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302405380. William the Conqueror , King of England
"Born around 1028, William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, and Herleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Falaise. Known as 'William the Bastard' to his contemporaries, his illegitimacy shaped his career when he was young. On his father's death in 1035, William was recognised by his family as the heir - an exception to the general rule that illegitimacy barred succession. His great uncle looked after the Duchy during William's minority, and his overlord King Henry I of France, knighted him at the age of 15. "
"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1087 declared 'he was a very stern and violent man, so no one dared do anything contrary to his will ... Amongst other things the good security he made in this country is not to be forgotten.' "
" Before his death on 9 September 1087, William divided his 'Anglo-Norman' state between his sons. (The scene was set for centuries of expensive commitments by successive English monarchs to defend their inherited territories in France.) William bequeathed Normandy as he had promised to his eldest son Robert, despite their bitter differences (Robert had sided with his father's enemies in Normandy, and even wounded and defeated his father in a battle there in 1079). His son William Rufus was to succeed William as King of England, and the third remaining son, Henry, was left 5,000 pounds in silver. William was buried in his abbey foundation of St Stephen at Caen. Desecrated by Huguenots (1562) and Revolutionaries (1793), the burial place of the first Norman king of England is marked by a simple stone slab."
Excerpted from The British Monarchy Official Website-The History of the Crown-Plantaganets (http://www.royal.gov.uk/history/william1.htm)
Used in accordance with their posted copyright policy.
302405381. Matilda
daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders
302405382. Malcolm III Canmore King of Scotland
reigned 1058-1093
"Malcolm was determined to extend his kingdom southwards and take advantage of the upheaval caused by the Norman Conquest. Making the excuse that he was supporting the claim to the English throne of his brother-in-law Edgar Atheling, Malcolm invaded England five times (he was a formidable warrior-king, having killed his two predecessor kings). Three times defeated, Malcolm was forced under the treaty of Abernethy in 1072 to become 'the man' of the English king and give up his son Duncan as a hostage. Malcolm and his eldest son were finally killed in battle at Alnwick, Northumberland on 13 November 1093, aged about 62. His wife died when they brought her the news at Edinburgh Castle. She was canonised in 1249. "
Excerpted from The British Monarchy Official Website-The History of the Scottish Crown- The Early Scottish Monarchs
(http://www.royal.gov.uk/history/scotland/early.htm)
Used in accordance with their posted copyright policy.
302405383. Margaret
"She was canonised in 1249. "
Excerpted from The British Monarchy Official Website-The History of the Scottish Crown- The Early Scottish Monarchs
(http://www.royal.gov.uk/history/scotland/early.htm)
Used in accordance with their posted copyright policy.