William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror, born around October 14, 1028, was a significant figure in French-British nobility, the son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, a peasant girl. Initially known as William the Bastard, he inherited the Duchy of Normandy at the age of seven following his father's death. In 1051, William married Matilda, daughter of the Earl of Flanders. Despite their familial relation as cousins, which initially led to their excommunication by the Pope, the union was later sanctioned after they funded the construction of a church. William, who stood 5'10", and Matilda, 4'2", shared a devoted relationship and had four sons and six daughters; Matilda died in 1083. Upon the death of his cousin, King Edward of England, in 1066, William asserted his claim to the English throne, despite the English barons having chosen Harold Godwinson as their ruler. This dispute culminated in the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, where William's forces decisively defeated Harold's. Two months later, he was crowned King of England in London, initiating a dynasty that would govern England for over nine centuries. In 1087, during a campaign against the King of France to avenge an insult, William suffered a fatal injury when his horse fell on him. He died at sunrise in Rouen, a man of powerful stature who had become corpulent in his later years.