WILLIAM, THE CONQUEROR

William, the Conqueror, was born in 1028 in Chateau de Falaise in Falaise, Normandy, France. He died 9 September 1087. He was known as William the Conqueror and was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II. William was the only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, as well as the grandnephew of the English Queen, Emma of Normandy.

To press his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans, Bretons, Flemings, and Frenchmen to victory over the English forces of King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. He suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.

William created a feudal state that brought order, peace, law to England, promoted commerce, and created a strong central government that long endured.