William the Conqueror

~1028–1087 · Norman (Falaise, Normandy / London) · Medieval England/Normandy

Known for: Conquered England at the Battle of Hastings (1066) and fundamentally transformed English language, law, and culture

William was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy (known as 'William the Bastard' before 1066—he preferred 'the Conqueror' after). He survived assassination attempts as a child, conquered Normandy by his 20s, then invaded England with approximately 7,000 men and defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

He transformed England completely: replacing the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy with Norman nobles, building castles (including the Tower of London), commissioning the Domesday Book (a complete economic survey), and imposing Norman French as the language of government. English wouldn't recover its status for 300 years.

He was enormously fat by the time he died—his horse stumbled at the siege of Mantes, and the saddle horn ruptured his intestines. His funeral was a disaster: his body was too large for the stone coffin, and when attendants tried to force him in, the corpse burst, filling the church with a terrible stench.

Browse all 1,000 figures by category

Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.