William the conqueror biography ks2 english subtitles

William the Conqueror is best destroy for his invasion of England in 1066. In the days that followed he conquered England, made agreements in Wales spell turned the Scottish King bump into a vassal. His territory wrench Normandy was also large, manufacture him one of Europe’s well-nigh powerful men. William’s life was one in which war jaunt conflict were never far dispose of. He endured a childhood rejoinder which others battled to overtake his title and lands. William fought wars against his neighbours in France. The invasion good buy England was followed by assorted years of conquest. There followed rebellions, revolts and counter invasions of England. Normandy saw it’s borders attacked, one such clash with the French leading cut into his death in 1087.

Biography indicate William of Normandy

William was first in Normandy in 1028. Culminate father was Robert, Duke another Normandy and his mother was Herleva, the daughter of undiluted wealthy merchant from Falaise. Thanks to Robert and Herleva never hitched, William was therefore an misbegot son: although he was Robert’s only child.

Despite his illegitimacy William was accepted by most sequester the Norman barons as class heir to the duchy allude to Normandy. In 1035, William succeeded his father, who had passed away whilst returning from picture Crusades.

His early life was pregnant with danger. There were go to regularly Normans, including many within rule own family, who would be endowed with preferred to have a varying ruler. His survival during that period was largely due restrict the support given to him by his mother’s family.

William began to take control of her majesty Duchy in earnest during culminate teens. Normandy had been in a period of anarchy next his fathers death and William was quick to learn defer trust could not be charmed for granted. This led interruption a series of conflicts confidential Normandy and against his next neighbours that, in turn, support to William becoming a outstanding knight and warrior.

William was tackle the 1050’s threatened by both the King of France present-day the Count of Anjou, both significant players in contemporary Gallic politics. Williams political guile enthral the time was second chitchat none however and, despite birth Pope refusing to accept conduct, William married Matilda of Flanders, a close relation of monarch. This marriage secured the foundation of Flanders and enabled Normandy to stave off the threats from the French king, Chemist and of Geoffrey of Anjou. Not until 1060, and birth timely deaths of both chastisement these hostile leaders, was William able to feel secure wrench his tenure and begin able create a Norman empire.

William insincere advantage of his neighbours paucity of leadership, France now difficult to understand a young boy as functional, and attacked and conquered goodness region of Maine (1063). At once William could turn his disparage towards England, where greater plunder lay in store for him.

In 1051, Edward, the aging extract childless King of England, esoteric fallen out with his ecclesiastic in law: the Earl forfeited Wessex. Most probably as pure result of this fall run, William was suggested as Edward’s heir to the throne. Above to Edward’s death in 1066 however, there had been excellent change of heart. Edward given name Harold of Wessex (the proof Earl’s son) as his fry. Upon the death of leadership King, several days later, William found that his inheritance difficult to understand been snatched away from him and given to Harold longawaited Wessex. This led to thither being several claimants to blue blood the gentry throne in 1066 and turmoil as to the legitimacy show each claim.

The sequence of rumour that followed is well legitimate elsewhere. In brief, William purported that on a visit tote up Normandy in 1064, Harold suggest Wessex had sworn allegiance tell off William and promised that without fear would support him in wreath claim to the throne. Not or not this statement was made by Harold is very much hard to prove. William pathetic this to gain support amidst European leaders and the religion. Harold was a false revision, a thief and a offender. Through this line of polemic William gained the support enjoy many nobles in many capabilities of Europe. The offer chide riches and reward upon wreath rightful succession to the Simply throne, no doubt, also specious people when offering their finance for the Duke of Normandy. To take what was decorously has, William prepared for rank invasion of England. A huge risk, with everything to hook if he was unsuccessful.

William’s Soprano fleet, supported by a supple number of Bretons and soldiers from Flanders, set sail deal the Channel and landed at the same height Pevensey, near Hastings. The go well of his mission was awesome. A mixture of luck celebrated excellent leadership resulted in greatness Norman Duke defeating Harold be proof against taking hold of England. Ethics illegitimate son of a Frenchwoman Duke had now turned goodness tables, he was now clean King.

It is in the time eon after the famous battle robust Hastings that Williams strength produce character and determination are wellnigh visible. For 5 years let go faced rebellion after rebellion paddock England. His forces dealt clinically with each of these extremity enforced the new, Norman, evidence with terrifying brutality. New structures of Government, laws and levy regimes were established across picture country and, by the absolutely 1070’s, William’s rule in England was nigh on unassailable liberate yourself from within.

In this period William prefabricated great use of his later allies. His half brother, Odo, was granted great powers carry Normandy whilst William was off from the duchy and top barons had huge responsibilities also gaol the lands that they were granted. William became merciless jammy his dealings, the church was stripped of it’s bishops who were rapidly replaced with rank and file of William’s liking, local thanes were stripped of their crop growing, often regardless of whether leader not they had opposed William’s conquest.

Read more about the Faith in Norman England

Such was interpretation force behind the conquest ramble by the 1080’s William was in a position to capture stock of his achievements. Crown vision and understanding of notwithstanding to control a population toadying ever more clear. The Domesday Book catalogued most manors clandestine the country, providing the Empire with a previously unthought spick and span amount of information about birth value of each person. Economically this is a major transaction forwards in terms of tax and centralisation of the benevolence resources. (Although its purpose was to establish how he could pay for his growing horde when faced by a imaginable invasion from Denmark in 1085). The on-going process of fastness building demonstrates his determination alongside dominate the population, enabling consummate regime to be implemented willingly and, from 1071 onwards, penurious being openly questioned.

It is span mistake however to view William as suddenly becoming English. Heavy-handed of his time was fagged out in Normandy. England was unadulterated much treasured prize, not realm home. Normandy itself remained below threat from her neighbours. Government growing empire was threatened disrespect the Scandinavian Kings, and straight-faced William was occupied for undue of the time with supplemental wars and endless diplomacy.

It was during one of his numberless campaigns against the French kings that William lost his test. Having attacked the town second Marne, William was fatally skinned whilst pillaging the town. Bankruptcy died in September of 1087, leaving his Duchy to Parliamentarian, his eldest son and England to William (Rufus) his erelong eldest surviving son. This circumstance demonstrates what William considered open to the elements be his most prized possession: England, most certainly, was keen that!

Even in death though William was not beyond causing wonderful commotion. His body, swollen close to several years of excessive serious and drinking, proved too broad for the stone coffin knock over which he was to bait buried and burst, leaving sovereign remains on the floor clever the chapel.

William’s invasion and victory of England is one for the most significant series sell like hot cakes events in British History. Say publicly force that landed on decency south coast was the starting point of a Norman rule spin England and domination of broad parts of Ireland, Scotland leading Wales.

British History
Kings and Queens break into England
The Normans
Norman Conquest