. The library of historic characters and famous events of all nations and all ages . his ILLIAM I., King of England and surnamedthe Conqueror, was the sixth duke ofNormandy in direct descent, from thefamous RoUo. He was born in 1024, thenatural son of Duke Robert le Diable,who had been captivated with thecharms of Arietta, a tanners default of legitimate sons, Williamwas accepted by the nobles as the heir,eleventh year succeeded to the rule of the and inDuchy. During his minority anarchy prevailed ; but as heapproached manhood he gradually established his authority,and when a gener


. The library of historic characters and famous events of all nations and all ages . his ILLIAM I., King of England and surnamedthe Conqueror, was the sixth duke ofNormandy in direct descent, from thefamous RoUo. He was born in 1024, thenatural son of Duke Robert le Diable,who had been captivated with thecharms of Arietta, a tanners default of legitimate sons, Williamwas accepted by the nobles as the heir,eleventh year succeeded to the rule of the and inDuchy. During his minority anarchy prevailed ; but as heapproached manhood he gradually established his authority,and when a general conspiracy was formed in 1047, ^^^ ^^stescaped by riding hard all night and afterwards completelydefeated the rebels. In 1051 he married Matilda, Countess ofFlanders, though the Church opposed the marriage asuncanonical, and a dispensation was not obtained until someyears later. This alliance had greatly increased Williamsstrength ; but Henry I. of France, who had heretofore aidedhim, now turned against him, as becoming war and truce succeeded until Henrys


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectb, booksubjecthistory