WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR AND THE NORMAN INVASION
Origins
William I was born in 1028 in Normandy
He was the Duke of Normandy from 1035-1087
King of England from 1066-1087
King of England
William visited his cousin Edward the Confessor in 1052 (King of England)
Edward promised William that he would succeed him after his death
Edward passed away in 1066
Trouble
England’s nobles decided to elect Harold as the king of England
William rebelled and got the support of Pope Alexander II
William assembled a fleet of 600 ships and 7000 men to invade England
Invasion begins
William landed in England September 28, 1066
Wm. assembles a pre-made wooden castle on Harold’s personal estate
This forces Harold to react quickly
Battle of Hastings
Harold was fighting a rival in northern England at the time
Harold marches his army 250 miles in 9 days to fight William
The Battle of Hastings would begin October 14th, 1066
Battle of Hastings
Both sides had about 7,000-8,000 men
The English (Anglo-Saxons) were defeated
Harold was wounded in the face with an arrow and later killed with hand weapons
Aftermath
William began to make his way toward London
William was crowned King of England Christmas Day 1066
Resistance remained in northern England until 1075
Bayeaux Tapestry
This is a tapestry that is 20 inches by 230 feet
It’s believed that Queen Matilda, William’s wife, ordered its creation
It depicts the Norman victory of 1066
Bayeaux Tapestry
William coming to England
Bayeaux Tapestry
Some think this may be a picture of Harold’s death
Significance of the Invasion
William commissioned the creation of the Domesday Book
This was similar to modern census
The purpose was to determine what people owned and where they lived
This was so they could be taxed
Significance of the Invasion
William built many castles to stop rebellions
Also constructed the Tower of London
Land was taken from the church and given to loyal Normans