - St. Stephen Abbey, Caen, Calvados, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - Hastings, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Saint-Etienne de Caen, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Chateau de Falaise in Falaise, Lower Normandy, France    		Chateau de Falaise in Falaise, Lower Normandy, France

    William the Conqueror (1028-1087) was born in an earlier building here.
    Tomb of William of Normandy at Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen, France    		Tomb of William of Normandy at Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen, France
    William the Conqueror (1028-1087)    		William the Conqueror (1028-1087)

  • Notes 
    • William I the Conqueror of England and Normandy, Duke of Normandy, King of England, was born 9 September 1027 in Falaise, France to Robert II, Duke of Normandy (c1000-1035) and Herleva of Falaise (1003-1050) and died 1087 in Rouen, France of unspecified causes. He married Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083) 1051 JL . Notable ancestors include Charlemagne (747-814). Ancestors are from France, Germany, Belgium.
      Contents[show]

      William I, King of England, Duke of Normandy was a mediµval monarch. He ruled as the Duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087 and as King of England from 1066 to 1087. As Duke of Normandy, William was known as William II, and, as King of England, as William I. He is commonly refered to as William the Conqueror (Guillaume le Conquâerant) or William the Bastard (Guillaume le Bãatard).

      The name "William the Bastard", a name used by his enemies arose from the fact that his mother was a Tanner's daughter who agreed to be his father Robert II's mistress. She demanded that their relationship not be secret, and had a position in court. After the affair was over, she married a Viscount. William retained the favour of his father and when Robert II left for the Holy Land, he forced his lords to pledge fealty to William. Robert II never returned from the Holy land and the oath was quickly forgotten, and intrigue surrounded the boy Duke. William's guardian Gilbert of Brionne was murdered, as was his tutor, as was his uncle Osbern- killed while protecting William from kidnappers found in his bedroom. William was sent away from home for his protection, and it was common practice for William's uncle Walter to awaken him in the night to move him to a new location.

      By age fifteen, William was knighted, and by twenty he went to war against his cousin Guy of Normandy to defend his title of Duke of Normandy. With the help of King Henri I of France, he subdued his enemies who were forced to swear allegiance to William.

      William asked for the hand of Matilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders, but Matilda would have none of it. Purportedly, she was in love with the English ambassador to Flanders, a Saxon named Brihtric, who declined her advances. As for William, she told his emissary that she was far too high-born (being descended from King Alfred the Great of England) to consider marrying a bastard. When that was repeated to him, William, all of 5'10", rode from Normandy to Bruges, found Matilda on her way to church, dragged her off her horse (some said by her long braids), threw her down in the street in front of her flabbergasted attendants, and then rode off. Another version states that William rode to Matilda's father's house in Lille, threw her to the ground in her room (again, by the braids), and hit her (or violently shook her) before leaving.

      William convinced Matilda to relent, but the pope opposed the marriage because they were distant cousins. For a period of time all of Normandy was excommunicated along with their duke because William disregarded the pope's advice and married Matilda. In return for the construction of two abbeys, the excommunication of Normandy was lifted.

      In 1051, William visited his cousin Edward the Confessor, king of England. Edward was childless, and William's account is that the king made him his heir. According to supporters of William, Edward sent his brother in law Harold Godwinson to see William in 1063. Other accounts say that Harold was shipwrecked. All accounts agree that William refused to let Harold depart until he swore on holy relics that he would uphold William's claim to the throne of England, and agreed to marry his daughter (then an infant) Agatha. After winning his release, Harold reneged on both promises.

      In support of his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans to victory over the Anglo-Saxon forces of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts| in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.

      His reign brought Norman culture to England, which had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages. In addition to political changes, his reign also saw changes to English law, a programme of building and fortification, changes in the English language and the introduction of continental European feudalism into England.

      For additional details beyond William's family history, see more here.

      Residence at Falaise
      In Falaise France, is a series of statues that pays tribute to the six Norman Dukes from Rollo to William Conqueror. The castle here was the principal residence of the Norman Knights.

      Chãateau Guillaume-le-Conquâerant Place Guillaume le Conquâerant / 14700 Falaise / Tel: 02 31 41 61 44

      History of Norman Dukes
      Homepage - Falaise Castle of William the Conqueror - In French.


      Children

      Offspring of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083)
      Name Birth Death Joined with
      Robert III, Duke of Normandy (c1051-1134) 1051 (Normandy) 10 February 1134 (Cardiff Castle+ Glamorganshire+ Wales) Sybilla of Conversano (-1103)

      Richard of Normandy (c1054) 1054 Normandy 1081 New Forest, Hampshire
      Adeliza of Normandy (c1055) 1055 Normandy 1065
      Cecilia of Normandy (c1055) 1055 Normandy, France 30 July 1126 Caen, Calvados, France
      William II of England (c1056-1100) 1056 Normandy, France 2 August 1100 New Forest, England, United Kingdom
      Adela of Normandy (c1062) 1062 Normandy, France 8 March 1138 Marcigny, Saãone-et-Loire, France Stephen II, Count of Blois (c1045-1102)

      Agatha of Normandy (c1064) 1064 1079
      Constance of Normandy (c1066-1090) 1066 1090 Alain Fergent de Bretagne (c1060-1119)

      Henry I of England (1068-1135) 13 June 1068 Selby, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom 1 December 1135 St. Denis-le-Fermont near Gisors, Picardy, Lyons-la-Forãet, Eure, France Ansfrid (1070-?)
      Matilda of Scotland (c1080-1118)
      Sybil Corbet (1077-?)
      Edith
      Gieva de Tracy
      Nest ferch Rhys (c1073-aft1136)
      Isabel de Beaumont
      Adeliza of Leuven (1103-1151)



      Common ancestors of William I of England (1027-1087) and Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083)

      Fulk II, Count of Anjou (?-958)
      Gerberge of Maine (?-?)
      Noteworthy descendants include

      Henry II of England (1133-1189)
      William I of England (1027-1087)

      Footnotes (including sources)
      ‡ General
      wikipedia:en:William the Conqueror
      Burke's Guide to the Royal Family, London, 1973 , Reference: 193, 310

      end of biography [4, 9]
    • Click here to view William the Conqueror's biography... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_of_England

      Click here to read about the historic Norman Conquest by William ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquest

      Click here to view his 9-generation pedigree ... http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/ahnentafel.php?personID=I3527&tree=00&parentset=0&generations=9


      William the Conqueror is the 26th & 27th great grandfather of the grandchildren of Vernia Swindell Byars (1894-1985)

      end of comment [6, 10, 11]
    • Click this link to view lots of pictures of William I & a video from the, "Bayeux Tapestry"; http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/William_I_of_England_(1027-1087)/pictures

      How Did the Normans Change England?

      The Normans were more than just the people who conquered England.

      They were dynamic and passionate people who changed English history forever.

      Apr 10, 2023 • By Greg Beyer, BA History and Linguistics, Diploma in Journalism ... https://www.thecollector.com/how-did-the-normans-change-england/ [12]

  • Sources 
    1. [S11857] "William I Normandie, King of England" profile, accessed & downloaded Monday, November 28th, 2016 by David A. Hennessee,.

    2. [S11858] "William the Conqueror (1024-1087)", biography, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_of_England, abstracted July 20, 2.

    3. [S12311] "William the Conqueror", Pedigree, http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/ahnentafel.php?personID=I3527&tree=00&parentset=0&g.

    4. [S12317] "William I of England (1027-1087)", Biography, http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/William_I,_King_of_England_(1027-1087),.

    5. [S14525] "William I Normandie, King of England" profile, accessed & downloaded Monday, November 28th, 2016 by David A. Hennessee,.

    6. [S11853] "William the Conqueror (1024-1087)", biography, abstracted July 20, 2012, by David Hennessee, http://en.wikipedia.org/wi.

    7. [S12488] "Herleva", Biography, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herleva, abstracted by David A. Hennessee, info@classroomfurniture.c.

    8. [S12154] "Matilda of Flanders", Biography, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_of_Flanders, retrieved or revisited, recorded & u.

    9. [S12312] "Lineage from Charlemagne to William the Conqueror", http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Lineage_from_Charlemagne_to_Willi.

    10. [S8616] "William's Relationship to King Alfred of England, abstracted November 27, 2015, by David A. Hennessee, http://www.ourfa.

    11. [S11854] "The Norman Conquest", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquest, revisited or retrieved, recorded & uploaded to the.

    12. [S12309] "William the Conqueror", Graphics, http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/William_I_of_England_(1027-1087)/pictures, revisite.


  

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