3.4.1

William I

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William I's Character

It is important to understand William I's character as a ruler.

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William I's family

  • William was born in 1028. He had become the Duke of Normandy at the age of 8, when his father, Robert, died. At least 2 of the regents, who looked after Normandy whilst William was underage were killed.
  • His cousins, William FitzOsbern, Roger of Montgomery, and Roger de Beaumont are thought to have grown up with him.
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William's personality

  • After his death, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle said 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will'.
  • William's wife, Matilda, was trusted by him. She was the regent of Normandy when he was in England and it was rare to entrust this responsibility to a lady in the 11th century.
  • William was a Christian. His reforms of the Church removed the corrupt Stigand, however it is hard to know if this was because of his corruption, or because he was an Anglo-Saxon threat.
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William's negative traits

  • Lots of medieval historians criticise William for his greed and cruelty, particularly with respect to the harrying of the north. William I used brutal methods to secure control of England.
  • Some people accuse him of greed, however, after seeing so many regents die, William may have seized so much land from nobles to protect himself and stop others from being powerful, rather than because he was greedy.

Jump to other topics

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

3Norman England, 1066-88

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