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"The
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William I "the Conqueror"
Born: 1027, Falaise, Normandy, FRANCE
Died: 09 Sep 1087, Convent of St. Gervais, Rouen, FRANCE
Father: King Robert I, "The Magnificent"
Mother: Herlette of Falaise
Spouse: Matilda of Flanders
Reign: 3 July 1035 – 9 September 1087
Predecessor: Edgar Ętheling
Successor: William II Rufus
Royal House: House of NormandyWilliam I, "the Conqueror", was born in Falaise, Normandy, the illegitimate and only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, who named him as heir to Normandy. His mother, Herleva, who later had two sons to another father, was the daughter of Fulbert, most probably a local tanner. William is believed to have been born in either 1027 or 1028, and more likely in the autumn of the latter year. He was born the grandnephew of Queen Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred the Unready and later of King Canute the Great. William's illegitimacy affected his early life and he was known to contemporaries as 'William the Bastard'. Nevertheless, when his father died, he was recognized as the heir.
By his father's will, William succeeded him as Duke of Normandy at age seven in 1035 and was known as Duke William of Normandy. Plots by rival Norman noblemen to usurp his place cost William three guardians, though not Count Alan III of Brittany, who was a later guardian. William was supported by King Henry I of France, however. He was knighted by Henry at age 15. By the time William turned 19 he was successfully dealing with threats of rebellion and invasion. With the assistance of Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy.
Against the wishes of Pope Leo IX, William married Matilda of Flanders in 1053 in the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Eu, Normandy. At the time, William was about 24 years old and Matilda was 22. William is said to have been a faithful and loving husband, and their marriage produced four sons and six daughters.Feeling threatened by the increase in Norman power resulting from William's noble marriage, Henry I of France attempted to invade Normandy twice (1054 and 1057), without success. Already a charismatic leader, William attracted strong support within Normandy, including the loyalty of his half-brothers Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, who played significant roles in his life.
Upon the death of the childless Edward the Confessor, the English throne was fiercely disputed by three claimants -- William, Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, and the Viking King Harald III of Norway, known as Harald Hardraada. William had a weak blood claim, through his great aunt Emma (wife of Ethelred and mother of Edward). William also contended that Edward, who had spent much of his life in exile in Normandy during the Danish occupation of England, had promised William the throne when William visited Edward in London in 1052. Finally, William claimed that Harold had pledged allegiance to him in 1064. Meanwhile, William submitted his claim to the English throne to Pope Alexander II, who sent him a consecrated banner in support.
Numerous battles followed - including the Battle of Hastings. William waited for a formal surrender of the English throne, but the Witenagemot proclaimed the quite young Edgar Ętheling instead, though without coronation. Thus, William's next target was London, approaching through the important territories of Kent, via Dover and Canterbury, inspiring fear in the English. However, at London, William's advance was beaten back at London Bridge, and he decided to march westward and to storm London from the northwest. After receiving continental reinforcements, William crossed the Thames and forced the surrender of Archbishop Stigand (one of Edgar's lead supporters), in early December. William reached Berkhamsted a few days later where Ętheling relinquished the English crown personally and the exhausted Saxon noblemen of England surrendered definitively. Although William was acclaimed then as English King, he requested a coronation in London. As William I, he was formally crowned on Christmas day 1066, in Westminster Abbey, by Archbishop Aldred.
Children of King William I and Matilda of Flanders
Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse Robert II "Curthose"
Duke of the Normans1051/1054 10 February 1134 Sybilla of Conversano Richard, Duke of Bernay 1054 1081 William II "Rufus"
King of the English1056 2 August 1100 Henry I "Beauclerc"
King of the English1068/1069 1 December 1135 Matilda of Scotland Adela, Countess of Blois 1067 8 March 1137 Stephen II, Count of Blois The mischief of William's elder son Robert arose after a prank of his brothers William and Henry, who doused him with filthy water. The situation became a large scale Norman rebellion. Only with King Philip's additional military support was William able to confront Robert, who was based at Flanders. During the battle in 1079, William was unhorsed and wounded by Robert, who lowered his sword only after recognizing him. The embarrassed William returned to Rouen, abandoning the expedition. In 1080, Matilda reconciled both, and William revoked Robert's inheritance. In 1087 in France, William burned Mantes (50 km west of Paris), besieging the town. However, he fell off his horse, suffering fatal abdominal injuries by the saddle pommel. On his deathbed, William divided his succession for his sons, sparking strife between them. Despite William's reluctance, his combative elder son Robert received the Duchy of Normandy, as Robert II. William Rufus (his third son) was next English king, as William II. William's youngest son Henry received 5,000 silver pounds, which would be earmarked to buy land. He also became King Henry I of England after William II died without issue. While on his deathbed, William pardoned many of his political adversaries, including Odo.
William died at age 59 at the Convent of St Gervais in Rouen, capital city of Normandie, France, on 9 September 1087. William was buried in the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, which he had erected, in Caen, Normandy.
William's grave is currently marked by a marble slab with a Latin inscription; the slab dates from the early 19th century. The grave was defiled twice, once during the French Wars of Religion, when his bones were scattered across the town of Caen, and again during the French Revolution. Following those events, only William's left femur remains in the tomb and some skin particles.
Cultural Background of Castles
Castles were brought to Britain by William "the Conqueror", when he invaded England from France in 1066 and became King William I. To control his new kingdom, which included England, Scotland and Wales, he built castles throughout the land. At first, he ordered the construction of very simple motte and bailey castles. They consisted of a hill, called a motte, topped by a tower (originally built of wood). The bailey was a large area of land next to the motte where the main castle activities took place, while the tower was used as the load's residence and as an observation post. These early castles were not very secure, because the wood would rot fairly quickly and was easy for an enemy to burn. So William ordered the construction of stone castles, which were more able to keep out invaders, and later kings ordered elaborate castles to be built, first with stone enclosures and later with an outer wall as well to provide an extra barrier of defence. Many of these later "concentric circle" castles, in fact, were granted by a king to him most loyal knights or barons who fought in battle and supported him. The king gave these kiights vast estates and permission to build castles, and in return he expected these men (most of whom were given the titles of Earl of Lord) to control their land as the King's representative, and to force the local population to work and pay rent to the Lord (who then gave it to the King). The first Knights and Barons built castles all over Britain, and hundreds of them still survive today.
Chepstow Castle was originally an 11th century stone enclosure fortress, founded by William Fitz Osborn. In 1081, King William I founded the impressive stone keep and baileys castle, which now stands on the site. After 1189, the castle was extensively altered by William Marshal, his five sons.
SOURCES:
King Edward I, King Henry III, King John, King William I, Malcolm III
http://en.wikipedia.orgCharlemagne's Descendants to George Washington
http://www.kareldegrote.nl/charlemagne/George_Washington.htmMargaret Butler & Sir Lawrence Washington
to King Edward I of England
http://www.thepeerage.com/p17991.htm#i179904ROYAL DESCENT
The Lanier Family Connection to the Washington Family
The Connection to King Edward I of England
http://jimserver.net/genealogy/royal_desc.htmlThe Ancestry of George Washington
Sons of Liberty Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution
http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/washancestry.htmlPolish History, Heraldry and Genealogy
The Lineage of George Washington
http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/lineageGW.htmlSampson LANIER & Elizabeth WASHINGTON
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~asbellm/genealogy/fam01284.htmIf you have photos or additional information, please contact me.
