Who+was+William+the+Conqueror

William I was the first Norman King of England. He was the son of Robert the 1st, Duke of Normandy, and Arlette. When William’s dad died the Normans accepted William as his successor. Almost straight after, People rebelled against their decision. His position wasn’t secure until the King of France, Henry the 1st won a battle against a rebel force near Caen.

During a visit to England to see his childless cousin, Edward the confessor, king of England, in 1051 he agreed on that William should become the Next King of England. In 1053 William married Matilda of Flanders who was a descendant from King Alfred the Great which made his claim to the Throne Stronger. Henry the 1st feared the bond between Normandy and Flanders and tried to defeat William, once in 1054 and again in 1058. But both times William defeated Henry’s army.