William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror (c. 1028–1087) was Duke of Normandy from 1035 and King of England from 1066, the first Norman to rule England. Born at Falaise, the illegitimate son of Robert I, he inherited the duchy as a child amid warring nobles. He put down a rebellion in 1047, married Matilda of Flanders, and by 1060 held Normandy firmly.

When Edward the Confessor died childless, William claimed the throne had been promised him and that Harold had sworn to support him. He invaded in 1066, killed Harold at Hastings, and was crowned at Westminster on Christmas Day.

Revolts followed, and in 1069–70 he devastated northern England. He raised castles, among them the Tower of London, settled a new Norman nobility, and in 1086 ordered the Domesday survey. He died at Rouen in 1087 and was buried at Caen, leaving Normandy to Robert and England to William Rufus.