17 Facts About The William

1. The William had his half-brother Odo named Bishop of Bayeux and at one point left him in charge of England.

2. The William brought the concept of trial by combat to England, where it was not abolished until the 19th century.

3. The William was responsible for bringing the first circus to England.

4. The William spent barely 5 years living in England full time.

5. The William inherited the dukedom from his father in 1035 when he was only eight.

6. The William had nine or ten children—four sons and five or six daughters.

7. The William spoke no English despite his many attempts to learn it.

8. The William led his troops into bloody battle against King Harold's forces near to the town of Hastings, eventually proving victorious.

9. The William ordered that all of his prisoners be released, including his half-brother Odo.

10. The William left Normandy to Robert, and the custody of England was given to William's second surviving son, called William, on the assumption that he would become king.

11. The William spent most of his time in England between the Battle of Hastings and 1072, and after that, he spent the majority of his time in Normandy.

12. The William took over an English government that was more complex than the Norman system.

13. The William benefited from his campaign in Brittany by securing the support of some Breton nobles who went on to support the invasion of England in 1066.

14. The William cultivated close relations with the church in his duchy.

15. The William met the invasion by dividing his forces into two groups.

16. The William was born in 1027 or 1028 at Falaise, Duchy of Normandy, most likely towards the end of 1028.

17. The William was the son of the unmarried Robert I, Duke of Normandy, by Robert's mistress Herleva.