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William was born in Falaise, Normandy as the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, a tanner's daughter. His illegitimate status earned him the nickname 'William the Bastard' early in his life. Despite this, he was his father's only son and heir.

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At just seven or eight years old, William became the Duke of Normandy after his father died while returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Because of his young age and illegitimate birth, William's early years as duke were marked by danger and instability, with several guardians being assassinated and multiple attempts on his own life.

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William, with the help of King Henry I of France, defeated a rebellion of Norman nobles at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes. This victory established William's authority as Duke of Normandy and marked his first significant military success.

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1051-1052: Edward the Confessor's Promise

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1051-1052: Edward the Confessor's Promise

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Edward the Confessor, King of England and childless, allegedly promised William the English throne during this period. This claim would later form part of William's justification for invading England, though its legitimacy was disputed.

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1066 January: Death of Edward the Confessor

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1066 January: Death of Edward the Confessor

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King Edward the Confessor died on January 5, 1066, without a direct heir. The Witan (royal council) chose Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, as the new king. William claimed that Edward had promised him the throne and that Harold had previously sworn an oath to support William's claim.

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After months of preparation, William's Norman fleet of about 700 ships landed at Pevensey Bay on the southern coast of England on September 28, 1066. Harold Godwinson was fighting another invader in the north, Harald Hardrada of Norway, whom he defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

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In perhaps the most famous battle in English history, William's Norman forces defeated King Harold's English army at Hastings. Harold was killed, reportedly shot in the eye with an arrow. This decisive victory opened England to Norman conquest and forever changed the course of English history.

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1066 December 25: Coronation at Westminster Abbey

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1066 December 25: Coronation at Westminster Abbey

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On Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. During the ceremony, when the congregation shouted their approval, Norman guards outside thought a riot had broken out and set fire to nearby houses, turning the coronation into chaos - a turbulent start to William's reign.

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To suppress rebellion in northern England, William ordered a brutal campaign of destruction known as the 'Harrying of the North.' Villages were destroyed, crops and livestock were burned, and thousands died from starvation. This ruthless strategy effectively crushed resistance but caused immense suffering.

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William commissioned a comprehensive survey of his kingdom, recording who owned what land and what it was worth. The resulting document, called the Domesday Book, was an extraordinary administrative achievement that gave the king detailed knowledge of his realm's resources for taxation purposes.

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1066-1087: Norman Transformation of England

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1066-1087: Norman Transformation of England

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William revolutionized England by introducing the feudal system, building castles across the country, and replacing the English nobility with Norman lords. He also reformed the church and strengthened royal authority. The Norman Conquest brought French language and culture that would influence English society for centuries.

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William died on September 9, 1087, from injuries sustained when his horse reared during the siege of Mantes in France. His body was taken to Caen for burial at the Abbey of Saint-Étienne, which he had founded. During his funeral, it's said that William's swollen body burst when attendants tried to force it into a too-small stone coffin - an undignified end for such a powerful king.