William the 1st conqueror short biography. Wilgelm the conqueror
WILLIAM I THE CONQUEROR(French: Guillaume le Conquérant or Guillaume le Bâtard (“Bastard”); English: William the Conqueror, or William the Bastard) (c. 1027–1087), king of England and Duke of Normandy. William, illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy (nicknamed the Devil), was born in 1027 or 1028 in Falaise (Normandy, 30 km south of Caen). In 1035 Robert died, making the young William his heir. However, the regents who ruled in his place had to deal with rebellious nobles, and feudal anarchy reigned in the country for 12 years. Only in 1047 did William himself manage to strengthen his power, decisively suppressing the rebellions that had spread throughout the region. His overlord, King Henry I of France, provided him with significant support in this. In 1051, William visited his cousin Edward the Confessor, King of England, and, perhaps, it was then that he promised him that he would make him his successor on the English throne. William's marriage to Matilda, daughter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders, worried the King of France, who was afraid of an alliance between Normandy and Flanders. A series of wars and invasions of Normandy followed, and although the French king was usually supported by the Count of Anjou, as well as some of the rebellious Norman barons, William constantly prevailed over them, achieving a decisive victory in 1058. In 1063 he captured the County of Maine and annexed it to his possessions.
Next, William tried to make his claims to the English throne more solid: judging by the reports of Norman sources favorable to him, he secured in 1064 a promise of support from Harold, Earl of Wessex and brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor. When Edward died in 1066 and Harold himself ascended the throne (as), William was furious and decided to invade. Not without some complications, he secured support for this enterprise from his own barons; Pope Alexander II sent him his blessing. An alliance was concluded with Harold's brother Tostig, who was expelled from England, who, with the support of the Norwegians, invaded England from the north, and although Harold defeated Tostig on September 25, 1066, this undoubtedly diverted the attention and forces of the English king. On September 28, William landed at Pevensey Bay (west of Hastings) with an army of horse and foot ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 men. On October 14, the Battle of Hastings took place. William's Normans and French persistently attacked Harold's Anglo-Saxons, who occupied Senlac Hill 15 km north-west of Hastings, and eventually overthrew them and Harold was killed. After this, William moved around London, destroying everything in his path, until the townspeople sent him a deputation with an expression of submission. On December 25, 1066, his coronation took place in London. In England, he introduced the only system of government known to him, namely Norman feudalism, and took all measures to ensure that powerful barons could not prevail over the king. As a result, England presented one of the most perfect examples of a superbly verified and regulated feudal system. After the conquest of the northern regions was completed by 1070, William began to treat the local residents strictly but fairly, although, naturally, they did not occupy key positions. One of the important events was the taking of a direct oath to the king by his vassals (the so-called “Salisbury Oath”, August 1082). The Church, at the head of which William placed a person close to himself, Archbishop Lanfranc, was also centralized and associated with the reform movement on the continent. In 1085, William ordered the compilation of the famous inventory of land holdings in England, which received the ironic name Doomsday Book. Last years his reign was overshadowed by the renewal of the wars in Normandy. William died in Rouen on September 9, 1087 from the consequences of a fall from the horse on which he was rushing through the flaming ruins of the stormed Mantes (50 km west of Paris). Pious and moderate in character, he was also ruthless - but rather due to the demands of politics than personal inclinations. A brave warrior, a skilled commander, an excellent administrator, he left behind him an orderly and strong system of government in England.
William I the Conqueror (William of Normandy or William the Illegitimate; English William I the Conqueror, William the Bastard, French Guillaume le Conquérant, Guillaume le Bâtard; 1027/1028 - September 9, 1087) - Duke of Normandy (as William II; from 1035 ) and king of England (since 1066).
William was born in Falaise, Normandy. He was illegitimate son Robert I, who was a Norman duke. At the age of 8, Wilhelm inherited his father's title. Wilhelm was constantly bullied by his rivals. He was called a "bastard" (geek). Only thanks to the patronage of the French king Henry I was William able to survive to adulthood. As an adult, Wilhelm showed talent for military affairs and inspiring warriors. As an adult, William put an end to internecine wars and established himself on the throne. He consolidated control of Normandy by force. Immediately after this, William invades Brittany and the province of Maine. The Duke conquered these lands with almost no problems.
William expanded his possessions in France. Now he was deciding what else to conquer. The land across the English Channel was what was needed. The Duke's great-aunt was the mother of King Edward of England. William declared himself heir to the throne based on this fact. The King of England was childless, which made things easier for William. The year was 1051 and William was able to convince the King of England to support his desire for the English crown. William achieved this by keeping the king's brother-in-law, Harold Godwin, in France. The Duke decided to keep him until Edward gave his consent. In 1066 the king of England died. Harold Godwin proclaimed himself king of England. Duke William gathers an army. He hired warriors from different countries. Soon he had twenty-five thousand warriors.
William arrived in England and learned that Harold's troops were located eight miles from Hastings. On the hills. Duke William's troops moved as close to the enemies as possible, and his archers began to shower the enemy army with a hail of arrows. This was followed by an attack by the spearmen. As a result, Harold's army was able to defend its lands. They even repulsed an attack by mounted troops led by William the Conqueror himself. It began to seem that Wilhelm’s whole idea was about to collapse. His troops began to retreat. The enemies began to pursue William's army with might and main. The Duke led the mounted troops against the infantry, and the archers began to shoot from the hills. The battle came to a turning point, and Harold was mortally wounded by an arrow. He ordered the British troops to retreat. The Normans were now pursuing the English.
William captured Dover. On December 25, 1066, he entered London as a winner. He was crowned William I. Over the next five years, he fought the rebellions harshly. The new king spoke exclusively French, but this did not stop him from creating a very strong system of governance in the country. Wilhelm was known as a ruthless and cruel ruler. However, he provided a synthesis of Norman and Anglo-Saxon culture. He created the state that influenced the life of the whole world for several centuries. In 1086, William I published the Domesday Book.
The Battle of Hastings changed the course of history. 1066 is one of the turning points in historical development. William I had a huge influence on the development of England. It also influenced the lives of future monarchs. They are still sitting on the throne.
Origin
Beginning of rule in Normandy
William inherited the throne of the Duchy of Normandy at the age of seven. Since he was Robert's illegitimate son, many did not recognize his rights to the ducal crown. In the city, William, with the support of the French king Henry I, managed to defeat the troops of the rebellious barons of Upper Normandy at the Battle of Val-es-Dunes (Dune Valley) and gain a foothold on the throne of the duchy. In the city, William, against the will of Pope Leo IX, married Matilda of Flanders. From this marriage four sons and six daughters were born.
The Norman duchy, inherited by William, was distinguished, on the one hand, by a fairly centralized system of government, based on a well-developed military fief system and an extensive ducal domain, and on the other hand, by a huge mass of small knights, descendants of the Scandinavian Vikings who settled in Normandy in the 9th century , whose energy splashed out in conquests in Southern Italy. The first period of William's reign was devoted to strengthening the ducal power and defending the borders from the encroachments of neighboring rulers. In the 1050s There were several conflicts between William and the king of France. In two battles - at Varaville in the city and at Mortemer in the city, the French troops were defeated. A more serious opponent was Geoffrey II Martel, Count of Anjou, who in the city captured Maine, which was historically claimed by the Norman dukes.
Duchy of Normandy by 1066
William also brought order to his own duchy. The castles of the barons, built during his minority, were destroyed, strict punishments were introduced for violating the “Duke’s peace,” and an extensive structure of local administration (viscounts) was created, subordinate directly to the duke. In this respect, William was significantly ahead of the subsequent activities of the kings of France. He also devoted increased attention church affairs and supported efforts to reform church institutions in the spirit of the Cluny movement. Without abusing his ability to influence the appointment of bishops and abbots, William secured the support of both the local high clergy and the Pope himself.
From the very beginning of his reign in Normandy, William faced the prospect of gaining the English crown. In the city, Edward the Confessor, the son of Emma of Normandy, who spent more than 25 years in exile at the court of the Duke of Normandy, became the king of England. Edward actively recruited Norman nobles into his service, trying to create a base for himself against the powerful Anglo-Danish aristocracy, which controlled the levers of government of the Anglo-Saxon state. Many Norman knights and clergy received high positions and land holdings in England. King Edward's sister married Drogo, Count of Vexin, one of William's father's companions. In the city, grateful for providing him with refuge during the years of exile, Edward the Confessor, apparently, proclaimed William of Normandy as his heir. In the same year, the Duke made a trip to England, probably a courtesy visit to King Edward. However, in the city, under pressure from the leader of the Anglo-Danish aristocracy Earl Godwin, Edward the Confessor was forced to expel the Normans from the country.
Conquest of England
Wars in France
While King William was conquering England, the security of his Norman possessions was threatened. In Flanders, an uprising broke out against Countess Rihilda, an ally of William, and Robert Frieze came to power, oriented toward the King of France and hostile to Normandy. Many Anglo-Saxon thegns found refuge at his court. The power of Count Fulk IV was established in Anjou, who put forward claims to Maine, which was under Norman suzerainty. In Maine, with the support of the Angevins, an uprising broke out and the Norman troops were expelled from the country. Only in the city did William manage to return Maine under his control. Nevertheless, the struggle with Fulk IV continued until the parties reached a compromise: Maine remained under the rule of William's son Robert Curthose, but under the suzerainty of the Count of Anjou.
The French king Philip I, who was still a minor during the conquest of England, also began to pose a threat to Normandy, but in the 1070s. began to pursue anti-Norman policies. In the city he offered Edgar Etheling his fief in Montreuil, on the English Channel coast, which could lead to the creation of an Anglo-Saxon base for the reconquest of Britain. Only the reconciliation of William with Etheling in the city eliminated this danger. That same year, having gone with an army to punish Brittany, which was also helping Anglo-Saxon refugees, William was defeated by the French king's forces at the Battle of Dole. In the city, Philip I supported the rebellion of William's eldest son, Robert Curtgeus, who was dissatisfied with his lack of real power in Normandy. Robert attempted to capture Rouen, but was repulsed and fled to Flanders. Soon, with French help, he settled in the castle of Gerberoy on the Norman border and began to ravage his father's possessions. William personally led the army that besieged Gerberoy, but only with great difficulty forced the city to capitulate. Robert managed to reconcile with his father, however, in the city he fled the country and found refuge with the King of France.
Board in England
Unsuccessful wars in Normandy in - gg. greatly distracted William from the state of affairs in England. The king began to spend a lot of time across the English Channel, and in - gg. I was out of England for almost three years in a row. During his absence, the country was governed by one or another of William's closest associates: Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, Lanfranc, Geoffroy, Bishop of Coutances. Although the resistance of the Anglo-Saxon nobility was broken, two representatives of the highest aristocracy from the time of King Edward the Confessor retained high positions at William's court: Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria, and Ralph, Earl of East Anglia. In the city they formed an alliance with Roger Fitz-Osbern, Earl of Hereford, and openly opposed the king. The rebels turned to Denmark for help, but before the Danish fleet sailed to the English shores, the rebellion was suppressed. Sometimes " revolt of the three earls"is considered as the last center of Anglo-Saxon resistance, but it is obvious that the rebellion was not supported by the Anglo-Saxons and remained a personal enterprise of its organizers.
The defeat of the rebellion had far-reaching consequences: the ancient counties of Northumbria, Hereford and East Anglia were abolished, with Northumbria being placed under the control of the Bishop of Durham. The latter's reliance on the Normans led to a new rebellion in northeastern England, which was brutally suppressed by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. To strengthen positions in the north, a second campaign was launched in the same year in Scotland, led by Robert Kurtgez. Norman troops reached Falkirk, but the border still remained poorly fortified.
William achieved greater success in ensuring the security of England from the Welsh kingdoms. It began with the appointment of William Fitz-Osbern as Earl of Hereford, who built a number of castles along the southern part of the Welsh border and annexed Gwent. The Chester March was created in the city, led by Hugh d'Avranches, who managed to push back English border to Conwy and take control of Gwynedd. A third border mark was created in the town on the upper Severn and Dee, centered on Shrewsbury. Her Earl, Roger Montgomery, expanded England into Powys and built Montgomery Castle, which dominated central Wales. William's last military enterprise in England was his expedition to south Wales in the city, when the Anglo-Norman troops reached St. David's practically without resistance.
The greatest achievement of the reign of William the Conqueror was a general census of land holdings in England, carried out in the city, the results of which were presented in the two-volume Domesday Book. This is a most valuable source on the state of Anglo-Norman society at the end of the 11th century, which has no analogues in medieval Europe. The very fact of the appearance of such a work perfectly demonstrates the effectiveness of William’s power and his power in the conquered country.
Having received the support of the church in the conquest of England, the king was in no hurry to fulfill the pope's main demand for the removal of Archbishop Stigand. Only direct intervention Pope in the city led to Stigand's deprivation of church rank and his arrest. Lanfranc, one of William's closest advisers and a European authority on matters of theology, became the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Lanfranc fully shared the king's ideas about the role of secular power in church affairs and led the work to transform the English church. Under the influence of Lanfranc, decrees were adopted banning simony and introducing compulsory celibacy for priests. The episcopal structure of the English Church was reorganized, and many episcopal sees were moved from villages to cities. The system of dioceses created as a result lasted throughout the Middle Ages. One of the most important measures of the reform was the separation of secular and ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the city, which laid the foundation for canon law and the formation of ecclesiastical courts independent of the secular authorities. Only Normans began to be appointed to the posts of bishops and abbots, and by the end of the year there was only one bishop of Anglo-Saxon origin left in the entire country. This, on the one hand, led to some alienation of the lower clergy, and on the other hand, it significantly strengthened the control of the central government over the church and contributed to the introduction of modern religious ideas and practices into the English church.
While reforming church institutions, Wilhelm remained egalitarian in his relations with the pope. It was established that no pope could be recognized in England without the consent of the king, that papal letters and bulls were not valid in England without special royal permission, that any innovations in church matters must first be approved by the king. Moreover, bishops were forbidden to travel to Rome without the permission of the monarch, even when summoned by the pope. When the struggle between Pope Gregory VII and Antipope Clement III broke out in Italy, William the Conqueror took a position of strict neutrality. The King consistently refused to recognize the feudal suzerainty of the papacy over the Kingdom of England, while continuing to pay St. Peter's Pennies.
Death and heirs
Gravestone at the tomb of William I in Caen
William's last war took place in France. Even in the city, the French king subjugated the County of Vexin, which covered the approaches to Normandy from Paris. This dramatically weakened the defensive system of eastern Normandy. At the beginning of the city, the French garrison of Mantas, the center of Vexin, ravaged the Norman county of Evreux. William, who arrived in Normandy at the end of the year, demanded from Philip I the return of Vexin, and after refusal, he besieged and burned Mantes. The royal horse, riding through the fire, stepped on hot coals, capsized and wounded William in the stomach. Over the next six months, Wilhelm slowly died, suffering from severe pain. Repenting of his atrocities, William sent money to restore the churches burned in Manta and freed political prisoners.
Marriage and children
| Kings of England |
|---|
| Norman dynasty |
| William I the Conqueror |
| Robert III Kurtgoz |
| William II Rufus |
| Adela of Normandy |
| Henry I Beauclerc |
| Robert III Kurtgoz |
| William Cliton |
| William II Rufus |
| Henry I Beauclerc |
| Empress Matilda |
| Wilhelm Adeline |
| Robert of Gloucester |
| Reginald FitzRoy |
| Stefan of Blois |
| Eustachius IV of Boulogne |
| William of Boulogne |
| Maria of Boulogne |
- (1053) Matilda of Flanders(c. 1031-1083), daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders:
It was also previously believed that another daughter of William (possibly illegitimate) was Gundreda(c. 1063-1085), wife of William de Warenne. This version has currently been rejected.
One of the biggest politicians Europe of the 11th century.
His invasion of England had significant consequences for that country.
Childhood
Like any historical figure of the Middle Ages, William 1 is known from written sources, which for the most part are poorly preserved. Because of this, historians still argue about when the Duke of Normandy was born. Most often, researchers refer to the year 1027 or 1028.
William 1 was born in the city of Falaise. It was one of the residences of his father Robert the Devil, Duke of Normandy. The ruler had an only son who was supposed to inherit the throne after his death. However, the problem was the fact that Wilhelm was born out of official marriage, which means he was considered a bastard. Christian tradition did not recognize such children as legitimate.
However, the Norman nobility was very different from their neighbors. The inertia of the traditions and customs of pagan times was strong in its ranks. From this point of view, the newborn could well inherit power.
Father's death
In 1034, William's father went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In those years, such a journey was fraught with many dangers. Because of this, he made a will in which he specified that his only son should become heir to the title in the event of his death. The Duke seemed to sense his fate. After visiting Jerusalem, he went home and died on the way in Nicaea the following year.
So William 1 became Duke of Normandy at a very young age. Moreover, his title "First" corresponds to his royal title in England. In Normandy he was Second. Many representatives of the aristocracy were dissatisfied with the illegal origin of the new ruler. Nevertheless, the feudal lords from among their ill-wishers were unable to offer a worthy alternative figure. Other members of the dynasty either became priests or were also minors.
The weakness of power in the duchy meant that Normandy could become easy prey for hostile neighbors. However, this did not happen. Numerous counts and dukes who ruled in this region of France were busy with internecine wars.
Rise of the Norman feudal lords
The ruler of Normandy had a legal overlord - King Henry I of France. According to tradition, it was he who was supposed to knight the boy when he came of age. And so it happened. The solemn ceremony took place in 1042. After this, William 1 received the legal right to govern his duchy.
Every year he interfered more and more in government. This caused discontent among numerous feudal lords. Because of the outbreak of conflict, William had to flee from Normandy to the king of France. Henry I could not help but help his vassal. He gathered an army, part of which was led by William himself.
The French met the rebel barons in the Valley of the Dunes. Here in 1047 a decisive battle took place. The young Duke proved himself to be a brave warrior, earning the respect of those around him. During the battle, one of the feudal lords came over to his side, which completely upset the order of the opponents. After this battle, William managed to regain his own duchy.
War for the County of Maine
Having become the sole ruler of Normandy, the new duke began to be active foreign policy. Despite the fact that the king continued to formally rule France, his vassals enjoyed great freedom, and in a sense were completely independent.
One of William's main competitors was Count Geoffroy of Anjou. In 1051 he invaded the small county of Maine, adjacent to Normandy. William had his own vassals in this province, which is why he went to war against his neighbor. The Count of Anjou responded by enlisting the support of the King of France. Henry led other feudal lords - the rulers of Aquitaine and Burgundy - to Normandy.
A long period began which continued with varying degrees of success. In one of the battles, William captured Count Guy I of Ponthieu. He was released two years later, becoming a vassal of the duke.
King Henry I of France died in 1060, followed by the Count of Anjou. After the natural death of his opponents, William decided to make peace with Paris. He swore allegiance to the new king, the young Philip I. The civil strife in Anjou between the heirs of Geoffroy allowed William to finally subjugate neighboring Maine.
Pretender to the English throne
In 1066, King Edward the Confessor died in England. He had no heirs, which aggravated the issue of succession of power. The king had a warm relationship with William - they were allies. The Duke's grandfather Richard II once helped the fugitive Edward find refuge during another civil war. In addition, the king did not like his entourage of magnates and the ambitions of numerous Scandinavian monarchs, who also had the right to rule.
Because of this, Edward focused on his southern friend. William 1st the Conqueror himself sailed to England, where he visited his ally. The relationship of trust led to the fact that the monarch, shortly before his death, sent Harold Godwinson (his vassal) to the Duke to offer him English throne after his death. On the way, the messenger got into trouble. Count Guy I of Ponthieu captured him. Wilhelm helped Harold to freedom.
After such a service, he swore allegiance to the future king of England. However, after a few years, everything changed dramatically. When Edward died, the Anglo-Saxon nobility proclaimed Harold king. This news unpleasantly surprised Wilhelm. Taking advantage of his legal right, he gathered a loyal army and set off on ships to the northern island.
Organization of a trip to England
From the very beginning of the conflict with the British, William 1 (whose biography was full of well-calculated actions) tried to convince the surrounding European states that he was right. To do this, he widely publicized the oath that Harold took. Even the Pope responded to this news and supported the Duke of Normandy.
William, having protected his reputation, contributed to the fact that more and more free knights joined his army, who were ready to help him in the fight for the taken throne. This "international" support meant that the Normans made up only a third of the army. In total, about 7 thousand well-armed soldiers were under the banner of William. Among them were both infantry and cavalry. They were all put on ships and at the same time landed on the British coast.
It is difficult to call the campaign that William 1 carried out poorly thought out. The short biography of this medieval ruler consists entirely of wars and battles, so it is not surprising that he was able to effectively apply his past experience in his main test.
War with Harold
At this time, Harold was busy in the north of England trying to resist the invasion of the Norwegian Vikings. Upon learning of the Norman landings, Harold rushed south. The fact that his army had to fight on two fronts affected the last Anglo-Saxon king in the saddest way.
On October 14, 1066, opposing troops met at Hastings. The ensuing battle lasted more than ten hours, which was incredible for that era. According to tradition, the battle began with a head-to-head battle between two selected knights. The duel ended with the Norman winning, who cut off his enemy's head.
Siege of London and coronation
After such a triumph of the enemy, all of England found itself defenseless against William. He went to London. The local nobility split into two unequal camps. A minority wanted to continue resisting the foreigners. However, every day more and more barons and counts came to William’s camp and swore an oath of allegiance to the new ruler. Finally, on December 25, 1066, the city gates were opened in front of him.
At the same time, Wilhelm's coronation took place. Despite the fact that his power had become legal, there was still disagreement among the local Anglo-Saxons in the province. For this reason new king Wilhelm 1 began building a large number of castles and fortresses that would be a stronghold for the troops loyal to him in the most different regions countries.
Fighting Anglo-Saxon resistance
For the first few years, the Normans had to prove their right to rule through brute force. The north of England, where the influence of the old order was strong, remained rebellious. King William 1 the Conqueror regularly sent armies there and himself led punitive expeditions several times. His situation was complicated by the fact that the rebels were supported by the Danes, who sailed on ships from the mainland. Several important battles followed with enemies, in which the Normans were always victorious.
In 1070 the Danes were expelled from England, and the last rebels from among the old nobility submitted to the new monarch. One of the protest leaders, Edgar Etheling, fled to neighboring Scotland. Its ruler, Malcolm III, sheltered the fugitive.
Because of this, another campaign was organized, headed by William 1 the Conqueror himself. The biography of the king was replenished with another success. Malcolm agreed to recognize him as the ruler of England and promised not to host his Anglo-Saxon enemies. As confirmation of his intentions, the Scottish monarch sent his son David as a hostage to William (this was a standard rite for that time).
Further reign
After the wars in England, the king had to defend his ancestral lands in Normandy. His own son Robert rebelled against him, dissatisfied with the fact that his father did not give him real power. He enlisted the support of the matured King Philip of France. Another war continued for several years, in which Wilhelm again emerged victorious.
Distracted him from internal English affairs. However, after a few years he returned to London and dealt with them directly. His main achievement is considered to be the Book of the Last Judgment. During the reign of William 1 (1066-1087), a general census of land holdings in the kingdom was carried out. Its results were reflected in the famous Book.
Death and heirs
In 1087, the king's horse stepped on burning coals and knocked him over. The monarch was seriously injured in the fall. Part of the saddle pierced his stomach. Wilhelm had been dying for several months. He died on September 9, 1087. William bequeathed the Kingdom of England to his second son, and the Duchy of Normandy to his eldest son, Robert.
The conquest of England was a turning point in the country's history. Today, every British history textbook contains a photo of William 1. His dynasty ruled the country until 1154.
- September 9) - Duke of Normandy (as Wilhelm II; from 1035) and king of England (from 1066), organizer and leader of the Norman conquest of England, one of the largest political figures in Europe in the 11th century.
William's accession had enormous consequences for the development of England. He founded a unified Kingdom of England, approved the laws and system of its administration, created an army and navy, conducted the first land census (“Domesday Book”), and began building stone fortresses (the Tower became the first in 1078). English language enriched with many hundreds of French words, but for another 3 centuries it was considered a “common dialect” and was not used among the nobility.
Origin
Falaise Castle - residence of the Dukes of Normandy, birthplace of William the Conqueror
The exact year of Wilhelm's birth is unknown. Most often it is indicated that he was born in or 1028, but there are also references to the fact that William could have been born in the fall of 1029.
William was born in the Norman city of Falaise - in the Falaise Castle (French). Chateau de Falaise), one of the residences of the Dukes of Normandy. He was illegitimate, but only son the ruler of Normandy - Duke Robert II the Magnificent (later also known under the nickname the Devil). Wilhelm's mother was Herleva, who became Robert's mistress while he was Count of Iemua. Chroniclers of the 11th century do not mention Herleva's origins, but later sources indicate that her father's name was Fulbert, he was a wealthy townsman from Falaise, possibly a tanner (furrier). It is possible that a daughter, Adelaide, was also born from this relationship, but there are doubts about this, given the direct testimony of Robert de Torigny that Adelaide was not the daughter of Herleva.
The Norman nobility at that time preferred to avoid marriages according to the Christian rite, preferring to enter into marriages of the Norman type. This union did not have the blessing of the church and could be canceled at any time - if there was a state need to enter into a Christian marriage. Many Norman dukes and members of their families had official mistresses, and from an ecclesiastical point of view the legitimacy of many members of the family was in doubt. However, the French nobility gave William the nickname Illegitimate, Bastard(lat. Notus, Bastardus) .
Rule in Normandy
The situation in Normandy on the eve of William's reign
Duchy of Normandy by 1066
The Norman duchy, inherited by William, was distinguished, on the one hand, by a fairly centralized system of government, based on a well-developed military fief system and an extensive ducal domain, and on the other hand, by a huge mass of small knights, descendants of the Scandinavian Vikings who settled in Normandy in the 9th century , whose energy splashed out in conquests in Southern Italy. Normandy was a vassal of the king of France, but the dependence was largely formal, since the first kings of France from the Capetian dynasty actually ruled only in their domain. Formally, Normandy was considered a county, but the power of its rulers was in no way inferior to the royal one, therefore, in the 11th century, the rulers of Normandy assigned themselves the ducal title. Guillaume of Jumièges in “The Acts of Duke William,” written in 1073/1074, calls William the Count (lat. comes), then duke (lat. dux), then princeps (lat. princeps). Orderic Vitaly, in his Ecclesiastical History written around 1141, often calls William with the title of marquis (lat. marchio). Many chroniclers call William the Duke of the Normans (lat. dux Normanorum) .
In the north of Normandy were the counties of Flanders and Ponthieu, in the east - Ile-de-France, which was part of the domain of the king of France, in the south - the counties of Chartres, which belonged to the counts of Blois, and Maine, for which the Dukes of Normandy constantly argued with the counts of Anjou, and on in the southwest - the Duchy of Brittany, to which the Dukes of Normandy repeatedly put forward claims, while clashing with the Counts of Anjou, who also claimed influence in Brittany.
On the territory of Normandy itself at that time there were possessions of both secular barons, who were constantly at odds with each other and with the dukes, and church possessions. The main church hierarch was the Archbishop of Rouen, in addition there were 6 bishoprics with centers in Évreux, Lisieux, Bayeux, Coutances, Avranches and Seeze. In addition to the Seez diocese, which depended on the lords of Bellem, the rest were directly subordinate to the duke, who appointed his relatives to the see. There were also many monasteries in Normandy.
Wilhelm's early childhood
Robert the Devil, after the death of his father in 1026, received the title of Count of Iemua, and his elder brother Richard II became Duke of Normandy. However, Robert was not satisfied with this situation and he defiantly moved to Falaise. And in August 1027, Duke Richard died unexpectedly, and historians suspect Robert, who was constantly at odds with his brother, of being involved in his death.
During his reign, Robert had to pacify the Norman nobility, who decided to take advantage of the weakness of the ducal power to increase their possessions at the expense of weaker neighbors, and also to fight against Duke Alain III of Brittany, who laid claim to Normandy. In addition, Robert exiled his uncle, Archbishop Robert of Rouen, who responded by imposing an interdict on Normandy. However, Robert soon made peace with his uncle and, not without his help, he managed to pacify the rebellious vassals and negotiate peace with the Duke of Brittany, concluding an alliance with him. By 1034, Robert managed to significantly strengthen the ducal power, but at the same time, the role of representatives of the nobility, who supported Robert in his difficult time, increased.
Nothing is known about Wilhelm's youth. He probably lived in Falaise. Although later legends arose that even then there were many signs of his future greatness, there is no documentary evidence of this. And the fact that Duke Robert never married Herleva in order to legitimize his son’s position rather indicates that William was not initially considered as the heir to Normandy.
However, among the numerous representatives of the Norman dynasty, there was no candidate who would suit everyone. Some were hindered ordination, others - illegitimacy, others - vassalage from other lords, and some simply could not secure serious support. The most dangerous rival from the point of view of law - Nicholas, the son of Duke Richard III (the elder brother of Robert the Devil), was still a child determined for a spiritual career and lived in the monastery of Saint-Ouen, of which he became abbot in 1042. But two younger half-brothers of Robert the Devil, Moger and William de Talou, could also lay claim to the throne, but they did not have serious influence at that time.
Robert "the Dane", Archbishop of Rouen, de facto ruler of Normandy in 1034-1037
The main role in the recognition of William as Duke of Normandy was played by the Archbishop of Rouen Robert, who, in addition to the archbishopric, also owned the County of Evreux, and was also the first adviser to the late Duke Robert. There is information that the Archbishop of Rouen, who had good connections with the king of France, he ensured that William was recognized by King Henry I as the heir of Robert the Devil. It is possible that William was then personally presented to the king.
According to the will of the late Duke, William's guardians were his three relatives - Duke Alain III of Brittany, Gilbert (Gilbert), Count de Brion and one of the most powerful representatives of the Norman nobility, as well as the Seneschal of Normandy Osborne de Crepon. A certain Turchetil (Turold), who owned lands in Neufmarch, also occupied a significant role under the young duke. Chroniclers call him William's "breadwinner", but it is not established what duties he performed.
However, Wilhelm's position continued to remain precarious. Archbishop Robert died in 1037, after which the situation quickly changed. Very little is known about the events of that time; only fragmentary information has been preserved in later chronicles. From them it is known that a struggle began between William’s relatives to influence the young Duke. At the beginning the main role belonged to Alain of Brittany, but he died in 1039. After this, Gilbert de Brion began to occupy the leading role, but in the same year 1039 he died at the hands of an assassin sent by Raoul of Gassia, one of the sons of the late Archbishop Robert. At the same time, Turchetil, Wilhelm’s teacher, also died. And in 1040 or 1041, during a fight that took place right in William’s bedroom, his last guardian, Seneschal Osborne, also died. The life of the young Duke was also in danger more than once. It is known that William's maternal uncle, Gautier, who often spent the night in his bedroom, saved his nephew several times by hiding him in poor people's huts.
At this time, the power of the two younger half-brothers of Robert the Devil begins to grow. Moger was confirmed as Archbishop of Rouen in 1037 or 1038, and William de Talou at the same time became Count of Arqueza. Their names have been found on deeds since 1039 immediately after the duke's name. The influence of William's other relatives is also increasing, especially Raoul of Gassie, the murderer of Gilbert de Brion. Then Guy of Burgundy, William's childhood friend, received the castles of Brion and Vernon, which had previously belonged to Gilbert, with the title of count.
While the nobles fought for power, unrest began in Normandy. The economy was in decline. According to chronicles, feuds arose between feudal lords, leading to bloody clashes. Some ducal castles were captured, and feudal lords built new castles. However, despite the weakness of the central government, the administrative system was not destroyed. Feudal rent was paid regularly to the ducal treasury. The bishops remained loyal to the duke, paying him due payments from church lands. Richard of Gassia, who occupied a dominant position at the ducal court, managed to gather an army and carried out several successful military operations. And traditional respect for ducal authority allowed Normandy to avoid disintegration.
Fortunately for Normandy, its neighbors at that time were busy with civil strife and did not pay attention to the events in the duchy. King Henry I twice invaded Normandy, for which he was condemned in the Norman Chronicles. But, according to modern historians, Henry did not want to overthrow his vassal, but tried to eliminate the threat to his possessions from the constantly warring Norman feudal lords, and also to support his young vassal against the advisers who had gained a lot of power. Another neighbor of Normandy, Flanders, whose rulers were traditional rivals of the Norman dukes, was in no hurry to take advantage of the unrest there. On the contrary, who became Count Baudouin V in 1035, supported the young duke. Moreover, according to historians, it was then that Baudouin V might have come up with the idea of concluding a marriage contract between William and his daughter Matilda.
Beginning of independent rule
William was unable to do anything to oppose the rebels and was forced to flee Normandy, turning to King Henry I of France for help. The king, concerned about the plight of his vassal, decided to help him. He gathered an army and in 1047 invaded the region of Imois, where he united with the few troops recruited by William in Normandy. In the Dune Valley (southeast of Caen), the army was met by rebels who managed to cross the Orne River. At the outbreak of the Battle of Val-es-Dunes, Duke William showed himself to be a brave warrior. At the same time, the rebels were disorganized by the fact that one of the barons, Ralph II Tesson, went over to William’s side. As a result of the battle, the rebel army was defeated, the remnants fled across the Orna River, and many drowned while crossing. The victory marked a turning point for Wilhelm.
However, despite the victory over the rebels, Wilhelm's position was still precarious. After the victory, King Henry I returned to his possessions, and William continued to pursue the barons, many of whom were able to escape. The further fate of Ranulf, Viscount of Bayeux, is unknown, but he retained his possessions. Nigel II of Contentin was exiled to Brittany, but was later able to return to his possessions. Guy of Burgundy, although wounded, was able to lead a fairly large detachment from the battlefield and locked himself in Brion Castle. William failed to take the castle right away; the siege lasted almost three years, and all this time Brion posed a threat to the duchy. Only at the end of 1049 or beginning of 1050 did Guy surrender. His life was spared, but he lost his possessions in Normandy and was forced to leave Normandy.
The entire time the siege of Brion was ongoing, William's power actually extended to Lower Normandy, and it is likely that even Rouen was not subject to him. Wilhelm chose Caen as his place of residence, which eventually became one of the main ducal residences. Thanks to this, Kan quickly became Big city.
And in 1052, William had to suppress another major uprising, which was led by his uncle, William of Toulou, Count of Arqueza, who was supported by his brother, Archbishop of Rouen Moger. They were the most powerful feudal lords in Upper Normandy. Possessing great personal ambitions, William de Talou, realizing that he would not be able to receive the ducal crown, decided to try to become independent from his nephew. At the same time, he was married to the sister of Count Ponthieu of Enguerrand II, which increased his influence in Upper Normandy. At the same time, William de Toulou turned for help to King Henry I of France, who at that time had entered into an alliance with Count of Anjou Geoffroy II Martel, William's enemy.
Having learned about the rebellion, in 1053 William besieged Arquez, in which he was helped by the experience of the siege of Brion. Leaving Gautier to lead the siege to Giffard, he himself went to gather additional troops to resist French army Henry I, who was joined by Enguerrand II de Ponthieu. Their army invaded Normandy in the fall of 1053. The king tried to break through to Arquez in order to deliver food to the besieged; Duke William tried to oppose him in this, having gathered a large army, but he did not dare to enter into an open conflict. However, on October 26, one of William’s commanders risked attacking a large detachment of the French army at Saint-Aubyn, almost completely destroying it, and Enguerrand II de Pontier received a mortal wound in the battle. Although King Henry I still had enough troops, he chose to return to his possessions. At the end of 1053, Arquez surrendered. But William de Talou got off relatively easily. His possessions were confiscated and became part of the County of Rouen, and he himself left for Boulogne, no longer causing problems for William. In or 1055, William also achieved the deposition of Mauger, who was exiled to the island of Guernsey. This was the last major revolt of the nobility in Normandy during William's reign.
Later, Wilhelm managed to get rid of a number of other enemies from his family. In 1056, he blamed William of Gerland, Count of Mortain for the rebellion, and expelled him, handing Mortain over to his half-brother Robert. He also expelled William of Busac, second son of William I, Count.
As a result, William brought order to his own duchy. The castles of the barons, built during his minority, were destroyed, strict punishments were introduced for violating the “Duke’s Peace,” and an extensive structure of local administration was created, subordinate directly to the Duke. The most important officials became viscounts, and this position became hereditary. In this respect, William was significantly ahead of the subsequent activities of the kings of France. He also paid increased attention to church affairs and supported efforts to reform church institutions in the spirit of the Cluny movement. Without abusing his ability to influence the appointment of bishops and abbots, William secured the support of both the local high clergy and the Pope himself.
Wilhelm's diplomacy
Wilhelm also tried to establish diplomatic relations with his neighbors and protect the borders of Normandy from the encroachments of neighboring rulers. Around 1049, William began negotiations with Baudouin V, Count of Flanders, asking for the hand of his daughter Matilda. However, news of the possibility of such a marriage displeased the Holy Roman Emperor Henry III, who was unhappy that Baudouin was gaining allies outside the empire. As a result, in October 1049, at the Council of Reims, the emperor's ally, Pope Leo IX, banned this marriage due to consanguinity. Despite this, in 1053 William married Matilda. From this marriage four sons and six daughters were born. The angry pope immediately excommunicated William from the church. This punishment was lifted only 6 years later (1059), when under the new Pope Nicholas II, Normandy's relations with Rome improved; The Duke undertook to build 4 almshouses and 2 monasteries to atone for the sin of disobedience.
William also extended his influence to his neighbors through the marriage of his sister Adelaide, who was married in 1052 to Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu. After the death of Enguerrand in 1053, Duke William confiscated the County of Aumale, which was a vassal of Normandy, and transferred it to Adelaide, and married her to Lambert II, Count of Lens, the younger brother of Eustachius II, Count of Boulogne. Perhaps this marriage was intended to strengthen the alliance between Normandy and Flanders, since Lambert was one of Count Baudouin’s confidants. However, already in 1054, Lambert was killed during the siege of Lille by the troops of Emperor Henry III. Adelaide was later married to Ed III of Blois, Count of Troyes and Meaux, who had lost his possessions in Champagne. Ed, Adele's husband, became close to William and later took an active part in the conquest of England.
It is believed that William's contacts with King Edward the Confessor of England date back to this time. On his father's side, William was the great-nephew of Emma, wife of King Æthelred II of England and mother of Edward. After the death of her husband, she married the new king of England, Canute the Great. In 1042, Edward, who had spent more than 25 years in exile at the court of the Duke of Normandy, became king of England. Unfortunately, only sources that show the Norman version of events have survived. According to Guillaume de Poitiers, Edward loved William as a brother or son, so he appointed him as his heir. However, there is no other confirmation of this message, and since the obvious fact is that main goal William's biography, written by William de Poitiers, was a justification for the conquest of England, then all his news must be treated with caution.
Having become king, Edward began to actively attract Norman nobles into his service, trying to create a support for himself against the powerful Anglo-Danish aristocracy, which controlled the levers of government of the Anglo-Saxon state. Many Norman knights and clergy received high positions and land holdings in England. King Edward's sister married Drogo, Count of Vexin, one of William's father's companions. According to Guillaume de Poitiers, Edward, who had no children, declared William his heir, which was approved by the English Witenagemot. The likely source for this news was a document drawn up in 1066 to formally notify European rulers of the conquest of England. According to one of the English chroniclers, for this purpose William visited England in 1051-1052, but according to modern historians this could have happened in 1050-1051, since in 1051/1052 William was busy with the siege of Donfront. The reason for this decision of King Edward could be the alliance between Normandy and Flanders, directed against Emperor Henry III, an ally of England. And if such an event really took place, then this could be a necessary measure to protect England from Flanders. However, this could very well be just a diplomatic game. The Danish king Sven Estridsen assured that he was also declared heir. Edward later tried to bring back Edward Etheling, his brother's son, who had been expelled from England by Cnut and was living in Hungary. However, William faced the prospect of gaining the English crown. In 1052, under pressure from the leader of the Anglo-Danish aristocracy, Earl Godwin, Edward the Confessor was forced to expel the Normans from the country, but the parties complied with the concluded agreement, which was the guarantor of protection against piracy on the English Channel.
Wars with neighbors
The first attack by the army of Henry I occurred in 1053, in 1054 a large-scale invasion began, in which detachments of the Duke of Aquitaine and the counts of Burgundy and Anjou also took part. Henry divided the army into two parts, but after the second army, commanded by the king's brother Ed, was defeated at Mortemer, the king was forced to retreat. At the same time, many noble prisoners were captured, including Guy I, Count of Ponthieu, who, after two years of imprisonment, agreed to become William's vassal.
Since the heirs of Maine lived at his court, William accepted homage from Herbert II du Maine, and then, at the first opportunity, betrothed him to his daughter, and betrothed Herbert's sister, Margaret, to his eldest son and heir Robert. To justify these actions, a legend was invented according to which the kings of France allegedly at one time granted Normandy suzerainty over Maine. In addition, Herbert, restored as Earl of Maine in 1060, recognized William as his heir if he died without issue. Until Herbert's death, William had the opportunity to interfere in the internal affairs of the county. However, after Herbert's death in 1062, the Manx nobility rebelled against William, Margaret's guardian, and, with the support of Count Geoffroy III of Anjou, recognized as their rulers Gautier, Count of Amiens and Vexin, and his wife Biota, daughter of Count Herbert I (grandfather of Herbert II) . In response, William began the conquest of the county and in 1063 devastated it, capturing the capital Man and capturing Gautier and Biota. William later captured and burned the city of Mayenne.
Gautier and Biota were imprisoned in the castle of Falaise, where they died the same year under unclear circumstances. The death of Gautier, on the one hand, helped William get rid of his rival in the County of Maine, and on the other hand, removed a possible contender for the English throne. Since Margaret of Maine died unexpectedly, William himself took the title of Count of Maine, later passing it on to his son Robert.
After the annexation of Maine, William began a campaign against the Duke of Brittany Conan II, who refused to pay homage and also raided Norman possessions. However, William was unable to achieve much success, although Conan recognized the suzerainty of the Duke of Normandy.
Conquest of England
Bayeux carpet (fragment)
Be that as it may, after the death of Edward, the English Witenagemot elected Harold as the new king the day after his death. According to English chroniclers, the reason for this was that Edward, before his death, bequeathed his throne to Harold, his wife's brother. Harold was crowned and anointed king, receiving the blessing of the church. The coronation was conducted by Archbishop Stigand of Canterbury, who, however, had not yet received the pallium from the pope, that is, had not yet been officially recognized by the papal curia. This circumstance gave an additional trump card to Harold's opponents.
William refused to recognize Harold as king and declared his own claims to the English throne. Harold's oath, taken on holy relics during a trip to Normandy, was given wide European publicity, and it was also stated that Edward recognized William as his heir.
The violation of the oath became a convenient reason for the Pope to side with William of Normandy, who began preparations for the invasion of England. He gained the support of the barons of his duchy, and William's reputation ensured an influx of troops into his army. large quantity knights from neighboring northern French principalities. The Normans made up no more than a third of William's army, the rest of the soldiers came from Maine, Aquitaine, Flanders and France. As a result, by August 1066 the Duke had at his disposal a large and well-armed army of about 7,000 men, the core of which was highly effective Norman cavalry, but also infantry. To transport people across the English Channel in one go, William commandeered, hired and built as many ships as possible.
Norman conquest of England in 1066
and the Anglo-Saxon revolts of 1067-1070.
Although from the very beginning William emphasized the legitimacy of his right to the throne, he had no blood relationship with the Anglo-Saxon kings, and the power of the Normans at first rested solely on military force. Royal castles were erected throughout the country to control the surrounding areas. The lands of the Anglo-Saxon nobility were confiscated and transferred to northern French knights and barons. Higher positions in the king's administration and positions in the church hierarchy began to be filled by Normans.
In the winter of 1069, the famous campaign began Desolation of the North", during which, by the summer of 1070, Yorkshire and other northern English counties were completely devastated by William's troops, and their population sharply decreased due to murder and flight to other parts of England. The systematic destruction of the population and economy of Northern England, the consequences of which were felt decades after William’s campaigns, was undertaken to eliminate the very possibility of a repetition of uprisings against the power of the king.
Wars in France
While King William was conquering England, the security of his Norman possessions was threatened. In Flanders, in 1071, an uprising broke out against Countess Rihilda, an ally of William, and Robert Friez, who was oriented towards the king of France and was hostile to Normandy, came to power. Many Anglo-Saxon thegns found refuge at his court. The power of Count Fulk IV was established in Anjou, who put forward claims to Maine, which was under Norman suzerainty. In 1069, a rebellion broke out in Maine with the support of the Angevins and the Norman troops were expelled from the country. It was not until 1073 that William succeeded in bringing Maine back under his control. Nevertheless, the struggle with Fulk IV continued until 1081, when the parties reached a compromise: Maine remained under the rule of William's son Robert of Curthose, but under the suzerainty of the Count of Anjou.
The French king Philip I, who was still a minor at the time of the conquest of England, but in the 1070s began to pursue an anti-Norman policy, also began to pose a threat to Normandy. In 1074 he offered Edgar Ætheling his fief at Montreuil, on the English Channel coast, which could lead to the creation of an Anglo-Saxon base for the reconquest of Britain. Only William's reconciliation with Etheling in 1076 eliminated this danger. That same year, having gone with an army to punish Brittany, which was also helping Anglo-Saxon refugees, William was defeated by the French king's forces at the Battle of Dole. In 1078, Philip I supported the rebellion of William's eldest son, Robert Curthose, dissatisfied with his lack of real power in Normandy. Robert attempted to capture Rouen, but was repulsed and fled to Flanders. Soon, with French help, he settled in the castle of Gerberoy on the Norman border and began to ravage his father's possessions. William personally led the army that besieged Gerberoy, but only with great difficulty forced the city to capitulate. Robert managed to reconcile with his father, however, in 1083 he fled the country and found refuge with the king of France.
