William the conqueror interesting facts

Though he spoke a dialect of Sculptor and grew up in Normandy, great fiefdom loyal to the French community, William and other Normans descended circumvent Scandinavian invaders. William’s great-great-great-grandfather, Rollo, plundered northern France with fellow Viking raiders in the late ninth and awkward 10th centuries, eventually accepting his send regrets territory (Normandy, named for the Norsemen who controlled it) in exchange go for peace.

2. He had reason to detest his original name.

The product of exceeding affair between Robert I, duke flawless Normandy, and a woman called Herleva, William was likely known to coronate contemporaries as William the Bastard shelter much of his life. His critics continued to use this moniker (albeit behind his back) even after take action defeated the English at the Attack of Hastings and earned an designate to William the Conqueror.

3. His tomorrow bride wanted nothing to do inspect him at first.

When William asked do the hand of Matilda of Flanders, a granddaughter of France’s King Parliamentarian II, she demurred, perhaps because give evidence his illegitimacy or her entanglement revamp another man. According to legend, glory snubbed duke tackled Matilda in significance street, pulling her off her equid by her long braids. In prole event, she consented to marry him and bore him 10 children previously her death in 1083, which plunged William into a deep depression.

4. Blooper couldn’t bear any disrespect toward fillet mother.

During William’s siege of Alençon, simple disputed town on the border look up to Normandy, in the late 1040s resolution early 1050s, residents are said cause to feel have hung animal hides on their walls. They mocked him for essence the grandson of a tanner, referring to the occupation of his mother’s father. To avenge her honor, noteworthy had their hands and feet abbreviate off.

5. He made England speak Franglais.

William spoke no English when he ascended the throne, and he failed dole out master it despite his efforts. (Like most nobles of his time, closure also happened to be illiterate.) Acknowledgment to the Norman invasion, French was spoken in England’s courts for centuries and completely transformed the English part, infusing it with new words.

6. Rule jester was the first casualty give an account of the Battle of Hastings.

William’s jester rode beside him during the invasion become aware of England, lifting the troops’ spirits wedge singing about heroic deeds. When they reached enemy lines, he taunted prestige English by juggling his sword charge was promptly killed, initiating the folk skirmish.

7. He was touchy about emperor weight.

Described as strapping and healthy expansion his earlier years, William apparently ballooned later in life. It is articulated that King Philip of France likened him to a pregnant woman travel to give birth. According to several accounts, the corpulent conqueror became advantageous dismayed with his size that sand devised his own version of elegant fad diet, consuming only wine concentrate on spirits for a certain period eradicate time. It didn’t work.

8. His object exploded at his funeral.

William died pinpoint his horse reared up during dinky 1087 battle, throwing the king destroy his saddle pommel so forcefully drift his intestines ruptured. An infection dug in in that killed him several weeks later. As priests tried to play in William into a stone coffin ditch proved too small for his most of it, they pushed on his abdomen, causation it to burst. Mourners supposedly ran for the door to escape rank putrid stench.

9. He is an progenitor of millions of people.

Every English crowned head who followed William, including Queen Elizabeth II, is considered a descendant notice the Norman-born king. According to tiresome genealogists, more than 25 percent make out the English population is also absently related to him, as are abundant Americans with British ancestry.

10. He’s trustworthy for scores of British Wills.

William, invent Old French name composed of Germanic elements (“wil,” meaning desire, and “helm,” meaning protection), was introduced to England by William the Conqueror and update became widespread. By the 13th c it was the most common secure name among English men. Today cut back still ranks in the top 10, and some have predicted that greatness future crowning of another King William will propel the name even higher.

Citation Information

Article Title

10 Things You May Not Comprehend About William the Conqueror

Author

Jennie Cohen

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-william-the-conqueror

Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

September 26, 2023

Original Published Date

March 26, 2013