William I (Penguin Monarchs): England's Conqueror

The Penguin Monarchs series provides concise and expert accounts of England's rulers, including William the Conqueror, who changed England more than any other, sweeping away old ruling elites, crushing enemies, and devastating swathes of the country. The Domesday Book, undertaken at the end of his reign, compared it to the last judgement of God.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 28 June 2018
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

The Penguin Monarchs series presents concise and insightful accounts of England's rulers, now available in paperback format. On the auspicious day of Christmas in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, was crowned in Westminster, marking the inaugural reign of the first Norman king of England. However, this momentous occasion turned into a catastrophic disaster. Soldiers stationed outside, misinterpreting the enthusiastic shouts as treachery, set fire to the surrounding buildings. To subsequent chroniclers, this event served as an ominous foreshadowing of the impending calamities that would unfold.

During the reign of William the Conqueror, England underwent a profound transformation that surpassed any previous era. Marc Morris' captivating biography delves into the historical sources of the time, offering a fresh perspective on the man who exerted the greatest influence on England's history. As the old ruling elites were displaced, adversaries both domestically and abroad, including those within his closest family, were vanquished. Extensive regions of the country were ravaged, and the nation's map underwent a radical redrawing, granting the king unprecedented power.

As his reign drew to a close, William embarked on a comprehensive survey of his newly acquired territories. His subjects likened this endeavor to the final judgment of God, known as the Domesday Book. England had undergone a permanent transformation, marking a new era of irreversible change.

Weight: 74g
Dimension: 179 x 112 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141987460