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William I of England

William I (c. 1027 - September 9, 1087), was a King of England, known alternatively as William the Conqueror and William the Bastard. He was the illegitimate son of Robert the Magnificent[?], duke of Normandy, and Herleva (or "Arlette"), the daughter of a tanner named Fulbert; he was born in Falaise, Normandy (now in France).

When he was growing up , he always had to look over his shoulder. Many people wanted the throne and would do anything for it. This is why three of his guardians were murdered.

He married Matilda of Flanders, and they had four sons and six daughters (see list below).

He succeeded his father to the dukedom as a young boy in 1035 and was known as Duke William II of Normandy. He immediately came under attack from the vassals. With the assistance of King Henri I of France, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen the battle of Val-ès-Dunes[?] in 1047.

He died at the Convent of St. Gervais, near Rouen, France, on September 9, 1087 from injuries received when he fell off a horse at the Siege of Mantes. He is buried at St. Stephen's, Caen, Normandy, now in France.

William was succeeded in 1087 as king of England by his younger son William II and as duke of Normandy by his elder son Robert Curthose[?], who had earlier rebelled. His youngest son Henry also became king of England later, after William II died without any child to succeed him.

Children of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders

Some doubt exists over how many daughters there were. Nonetheless, the list seems to be as follows:

  1. Robert Curthose (~1054 - 1135), Duke of Normandy, married Sybil of Conversano, daughter of Geoffrey of Conversano
  2. Adelizia (or Alice)(1055- d. ~1065), reportedly betrothed to Harold II of England (existence in some doubt)
  3. Cecilia (~1056 - 1126), Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen
  4. William Rufus (1056 - 1100), King of England
  5. Richard (1057 - ~1081), Duke of Bernay[?]
  6. Adela (~1062 - 1138), married Stephen, Count of Blois
  7. Agatha (~1064 - ~1080), betrothed to (1) Harold of Wessex, (2) Alfonso VI of Castile
  8. Constance (~1066 - 1090), married Alan IV Fergent, Duke of Brittany
  9. Matilda
  10. Henry Beauclerc (1068 - 1135), King of England, married (1) Matilda (or Edith) of Scotland, daughter of Malcolm III, King of Scotland, (2) Adelicia of Louvain, daughter of Geoffrey of Louvain, Duke of Brabant
Preceded by:
Edgar Ætheling 		List of British monarchs Succeeded by:
William II

See:William the Conqueror by David Bates ISBN 0752419803

 

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