William I

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William I ( the Conqueror) (1027–87) King of England (1066–87) and Duke of Normandy (1035–87). Supported initially by Henry I of France, he consolidated his position in Normandy against hostile neighbours. On the death of Edward the Confessor, he claimed the English throne, having allegedly gained the agreement of King Harold II in 1064. William defeated and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings (1066), and subsequently enforced his rule over the whole kingdom. He rewarded his followers by grants of land, eventually replacing almost the entire feudal ruling class, and intimidated potential rebels by rapid construction of castles. He invaded Scotland (1072) – extracting an oath of loyalty from Malcolm III Canmore – and Wales (1081), although he spent much of his reign in France. William ordered the famous survey known as the Domesday Book (1086).

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