William The Conqueror & The Normans Aleš Jansa

Early life  William The Bastard  born in 1028 at Falaise Castle  son of Robert The Magnificent and Herleve, daughter of a tanner Falaise Castle  cousin of the British king Edward  at the age of 7 – Duke of Normandy

Duke of Normandy  this led to anarchy  in 1047 he began to restore order in Normandy  being a bastard child, William wasn‘t favoured by local barons  in Alencon he had cut off citizens‘ hands and legs as a revenge for the rebellion Statue of William at Falaise  1049 got married to Matilda

William‘s appearance  tall (5’10‘‘) and thick  later he had problems with overweight  dark curly hair  rasping voice William‘s portrait  very strong  bold on the forehead

The Conquest of England  1051 William visited his cousin Edward, who had purpotedly promised him the throne  William was preparing to invade Britain  Sept – invasion of Harold Hardrada, Viking king of Norway  Harold was accepted as the king  January 1066 – Edward The Confessor died  Sept. 25, battle at Stamford Bridge  Vikings were defeated

The Battle of Hastings  Sept. 27, 1066 – Norman fleet landed  king Harold heard about it 4 days later and immediately marched with his exhausted army 255 miles south to reach Hastings  William started to build castles in Hastings and Pevensey, where his army landed William‘s fleet

The Battle of Hastings  Oct. 13, 1066 – English army arrived to Battle  both armies counted obout men  Oct. 14, 1066 AM – Normans attacked The Battle  Normans were in worse position - in valley  in the beginning Harold was more successful  but than perfect tactics of William decided

From the battle to the throne  William marched to London  in some time William subjugated large part of Britain and many towns (Dover, Winchester)  his army devastated land, burned towns King William I.  some rebellions occured (Sheriff Edgar) but were politically suppressed  William was crowned on the Christmas day in Westminster Abbey

The reign of William I.  reign of the terror  confiscated lands granted to Normans  many rebellions – crushed and punished  over 80 castles were built to enforce his rule Tower of London

William‘s reforms  changes of many laws  slavery was abolished  murder became a crime  new feudal system (French)  Norman French language of upper class  swine / gammon  cow / beef Arms of The House of Normandy

The Domesday Book  a survey of the amount and value of land and livestock held by landholders in England  easier taxation  written in Latin

The death of William I.  last year of his life spent fighting in Normandy  he obtained severe abdominal injuries  1087 – he was thrown from his horse  he is burried in Caen William‘s grave  because William was very fat, when the attendants tried to force the body into the stone sarcophagus, it burst, filling the church with a foul smell

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