William The Conqueror.
(Guillaume Le Conquérant)

William was born in Falaise, Normandy in 1027 or 1028.  His parents were Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy and Herleva, a tanner's daughter.  Robert was called 'magnificent' (Le Magnifique) because he loved to wear fine and magnificent clothes and jewellery.  Below is his statue, to be seen in the town square of Falaise.

Although William was an illegitimate child (his parents were not married) it was decided that he would still be the heir to his father's title.  So, he soon became Duke of Normandy.  By the age of nineteen years, it was evident that William was a talented soldier and warrior.  Below is his portrait.

In 1050, he married Matilda, daughter of the Count of Flanders. 

It is said that Matilda and her ladies created the famous Bayeux Tapestry.  It is sometimes referred to as La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde.  It is over 70 metres long and can be seen in Bayeux, Normandy.   Below is a section of the tapestry.

William and Matilda had ten children (four sons and six daughters).  Two of the sons became future kings of England - William II and Henry I. 

 Halley's Comet appeared in the sky in April 1066, shortly after the coronation of the new English King Harold.  In France, this was interpreted as 'bad luck' for the new English king and as a good sign for the Normans to invade England.

William believed that he should be the new English king instead of Harold. The previous king of England (Edward The Confessor) had promised William the English throne.

So, in October 1066 William landed in England (at Hastings) with his army and he defeated King Harold II. This event is called The Battle of Hastings.  It is also known as The Norman Conquest of England. As a result of his victorious invasion, William of Normandy was crowned William I, King of England on Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey.

The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Battle of Hastings and the events leading up to it - including the initial sighting of Halley's Comet.  Below is the section of the tapestry depicting the Normans looking at the comet.

After the Battle of Hastings, William earned the nickname William the Conqueror (or Guillaume le Conquérant in French.)  During his English reign he introduced the French language to England and as a result, many of the words we use in English today have either come from French or are influenced by French.

William built lots of castles and churches. The first Norman castle built in England was at Hastings - the place of the original invasion and victory.  Below is a photo of the ruined castle.

The most famous Norman church in England is Durham Cathedral.  Its construction began in 1093 and it was completed forty years later.  Another name for Norman architecture is 'Romanesque.'  Below is a photo of Durham Cathedral.

William I is well-known for the writing of The Domesday Book.  This was the recording of how much land and wealth belonged to the important landowners of England.  It was an enormous task.  The information was collected by surveyors who travelled around England.  The information was completed after a couple of years in 1086.  It is kept in the Public Records Office in London.  The old English word 'dom' means 'judgement' or 'reckoning' so Domesday actually means 'the day of judgement' so that wealthy landowners could be taxed justly according to their wealth.  Below is a photo of The Domesday Book.

William of Normandy died in 1087 following an injury when he fell from his horse.  His tomb is in the Abbaye aux Hommes in Caen, Normandy.