(1028 – 1087)
(aka “william the conqueror”)
(aka “william the bastard”)
(because of the illegitimacy of his birth)
he invaded england in 1066 with an army of bretons, flemings, and frenchmen from paris. he defeated harold godwinson at the battle of hastings and suppressed subsequent english rebellions. he brought norman-french culture to england.
(his reign saw a programme of building and fortification, changes in the english language, a shift in the upper levels of society and the church, and adoption of some aspects of continental church reform)