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The Domesday or Book of Winchester was a survey or census of England completed in 1086 for William the Conqueror.

Domesday Book

The Domesday or Book of Winchester was a survey or census of England completed in 1086 for William the…

A poster with facts and images of England to the Norman Conquest.

England Poster

A poster with facts and images of England to the Norman Conquest.

Henry I (c. 1068/1069 – 1 December 1135) was the fourth son of William I the Conqueror, the first King of England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106. He was called Beauclerc for his scholarly interests and Lion of Justice for refinements which he brought about in the rudimentary administrative and legislative machinery of the time. Henry's reign is noted for its political opportunism. His succession was confirmed while his brother Robert was away on the First Crusade and the beginning of his reign was occupied by wars with Robert for control of England and Normandy. He successfully reunited the two realms again after their separation on his father's death in 1087. Upon his succession he granted the baronage a Charter of Liberties, which formed a basis for subsequent challenges to rights of kings and presaged Magna Carta, which subjected the King to law.

Henry I of England

Henry I (c. 1068/1069 – 1 December 1135) was the fourth son of William I the Conqueror, the first…

The obverse and reverse sides of a silver penny during the reign of William the Conqueror.

Medieval Coin

The obverse and reverse sides of a silver penny during the reign of William the Conqueror.

Illustration of the Norman-built Rochester castle. The architect of the castle was Gundulf, a Norman monk, and the castle protected England's southeast coast. It is a view of the castle from the northwest and two of its towers are visible. There is a road leading away from the castle. A woman and a child holding hands, walk down the road. Trees line the road.

Rochester Castle as Seen from the Northwest

Illustration of the Norman-built Rochester castle. The architect of the castle was Gundulf, a Norman…

William the Conqueror landing in England.

William

William the Conqueror landing in England.

William I of England (1027 – 9 September 1087), better known as William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy from 1035 and King of England from 1066 to his death. To claim the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans to victory over the Anglo-Saxon forces of Harold Godwinson (who died in the conflict) at the Battle of Hastings, and suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest. His reign, which brought Norman culture to England, had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages. In addition to political changes, his reign also saw changes to English law, a programme of building and fortification, changes to the vocabulary of the English language, and the introduction of continental European feudalism into England.

William I of England

William I of England (1027 – 9 September 1087), better known as William the Conqueror, was Duke…

"William the Conqueror (1066-1087), as represented on his seal. Although William really ruled 'as king by the edge of the sword,' he preferred to base his title on the promise of Edward the Confessor rather than on force of arms; and he adhered to far as possible to Anglo-Saxon usages, causing himself to be crowned at Westminster and binding himself to frame good laws and observe justice, as his predecessors had done. In fact he professed to regard himself as the lawful successor of the Anglo-Saxon kings, and not merely as a feudal conqueror. He had great difficulty in making the people recognize him as such, but when this was once done, he was a far more powerful ruler as king of England than he was as Norman duke."—Colby, 1899

William the Conqueror

"William the Conqueror (1066-1087), as represented on his seal. Although William really ruled 'as king…

The ship in which William the Conqueror crossed the channel in 1066.

William the Conqueror

The ship in which William the Conqueror crossed the channel in 1066.

Norman ships and warriors following William the Conqueror, also called William of Normandy, land on England's shores at Pevensey. Men with shields and spears, wearing iron helmets and coats of mail, emerge from Norman ships and smaller boats. A large ship with a dragon head at the bow is on the right. Cliffs rise in the background.

William of Normandy and His Norman Forces Land on England's Shores

Norman ships and warriors following William the Conqueror, also called William of Normandy, land on…

"Norman gateway of Windsor Castle planned by William the Conqueror." -Foster, 1921

Windsor Castle

"Norman gateway of Windsor Castle planned by William the Conqueror." -Foster, 1921