In the Footsteps of William The Conqueror :

William was born in Falaise, the son of Robert the Magnificent, (also called Robert the Devil), and Arlette (Robert’s concubine). The fact that he was born out of wedlock gave him the name he was initially known by “William the Bastard”.

When his father decided to join the Crusades, William was made, at the age of seven, successor to the throne and on the death of his father one year later, his rights of succession were contested by a number of other pretenders, the Richardides, sons or direct heirs of the former Dukes of Normandy. For several years a “war of succession” was fiercely waged with plots and conspiracies, a number of assassination attempts on William and the death of several of his close allies.

In the face of these repeated plots, William sought out powerful allies to bolster his authority; he turned to Henry I, king of France, whose vassal he was. After several battles, he managed to consolidate his territory and his authority, gaining a degree of power which was to make his powerful neighbours increasingly wary of him, particularly his former ally, the King of France.

Another high point of his reign was his marriage to Mathilde (at around 1050 in the region of Eu) which was opposed for some time by the church for reasons of consanguinity and of politics. William decided to ride roughshod over these. Mathilde was the daughter of the Count of Flanders securing William a substantial ally in this powerful lord.

William is best known these days for his conquest of England and for the betrayal of Harold. This conquest is remembered for the disembarkation of the Norman fleet of around one thousand ships which had set off from the beaches of Dives sur Mer to land at Pevesey. The army numbered some 8000 men, their horses and their provisions. The Battle of Hastings, on 14 October 1066, was to mark the victory of William and of the Norman cavalry thanks to the death of Harold.

William died on 7 September 1087 near Rouen and in accordance with his express wishes, was buried it the Abbey of Saint Etienne in Caen.

THE ABBAYE AUX HOMMES

Building work started on this abbey in 1064 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The Benedictine abbey of Saint Etienne was consecrated in 1077. William the Conqueror was buried there in 1087. The 18th century monastery buildings, with the cloister, the panelled walls hung with paintings and the guard’s room are now used by the Town Hall

Find out more: www.ville-caen.fr

THE ABBAYE AUX DAMES

It was Queen Mathilde who ordered this abbey to be built and the work spanned the period from 1060 to 1080. Queen Mathilde rests in peace at its centre where she was buried in 1083. The convent buildings were reconstructed in the 18th century and, since 1986, have been the headquarters of the Lower Normandy Regional Council.

Pour plus d’informations : www.ville-caen.fr

THE CHÂTEAU DES DUCS

The Château Ducal de Caen was built around 1060 on the orders of William the Conqueror, and is one of the largest residential fortresses in Europe. In turns it has served as a fortress, barracks and today a rich cultural repository for Medieval monuments; the castle is home today to the Musée des Beaux Arts and the Musée de Normandie.

Find out more: www.caen.fr/tourisme

THE CASTLE OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

This castle in Falaise is the birthplace of William the Conqueror, the love child of Robert the Magnificent (also called Robert the Devil) and Arlette. It is a medieval castle with two 12th century dungeons, a square tower and a surrounding castle wall.

Find out more: www.chateau-guillaume-leconquerant.fr

MUSEUM OF THE TAPESTRY OF QUEEN MATHILDE (BAYEUX TAPESTRY)

This museum at Bayeux holds an item which is unique in the whole world, an embroidery of wool on canvas made in the 11th century tracing, in a work over more than 70 metres long and 50 centimetres wide, the circumstances of and history behind the expedition to England by the army under the command of William the Conqueror, in 1066 up to the battle of Hastings which allowed him to be crowned King of England.

Find out more: www.bayeux-tourism.com

THE COMMEMORATIVE COLUMN OF DIVES SUR MER

This column is to be found on the beach at Dives sur Mer, and marks the point of departure of William the Conqueror’s 700 longships which set off to invade England in the summer of 1066.

Find out more: www.dives-sur-mer.com

In the Footsteps of William The Conqueror : nearby Relais & Chateaux properties