#william the conqueror king of England

[theancientwise]

William the Conqueror conquers England and becomes its king...

Rollo, Gisla and Charles in the afterlife...

Ecbert and Ragnar...

Aethelwulf, Kwenthrith and Aelle...

Eh, my dear Ecbert and Ragnar... what goes around, comes around.

[canuterex]

First look at the upcoming series “King and Conqueror” which will be about the invasion of William of Normandy and the subsequent conquest of England. Coming in 2025 on BBC, with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Clémence Poésy as William I and Matilda of Flanders.

[kindercelery]

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

William, The Conqueror to Catherine, The Princess of Wales ⤜ The Princess of Wales is William I's 27th Great-Granddaughter  via her paternal grandfather’s line.

William the Conqueror (m. Matilda of Flanders)

Henry I, King of England (m. Matilda of Scotland)

Empress Matilda (m. Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou)

Henry II, King of England (m. Eleanor of Aquitaine)

John I, King of England (m. Isabella of Angoulême)

Henry III, King of England (m. Eleanor of Provence)

Edmund, Earl of Lancaster (m. Blanche of Artois)

Henry, 3rd Earl of Leicester and Lancaster (m. Matilda de Chaworth)

Mary of Lancaster, Baroness Percy (m. Henry de Percy, 3rd Lord Percy) - Coat of Arms

Sir Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland (m. Margaret de Neville)

Sir Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy (m. Elizabeth Mortimer)

Sir Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (m. Lady Eleanor Neville) - Coat of Arms

Sir Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland (m. Eleanor, Baroness Poynings) - Coat of Arms

Lady Margaret Percy (m. Sir William Gascoigne)

Agnes Gascoigne (m. Sir Thomas Fairfax) - Gawthorpe Hall, family seat.

William Fairfax (m. Anne Baker) - Gilling Castle, family seat. 

John Fairfax (m. Mary Birch) Master of the Great Hospital at Norwich, Norfolk

Rev. Benjamin Fairfax (m. Sarah Galliard), Preacher at Rumburgh, Suffolk.

Benjamin Fairfax (m. Bridget Stringer) died in Halesworth, Suffolk.

Sarah Fairfax (m. Rev. John Meadows) died in Ousedon, Suffolk.

Philip Meadows (m. Margaret Hall)

Sarah Meadows (m. Dr. David Martineau)

Thomas Martineau (m. Elizabeth Rankin) buried at Rosary Cemetery, Norwich.

Elizabeth Martineau (m. Dr. Thomas Michael Greenhow) died in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.

Frances Elizabeth Greenhow (m. Francis Lupton)

Francis Martineau Lupton (m. Harriet Albina Davis)

Olive Christina Lupton (m. Richard Noel Middleton)

Peter Francis Middleton (m. Valerie Glassborow)

Michael Francis Middleton (m. Carole Elizabeth Goldsmith)

The Princess of Wales m. The Prince of Wales

[royalghostsofhistory]

Crowns

noun. a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority, usually made of or decorated with precious metals and jewels.

Line by line, from top left to right: William the Conqueror, Richard I, King John, Edward I, Richard II, Henry V, Elizabeth I, a Scottish crown, James I, Charles I, James II, George I, George III, the Imperial State, Crown, St Edward's Crown.

image credit

[nostalgia-tblr]

loki/william rufus fic, where bill explains that as the second son he has inherited england while big brother bob only got the duchy of normandy, ha ha ha.

[historyreimagined24]

The Plantagenets: A Dynasty that Shaped Medieval England

The Plantagenets were one of the most powerful and influential royal dynasties in medieval England. Spanning over three centuries (from the 12th to the 15th century), their reign left a lasting mark on the country's politics, society, and culture. From the rise of the English monarchy in the wake of the Norman Conquest to the Wars of the Roses, the Plantagenets played a central role in shaping the course of English history.

Origins of the Plantagenet Dynasty

The name "Plantagenet" is believed to be derived from a nickname used by Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, who is often credited as the first Plantagenet monarch. The term "Plantagenet" comes from the Latin planta genista, which refers to a sprig of broom, a plant commonly worn in the hat of Geoffrey V. His son, Henry II, became the first English monarch of the Plantagenet line when he ascended the throne in 1154.

Geoffrey’s marriage to Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I of England, united the English and Norman royal bloodlines with the powerful Angevin territories in France. Their son, Henry II, inherited both the English crown and vast lands across France, establishing the Plantagenets as a dominant force in both kingdoms.

The Reign of Henry II and the Rise of the Plantagenet Power

Henry II (reigned 1154–1189) is often considered the first true Plantagenet king. His reign saw significant expansion of royal power and the strengthening of England's legal and administrative systems. He introduced a system of common law that would shape the English legal tradition for centuries to come. However, his reign was also marked by conflict, notably with his own sons, who rebelled against him in the famous "Rebellion of the Kings."

One of the most enduring legacies of Henry II’s reign was his involvement in the turbulent relationship with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket’s murder in 1170, allegedly spurred by Henry’s frustrations with the Archbishop’s opposition to royal authority, made Becket a martyr and led to widespread religious and political ramifications for the Plantagenet dynasty.

The Plantagenets and the Hundred Years' War

As the centuries passed, the Plantagenet family expanded its control beyond England. The Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) between England and France was one of the most defining conflicts of the medieval period, largely defined by the Plantagenet claim to the French throne. The war, which spanned multiple generations, was a bitter struggle for control of French territories that had been held by the English monarchs through dynastic marriage and conquest.

The conflict began under Edward III, who claimed the French throne through his mother, Isabella of France, and sought to assert English dominance in France. The war was a series of intermittent conflicts and truces, marked by famous battles such as the Battle of Agincourt (1415), where Henry V secured a decisive victory against the French forces. The war ultimately ended in defeat for the English under Henry VI, when England lost most of its French territories, leading to a decline in Plantagenet power.

The Plantagenets' Demise: The Wars of the Roses

By the late 14th century, the Plantagenets faced increasing internal division. Rival branches of the family, notably the Houses of Lancaster and York, began to fight for control of the throne in what became known as the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487). This bloody civil war was sparked by the weak reign of Henry VI, whose mental instability and ineffectiveness left the throne vulnerable to competing claims.

The conflict saw the rise of famous figures such as Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, and Henry Tudor, the founder of the Tudor dynasty. After a series of battles, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, ending the Plantagenet reign. Henry VII, who would later marry Elizabeth of York, uniting the warring factions, became the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty.

Legacy of the Plantagenets

The Plantagenet dynasty’s reign over England left a profound legacy that shaped the medieval world. Their long rule influenced nearly every aspect of English society, including the legal system, the economy, and the arts. The introduction of the common law system under Henry II laid the foundation for England’s modern legal framework. Their territorial ambitions and military engagements set the stage for centuries of conflict and expansion in Europe.

The Plantagenets also left an indelible mark on English culture, with their patronage of architecture, literature, and the arts. The Gothic style of architecture flourished under their reign, with iconic buildings such as Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London being built or expanded during this period.

While the Plantagenet dynasty came to an end in 1487, their impact on England and the wider world is still felt today. The tumultuous events of the Wars of the Roses, the central role of the Plantagenets in the Hundred Years' War, and their legacy as a royal family full of complex, larger-than-life figures continue to capture the imagination of historians and the public alike.

In essence, the Plantagenets were not just rulers of a kingdom but influential players in a turbulent medieval world, whose actions reverberated far beyond their reign.

Conclusion

The Plantagenet dynasty’s history is a rich tapestry of triumphs, tragedies, and power struggles. From the reign of Henry II to the fall of Richard III, the family played a pivotal role in shaping not only the English throne but also the history of Europe. Whether through military conquests, legal reforms, or their colorful personalities, the Plantagenets remain one of the most fascinating dynasties in world history.

[dreamconsumer]

Robert wounding his father William the Conqueror during a battle. By James William Edmund Doyle.

William's elder son Robert, enraged by a prank of his brothers William and Henry, who had doused him with filthy water, undertook what became a large scale rebellion against his father's rule. Only with King Philip's additional military support was William able to confront Robert, who was then based in Flanders. During the battle of 1079, William was unhorsed and wounded by Robert, who lowered his sword only after recognising him.

[docpiplup]

The Bastard Kings and their families

This is series of posts are complementary to this historical parallels post from the JON SNOW FORTNIGHT EVENT, and it's purpouse to discover the lives of medieval bastard kings, and the following posts are meant to collect portraits of those kings and their close relatives.

In many cases it's difficult to find contemporary art of their period, so some of the portrayals are subsequent.

1) William I of England (c. 1028 – 1087), son of Robert I of Normandy and Herleva of Falaise; with his brothers Odo of Bayeux (d. 1097) and Robert of Mortain (c. 1031–c. 1095), sons of Herleva of Falaise and her husband Herluin de Conteville

2) His father, Robert I of Normandy (1000 –1035), son of Richard II of Normandy and his wife Judith of Brittany

3) His uncle, Richard III of Normandy (997/1001 – 1027), son of Richard II of Normandy and his wife Judith of Brittany

4) His son, Robert II of Normandy (c. 1051 – 1134), son of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

5) His son, William II of England( c. 1057 – 1100), son of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

6) His son, Henry I of England (c. 1068 –1135), son of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

7) His daughter, Cecily of Normandy (c. 1056 – 1126), daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

8) His daughter, Constance of Normandy (c. 1057/61– 1090), daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

9) His daughter, Adela of Normandy (c. 1067– 1137), daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

[official-english-major]

"Bro it's just a prank!"

The prank:

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

my post about the new protest laws in the uk is now at like 6k notes and some things ive noticed from all the notes:

a lot of americans seem to think that theyre the only people who have even thought about revolting against an english/british monarch; the amount of "take notes from us" tags is baffling. please look up bonfire night my guy.

many people seem to think it is only about the coronation and charles; it is not and i state that in the post. its even in italics

many people seem to think i also think that; again, i point out that its not exclusive to the monarchy in the post

there are some interesting people who want to gotcha my informative post by being like "well the technical definition of x is" when its like okay dude youre not wrong, but maybe you should go talk to people irl more djskkdwld

a lot of peoples first reference to successfully overthrowing a monarchy is the french revolution

theres a couple of people who equate the british government with all british people which yeah, theres always that, but its kinda weird to see it on an informative post about laws suppressing the rights of british people?

my definition of long post is very different to many people

to the like three people who tagged stuff like ''throw petrol bombs at him'' ''in minecraft'' or ''as a joke''. you dont need the second part, youre on tumblr, you can just say you want to lob a molotov cocktail at charles.

i want to lob a molotov cocktail at charles.

[theancientwise]

HOLY F***!!

It's HIM!

It's REALLY HIM!

Ladies and gentlemen, this young boy is the one and only William the Bastard, soon to be known as the Conqueror, future Duke of Normandy and the future first Norman King of England.

They actually showed him!

I cannot believe it. This made my day after finding out about Canute.

Thanks to @emma-ofnormandy for letting me know it.

well, at least we got something.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

The invasion of England by the Norman army in 1066 – Duke William of Normandy versus King Harold of England – would be far more than a regime change for the women of England.

"Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History" - Philippa Gregory

[gameofthrones2020]

Kings and Churchmen

Kings and Churchmen and why Kings of England needed the support of the Church to hold on to power if they did not have support of nobility

Today, I will be writing and discussing the importance of churchmen who supported kingship during the mediaeval ages, stretching from the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE to the discovery of America by Europeans in 1492 CE by Christopher Columbus. For this article, I will be discussing the kingship focus Kings of England, why churchmen were an essential pillar of Kings and a force for support,…

[faolonfiendrender]

You see, It all started in my childhood. That fucker William kicked my kin out from our home. While I have been given a long life, I hate him. I hate what he has done to my tongue. Now, after many years! I have the speechlore to remove his blight on my tongue! Wait! That’s l'interrupteur de marche arrière. Putain ! Je parle maintenant sa langue maudite.

[wonder-worker]

A central element of the myth of [Eleanor of Aquitaine] is that of her exceptionalism. Historians and Eleanor biographers have tended to take literally Richard of Devizes’s conventional panegyric of her as ‘an incomparable woman’. She is assumed to be a woman out of her time. […] Amazement at Eleanor’s power and independence is born from a presentism that assumes generally that the Middle Ages were a backward age, and specifically that medieval women were all downtrodden and marginalized. Eleanor’s career can, from such a perspective, only be explained by assuming that she was an exception who rose by sheer force of personality above the restrictions placed upon twelfth-century women.

— Michael R. Evans, Inventing Eleanor: The Medieval and Post-Medieval Image of Eleanor of Aquitaine

The idea of Eleanor’s exceptionalism rests on an assumption that women of her age were powerless. On the contrary, in Western Europe before the twelfth century there were ‘no really effective barriers to the capacity of women to exercise power; they appear as military leaders, judges, castellans, controllers of property’. […] In an important article published in 1992, Jane Martindale sought to locate Eleanor in context, stripping away much of the conjecture that had grown up around her, and returning to primary sources, including her charters. Martindale also demonstrated how Eleanor was not out of the ordinary for a twelfth-century queen either in the extent of her power or in the criticisms levelled against her.

If we look at Eleanor’s predecessors as Anglo-Norman queens of England, we find many examples of women wielding political power. Matilda of Flanders (wife of William the Conqueror) acted as regent in Normandy during his frequent absences in England following the Conquest, and [the first wife of Henry I, Matilda of Scotland, played some role in governing England during her husband's absences], while during the civil war of Stephen’s reign Matilda of Boulogne led the fight for a time on behalf of her royal husband, who had been captured by the forces of the empress. And if we wish to seek a rebel woman, we need look no further than Juliana, illegitimate daughter of Henry I, who attempted to assassinate him with a crossbow, or Adèle of Champagne, the third wife of Louis VII, who ‘[a]t the moment when Henry II held Eleanor of Aquitaine in jail for her revolt … led a revolt with her brothers against her son, Philip II'.

Eleanor is, therefore, less the exception than the rule – albeit an extreme example of that rule. This can be illustrated by comparing her with a twelfth century woman who has attracted less literary and historical attention. Adela of Blois died in 1137, the year of Eleanor’s marriage to Louis VII. […] The chronicle and charter evidence reveals Adela to have ‘legitimately exercised the powers of comital lordship’ in the domains of Blois-Champagne, both in consort with her husband and alone during his absence on crusade and after his death. […] There was, however, nothing atypical about the nature of Adela’s power. In the words of her biographer Kimberley LoPrete, ‘while the extent of Adela’s powers and the political impact of her actions were exceptional for a woman of her day (and indeed for most men), the sources of her powers and the activities she engaged in were not fundamentally different from those of other women of lordly rank’. These words could equally apply to Eleanor; the extent of her power, as heiress to the richest lordship in France, wife of two kings and mother of two or three more, was remarkable, but the nature of her power was not exceptional. Other noble or royal women governed, arranged marriages and alliances, and were patrons of the church. Eleanor represents one end of a continuum, not an isolated outlier.