Atheling
House of Normandy · England

William of Normandy

Duke of Normandy, King of England. c. 1028 to 9 September 1087.

What is known, and how well

FactValueCertainty
Birthc. 1028Approximate
Death9 September 1087Exact
ParentsNot recorded
HouseHouse of Normandy
RealmEngland
How sure we areHighOf this record as a whole

Events

  1. Harold swears an oath in Normandy

    A disputed promise becomes part of William's claim.

    With Harold, William
  2. William gathers ships

    Norman preparations turn a claim into a credible threat.

    With William, Harold
  3. William lands at Pevensey

    The Norman fleet crosses while Harold is in the north, and the army comes ashore unopposed.

    With William, Harold
  4. Hastings

    William defeats Harold's army on the ridge north of Hastings. Harold is killed.

    With William, Harold, Gyrth, Leofwine
  5. Edgar submits at Berkhamsted

    William crosses the Thames at Wallingford and the English leaders come out to meet him.

    With William, Edgar, Stigand, Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar
  6. William is crowned at Westminster

    Ealdred of York crowns the Conqueror on Christmas Day while his guards set fire to the houses outside.

    With William, Stigand, Edgar
  7. William sails for Normandy

    The new king spends most of 1067 across the Channel, leaving Odo and fitzOsbern to govern.

    With William, Odo, FitzOsbern, Edgar
  8. Exeter submits after eighteen days

    Harold’s mother Gytha and the western shires test the new king’s patience.

    With William, Gytha
  9. Matilda is crowned queen

    The Whitsun coronation at Westminster gives the conquest a queen and, before the year is out, an English-born son.

    With Matilda, William, Henry
  10. Edwin and Morcar rise in the Midlands

    The brothers leave court after the promised marriage to William’s daughter fails to happen.

    With Eadwine, Morcar, William
  11. The Danes and the north take York

    Sweyn’s fleet in the Humber joins Edgar, Waltheof, and the Northumbrians against the Norman garrison.

    With Sweyn, Edgar, Waltheof, William
  12. The harrying of the north

    William winters in Yorkshire and destroys the means of life across the north.

    With William, Sweyn
  13. Papal legates depose Stigand

    The council at Winchester strips the old archbishop of Canterbury and Winchester.

    With Stigand, William
  14. Lanfranc becomes archbishop

    The abbot of Caen takes Canterbury and begins remaking the English church.

    With Lanfranc, William
  15. The Isle of Ely falls

    Hereward and Morcar are the last to hold out; Morcar surrenders and Hereward escapes.

    With Hereward, Morcar, Eadwine, William
  16. Malcolm submits at Abernethy

    William marches into Scotland by land and sea and the King of Scots does homage.

    With Malcolm III, William, Edgar
  17. Edgar makes his peace

    The last claimant of the old house comes to court and accepts a pension.

    With Edgar, William
  18. Queen Edith dies at Winchester

    Edward’s widow and Harold’s sister is buried beside the Confessor.

    With Edith, William
  19. Edgar leaves William's court

    The ætheling walks out on a king who gives him little honour and sails for Norman Italy.

    With Edgar, William
  20. William dies and Edgar joins Robert

    Normandy goes to Robert Curthose, England to William Rufus, and the ætheling picks Robert.

    With William, Robert, William, Edgar

Family

Married to Matilda.

Children Robert, William, Henry.

What is uncertain

Related people

Harold, Edgar, Stigand, Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar, Odo, FitzOsbern, Sweyn, Waltheof, Lanfranc, Hereward, Malcolm III.

Sources

Where this is recorded

Named in the record

Reference works

Suggest a correction Opens an email with the record filled in. A source helps and is not required. Submissions are reviewed against sources, and those that stand up go into the record and the game, with credit if you want it.