William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror was King of England from 1066 to 1087.

As Duke of Normandy, he challenged Harold Godwinson for the English throne at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. [1]

That same year on Christmas Day, he was crowned King of England in London as William I. [2]

Real World Background

A descendant of Vikings, he was the 4th Duke of Normandy. William was promised the English throne by his cousin Edward the Confessor, but he did not have the only claim. Harold Godwinson, an Earl of Wessex, was appointed by the King's Council and evidently was also promised the throne by Edward on his death bed. The dispute culminated in the Battle of Hastings with Harold's death and William's coronation two months later.

See Also

• William the Conqueror at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia