William The Conqueror Research Paper

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Who is William the conqueror, what was his legacy, his back ground, how he conquered England, and the last question is how did he die? All the answers and explanation for these questions are below.

William the conqueror was born in 1028 in Falaise, Normandy. He is well known as William the Conqueror but his name is William the Bastard. At the age of 8, William the conqueror became duke of Normandy after the death of his father Robert I. Robert I was a very powerful duke but he died from the return trip from Jerusalem. William was the child of Herleva (the mother) and Robert I also known as Robert the magnificent (the father). His two brothers Odo of Beyeux, Robert, count of Mortain and his sister Adelaide of Normandy. Violence plagued his …show more content…

Norman army led by Duke William of Normandy sailed to England and defeated the Saxon army of Harold Godwinson at the battle of Hastings. Battle of Hastings is the major battle against Harold Godwinson. Harold Godwinson was the king of England before William the conqueror, in this battle William defeated Harold by shooting an arrow in the eye. William the conqueror conquered England and this is how he became very famous. He also has a very special part in the history of medieval Europe. He ruled from 1066 to 1087 which is 21 years. He was well known after he became a duke and even more after he became the king of England. William the conqueror was the first ever English monarch too and also the king who made the feudal …show more content…

William, as the French ruler of Normandy, brought in England his French culture which changed England's language and politics system. In the years after the conquest, William set up his government on a firm basis and established feudalism into England which was the most political change in the English system. The Feudal system was a powerful social system in Medieval Europe. This system was all about taking all the land back out off the hands of Anglo-Saxons and to carefully redistribute it to his own vassals who were the lords. The king gave the lords/vassals land in exchange for military service, lords were in turn tenants of the nobles or knights, while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labour, and a share of the produce, nationally in exchange for military protection. King is the main person then working for him are the lords, working for the lords are the knights and working for the knights are peasants or serfs. This system still happens in our modern times but with a slight change. Like the kings now we have these people known as the central bankers, below them as in ranks are the Dukes in the medieval days now it is known as the Big bankers. By rank the third ones are the priests and bishops which is now called the corporate elite. The next one is known as the Royal ministers who are the constables and the chiefs. Just like the royal

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