WILLIAM I., the CONQUERER, King of England, the natural son of Robert, Duke of Normandy; born in Falaise, in 1027. He was brought up at the court of the King of France, and succeeded to the duchy at the age of eight. But dur ing his minority there were frequent re volts of the nobles, and his authority was not fully established for many years. On the death of Edward the Confessor, King of England, William made a formal claim to the crown, alleging a bequest in his favor by Edward, and a promise which he had extorted from Harold. His claim being denied, he at once prepared for an invasion of England; effected a landing at Pevencey, Sept. 28, 1066, while Harold was engaged in opposing the Norwegians in the N., and fortified a camp near Hastings. The decisive battle of Hastings was fought on Saturday, Oct. 14, 1066; Harold was defeated and slain, and the Norman Conquest was commenced. His rival, Edgar Atheling, was supported by some of the leading men for a short time; but they all made sub mission to William at Berkhamstead, and on the following Christmas day he was crowned at Westminster by Aldred, Archbishop of York. He reigned with
great tyranny; in consequence of which several insurrections took place, and were not quelled till the conqueror had depopulated different districts by fire and sword. He then divided the lands of most of the nobility and gentry among his followers. He also introduced the language of the north of France (called in England the Norman language), and ordered that all law pleadings and stat utes should be in that tongue. To prevent nightly meetings and conspir acies, he instituted the curfew, or "cover-fire bell," at the sound of which every night, at eight o'clock, all fires and candles were to be put out. A survey was made of all the lands in the king dom, the account or register of which was called the "Domesday Book." In 1078 he finished the Tower of London; in 1087 he attacked and destroyed the city of Mantes. He was about to march to ward Paris, but died in Rouen, Sept. 9, 1087.