[home] [the domesday book] [background] [links] [FAQs] [glossary] [contact]

life in the 11th century | william the conqueror | place name origins | timeline

Related Links

  • Why did William commission the Domesday Book?
  • Life in the 11th Century
  • Contents of the Domesday Book
  • Domesday Landowners

  • William the Conqueror


    Portrait of William the Conqueror, National Portrait Gallery
    Portrait of King William I

    o    His early years (1028-1050)

    o    Battle for France (1051-1066)

    o    The English Conquest (1066)

    o    The post-Conquest years (1067-1087)

    o    William's parents

    o    The Norman family tree

    Early Years

    1028
    1035

    1036
    1037

    1042
    1043
    1045

    1046

    1047

    1049
    1050
    (Autumn?) - Born in Falaise, Normandy, an illegitimate son
    Duke Robert I (William's father) dies in Bithynia; accession of William as Duke William II of Normandy, aged 7
    Murder of Edward the Confessor's brother, Alfred
    Archbishop Robert I of Rouen, France, dies; succeeded by William's uncle, Mauger
    Accession of Edward the Confessor as King of England
    Coronation of Edward
    Marriage of Edward to Edith, daughter of Earl Godwine of Essex. Magnus of Norway threatens to invade England
    Revolt of the western vicomtes and Guy of Burgundy in Normandy. William defended by King Henry
    William present at proclamation of the Truce of God in Normandy at church council in Caen
    William recaptures Brionne
    William re-enters Rouen

    Back to top

    bar.jpg - 1374 Bytes

    Battle for France

    1051

    1051-52

    1051/52 1052

    1053 1053 1056 1057 1058 1058 1060 1063 1064 1064 1066
    About the time of a rebellion by Earl Godwine against Edward the Confessor, William is promised succession to the English throne
    Warfare between William and Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, round Domfront and Alençon
    William marries Matilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders
    Expulsion of many Normans from England, Earl Godwine and sons are returned land lost due to rebellion
    Earl Godwine dies
    Capture of Arques by William
    Robert, William's half-brother, becomes Count of Mortain
    King Henry and Count Geoffrey of Anjou join forces and invade Normandy
    Siege of Thimert by King Henry after capture by William
    Son of Harold Hardraada, Magnus, attacks England
    King Henry I of France dies; succeeded by Philip I
    Conquest of Maine by William
    Harold Godwineson visits Normandy
    William invades Brittany
    (5th January) Edward the Confessor dies
    (Spring) Norman mission to Rome to seek papal support
    (6th June) Coronation of Harold Godwineson

    Back to top

    bar.jpg - 1374 Bytes

    The English Conquest

    1066 (September) William's fleet assembles in the Dives
    (8th September) Harold Godwineson disbands army in southern England
    (September) Harold Hardraada, King of Norway, invades northern England
    (20th September) Battle of Fulford
    (25th September) Battle of Stamford Bridge
    (28th September) William lands at Pevensey
    (29th September) William occupies Hastings
    (6th October) Harold Godwineson in London
    (14th October) Battle of Hastings
    (21st October) Submission of Dover
    (29th October) Submission of Canterbury
    (Early December) William marches round London
    (25th December) Coronation of William as King of England

    Back to top

    bar.jpg - 1374 Bytes

    The post-Conquest years

    1067

    1068 1069

     

     

    1070

     

    1071

     
    1073 1075 1076 1077

    1079

    1080

    1081

    1082 1083

    1085

     
    1086

    1087
    (March-Dec) William in Normandy
    (Autumn) Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, becomes Earl of Kent
    (Summer) William enters York
    (Feb-Apr) York rebels but is retaken by William
    (Summer) Invasion of Yorkshire by Swein Estrithson, King of Denmark;                general uprising of the north supported by Malcolm III, King of                Scotland
    (20th Sept) Rebels occupy York
                     William retakes York
    (Jan-Mar) William's campaign in Teesdale; marches over Pennines; occupation                 of Stafford and Chester
    (15th Aug) Lanfranc becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
    (Summer) King Malcolm ravages northern England
    (Summer) Departure of Danish from English coast
                   Capture of Bari and Palermo by Normans
    (Autumn) William invades Scotland; pact of Abernethy
    William invades and reconquers Maine
    English earls revolt
    (Sept-Nov) Campaign in Brittany. William defeated at Dol
    Pact between William and King Philip
    1st revolt of Robert, William's eldest son, against his father
    William defeated at Gerberoi
    (Aug-Sept) Devastation of northern England by King Malcolm of Scotland
    Robert is reconciled to his father
    Robert invades Scotland; foundation of 'New Castle'
    William loses La Flèche to Fulk le Rechin
    Pact between William and Fulk
    Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, imprisoned
    New revolt of Robert against his father
    (2nd Nov) Death of William's wife, Matilda
    (25th May) Cnut IV of Denmark prepares to invade England
    (Dec) William holds Christmas Court at Gloucester, where the Domesday Book is planned
    (July) Murder of Cnut IV
    William crosses to Normandy
    (9th Sept) William the Conqueror dies early in the morning at Saint-Gervais near Rouen

    Back to top

    bar.jpg - 1374 Bytes

    William's parents

    Photograph of Falaise Castle
    The keep of Falaise Castle, in William's home town in Normandy

    William's father was Robert I, sixth Duke of Normandy. He was no older than 21 at the time of William's birth, and came from a family with a rich heritage. He was a direct descendant of Rollo the Viking, ruler of Neustria, who landed in Normandy and claimed the land after being ejected from Norway by the king. Rollo's power was inherited first by William, nicknamed 'Longsword' (d.942), then Duke Richard I (942-966), then by William the Conqueror's grandfather, Duke Richard II.

    When William was born in 1027/28, Robert was Count of Hiesmois; he acceded to the title Duke of Normandy in 1028. In 1034 he left for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and died before his return in late 1035, leaving William as his successor at just 7 years old. Despite being so young and a bastard son, William was accepted by Norman nobles, though several attempts were made to despose him of his position, including while he was ruling England. It was for this reason that during his reign as King, William spent as much time in Normandy enforcing his power as he did overseeing affairs in England.

    His mother Herleva, daughter of Fulbert the tanner, came from Falaise and rose to a prominent status in French nobility despite her ordinary upbringing. At the age of 16 she met Gilbert, Count of Brionne, and had a son, Richard fitzGilbert (fitz denoting his illegitimacy). Just a couple of years later, with Robert, Duke of Normandy, she gave birth to William in 1027/28 and a daughter, Adelaide. Shortly before Robert's death in 1035 she was persuaded by him to marry Herlwin, Viscount of Conteville. By him she bore a daughter, Muriel and 2 sons, Odo - who would become Bishop of Bayeux - and Robert - who would become Count of Mortain. Both men, along with fitzGilbert, would play major parts in assisting William's conquest of England.

    Back to top

    bar.jpg - 1374 Bytes

    Norman family tree

    Back to top
    The Domesday Book, 1086

    © 1999-2024 domesdaybook.co.uk. All rights reserved

    Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings