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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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William the Conqueror
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(William I, c.1028–87) King of England from 1066; illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of Normandy, and of Arlette (daughter of a tanner in Falaise); married Matilda of Flanders (c.1051).
Succeeding his father as duke in 1035, William only established his authority over Normandy after a long struggle. But strong links with England through *Edward the Confessor gave him hopes of the English crown, and his invasion in 1066 was supported by a pope dissatisfied with the English church.
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After the initial victory at *Hastings the Norman *Conquest was rapidly consolidated; a mere ten weeks later William was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day (an auspicious day for a coronation ever since Charlemagne had been crowned in Rome on Christmas Day 800). Good relations with the church under *Lanfranc and good administration (culminating in the great *Domesday Book) meant that William's reign was one of consolidation. His eldest son, Robert Curthose, inherited the duchy of Normandy, while two others (William II and Henry I) followed him on the throne of England (see the *royal house).s
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