William The Conqueror

William the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087) was the Duke of Normandy who invaded England in the fall of 1066. At the Battle of Hastings, William's forces defeated those of King Harold, allowing William to become King of England. As king, William ordered the compilation of the Domesday Book, the first comprehensive survey of England.

Viking raiders had established the duchy of Normandy in the late 8th century. William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, and succeeded his father as duke in 1035. Anarchy and fighting marked the first years of his rule, but William was able to gain full control of the duchy by 1047. Paper Masters will compose a custom written research paper on William the Conqueror that follows your guidelines.

William as Edwards Successor

Some historians claim that the childless King Edward the Confessor chose William as his successor. Edward was frequently at odds with England's most powerful family, the Godwins. He was married to Earl Godwin's daughter and the later part of his reign was administered by Harold Godwinson, who became king upon Edward's death in early 1066. William invaded England in the fall of 1066 and was crowned king on Christmas Day.

Important facts concerning William the Conqueror to have in your research paper include:

1. As King of England, William attempted to consolidate his power in the face of stiff resistance, constructing numerous castles, including the Tower of London.
2. For much of his reign, William was in Europe, administering Normandy and England separately.
3. The Domesday Book was ordered in an attempt to regulate taxes, as England had the only universal tax in Europe at this time.
4. William left England in 1086, and died the following year.
5. He is buried in Normandy.