William the Conqueror

The Norman King Who Changed England Forever

William’s Early Years and Rise to Power as Duke of Normandy

William was born in 1028 as the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy. With no other sons to succeed him, Robert’s death in 1035 left the title to William, who was just seven years old. His succession sparked outrage among the Norman nobility. Despite facing multiple assassination attempts and the killings of his supporters and guardians, William survived a turbulent childhood and began laying the foundations of his legacy.

His first significant display of military leadership came at the age of 19, during the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047. The threat came from his rebellious cousin, Guy of Burgundy, who refused to recognize William’s claim to the duchy. Guy commanded a force of around 25,000 men—considerably larger than what William could raise. In response, William sought the support of King Henry I of France, who, somewhat unexpectedly, allied with him. Their combined force numbered around 10,000.

Against overwhelming odds, William led his troops into battle, fighting fiercely at their side until Guy’s rebel army was routed. It was a remarkable victory for the young Duke, who not only asserted his authority over his rivals but also proved himself a capable and courageous military commander.

The 1066 Norman Invasion: William the Conqueror’s Path to the English Crown

William's claim to the English throne stemmed from a promise allegedly made by Edward the Confessor during a visit to Normandy in the early 1050s. According to William, the English king had assured him that he would succeed to the throne upon Edward’s death. Further strengthening this claim, Harold Godwinson—England’s most powerful earl—reportedly swore an oath in 1064 to support William’s succession.

Despite this, when Edward died in January 1066, the Witan (the council of nobles) chose Harold as king. William saw this as a betrayal and resolved to press his claim by force. Over the summer of 1066, he assembled an invasion force of around 7,000 men and 600 ships. Crucially, he also secured the backing of the Pope, which gave religious legitimacy to his cause and allowed him to recruit knights from across northern France.

William landed at Pevensey on England’s south coast and began fortifying his position. Meanwhile, Harold Godwinson had just repelled a Norwegian invasion led by King Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York on September 25. Though victorious, Harold’s army was exhausted and now faced a rapid march south to confront the Norman threat.

The Battle of Hastings: William the Conqueror vs. Harold Godwinson

Both Harold’s and William’s armies met in battle on October 14, 1066, near the town of Hastings, on a ridge called Senlac Hill. Harold’s troops, made up largely of well-trained housecarls and local militia called the fyrd, took up a strong defensive position, forming a shield wall that was difficult to penetrate. William’s Norman forces faced the challenge of attacking uphill, which made breaking the English line even harder. The battle lasted for several hours, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

A turning point came when the Normans feigned a retreat, a tactic designed to lure parts of Harold’s army off the hill and break

their solid formation. When the English soldiers pursued, they were ambushed by Norman cavalry and infantry, weakening the defensive shield wall. The fierce fighting continued until late afternoon, when Harold was reportedly killed—according to legend, by an arrow striking his eye. His death led to the rapid collapse of the English forces and a decisive Norman victory. This battle not only secured William’s claim to the English throne but also changed the course of English history forever.

The Legacy and Impact of William the Conqueror on England

Feudalism: He redistributed land to his Norman followers, replacing the Anglo-Saxon elite and introducing a centralised feudal system.
Domesday Book: In 1086, he commissioned a comprehensive survey of his kingdom’s resources and landowners — the Domesday Book — a monumental administrative achievement.
Language and Culture: Norman French influenced the English language, blending with Anglo-Saxon to eventually form Middle English.
Castles and Fortifications: William built numerous castles (like the Tower of London) to maintain control over the land.

William ruled until his death in 1087, when he died from injuries suffered during a campaign in France. He was buried in Caen, Normandy.