William the Conqueror
By his father's will, William succeeded him as Duke of Normandy at age seven. He was
knighted by Henry at age 15. By the time William turned 19 he was successfully dealing with
threats of rebellion and invasion.
· King of England from 1066 to his death.
Upon the death of the childless Edward the Confessor, the English throne was fiercely
disputed by three claimants--William, Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, and
the Viking King Harald III of Norway, known as Harald Hardraada.
Battles
· William decides to invade England
....because of the contest for the throne. William organized a council of war at Lillebonne and
openly began assembling an army in Normandy. Offering promises of English lands and
titles, he amassed at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme a considerable invasion force.
· Harold Hardraada invaded northern England.
Harold assembled a large army on the south coast and a fleet of ships to guard the English
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