William the Conqueror

I am very happy to have William the Conqueror here with me for a valuable  interview about his life accomplishments. The date is is 1086 AD.

Q: Why was your birth so controversial?  Also share any details about your early life as Duke of Normandy.

A: I was born in 1027 to my my father Robert and my mother Hervela.  My blood parents were never married, and my mother was married to someone else, and therefore I was considered an illegitimate child.  My father Robert was the duke of Normandy at the time.  In 1035, my father died, and although I was illegitimate and  only seven years old, I was the only living son and therefore was the heir to the throne.  At seven years old, I was the Duke of Normandy, and already was hated by many people.  Many nobles and barons did not believe I should have become Duke, and many murder plots were made because of my illegitimacy.



Q: What controversy was surrounding the English throne at this time?

A: Around 1050, Edward the Confessor, the King of England, died, and there was no clear heir to the throne.  In 1066, four people, including myself, wanted the throne.  These men were Harold, Harald, Edgar, and myself.  In October of 1066, the feud was narrowed between myself and Harold.  I triumphed in the fierce Battle of Hastings.  This is how I came to be called William the Conqueror.



Q: Explain your Domesday Book?

A: Certainly.  After becoming King of England after many years of fighting, I knew that changes must be made in order to be a very good leader.  In 1085, I sent thousands of landholding nobles and barons to take a very detailed census of all of England.  They collected information on everything about every piece of land, its owners, its value, its history, and even household objects for this census.  This information was then brought back to me and just a few weeks ago was written up in book form.  The reason behind this massive survey is to determine taxes and how landholding has changed since the rule of Edward the Confessor.



Q: How did you play a role in the creation of the idea of an Executive Branch?

A: I play a role in the idea of this "Executive Branch" that you speak of because many of  my customs relating to how a 'president' in your country might act.  I have many methods of controlling land that are similar to how a president manages courts and other policies.  I gained a lot of new land from granting fiefs to Norman lords and Churches, but I keep much of my land for myself.  I also closely monitor the castles, and I have recently forced all vassels to swear allegiance today.  These facts, as well as my system of high rule with lower rulers (like a president with senators and representatives).


Thank you so much William!  It has been an honor talking to you!