William the Conqueror

by David Bates

Overview

William the Conqueror was a formidable personality, whose political imagination and ruthless will were the driving force of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. In this biography, David Bates describes the full scope of Williams's achievements in both Normandy and England, setting them firmly in the context of Europe in an age of change and turmoil. William showed himself an outstanding soldier and an extremely effective ruler who combined great fortitude with an unbending insistence on his own authority. He was also cruel, greedy and intolerant -- a man who pitilessly stamped out opposition and shamelessly manipulated facts to justify dubious enterprises.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300183832
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

David Bates is professorial fellow, University of East Anglia. His books include Normandy Before 1066 and The Normans and Empire. He lives in Cambridge, UK.

Table of Contents

List of Plates viii

Preface x

List of Abbreviations xiv

Map xvii

Genealogy xviii

Prologue: Writing a Life of William the Conqueror 1

1 The First Years 16

2 From Childhood into Adolescence 49

3 The Shaping of Things to Come 91

4 The Making of a Reputation 127

5 On to the Attack 164

6 The Year of Victory 211

7 King of the English 258

8 Victory Transformed 295

9 From Crisis to Triumph 329

10 Cross-Channel Rule 373

11 Political Consolidation and Personal Loss 423

12 The Final Years 451

13 Death and Legacy 483

Epilogue 513

Bibliography 529

Index 568

Editorial Reviews

"This is serious, definitive history, essential for undergraduates and academics. . . . Bates gets as close to the subject as any medieval biographer could wish."—Dan Jones, Sunday Times

"Bates has devoted a lifetime of learning to William the Conqueror and his age. In this definitive biography of the man who forever changed England with his invasion of 1066, Bates contends that a full understanding of William’s place in history requires locating him in a longer period.”—Tony Barber, “Best books of 2016," Financial Times

"The best ever biography of the ruthless Norman bastard — masterly and exciting, but always measured and scholarly."—Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week, 22nd July 2017

“A coherent, consistent and complete portrait by a single master. . . This book is a monument to Bates’s knowledge of William, his career and his times. It has significantly advanced our understanding of this imposing figure, and it will, and should, be the point of departure for future discussions of the reign.”—Mark Hagger, English Historical Review

"[A] monumental study . . . a joy to read, consistently illuminating."—S. Morillo, Choice

"An authoritative and engrossing account. . . This biography is a work of history in its fullest form. Bates has written gripping narratives of battle, moving accounts of pathos and suffering, thoughtful analyses of William’s allies, opponents, friends and comrades, and two love stories—all the more remarkable because they are true."—Emily A. Winkler, Speculum

Won the 2017 Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Title

"David Bates's biography of William the Conqueror is a worthy culmination of a lifetime's study of one of England's greatest and in many ways most complex kings. Despite the 950 years which now lie between us and William's remarkable victory at Hastings, Bates conjures up the man in all his strengths, weaknesses and passions, and proves that there is still much new to learn about this man who changed the course of the histories of England, Britain and France."—David Crouch, author of The English Aristocracy, 1070–1272

"This book tells of William the Conqueror as never before. David Bates recognizes a distinguished predecessor, yet where D.C. Douglas wrote from the outside in, Bates writes from the inside out to show how the biography of Duke-King William is what illuminates Normandy and England at a critical time in their histories. Bates writes with surpassing command of the sources to bring out the problematic contexts of challenges facing the Conqueror throughout his life. He shows that William's legacy of achievement and brutality was as troubling to the writers who knew or remembered him as it is for us. Moreover, the deployment of a vast new secondary literature renders this book virtually a tribute to the burgeoning Anglo-Norman field of research that it occupies. Bates' William the Conqueror is a monumental accomplishment."—Thomas N. Bisson, author of The Crisis of the Twelfth Century: Power, Lordship, and the Origins of European Government
 

From the Publisher

"The best ever biography of the ruthless Norman bastard — masterly and exciting, but always measured and scholarly."—Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week, 22nd July 2017

The Week - Simon Sebag Montefiore

“[A] monumental study . . . a joy to read, consistently illuminating.”—S. Morillo, Choice

Choice - S. Morillo

“David Bates has given us a magnificent new biography of William the Conqueror to add to his superb edition of William’s royal charters. Reflecting many years of research, it is deeply learned, full of important new insights and… makes a major contribution to our knowledge and understanding, not only of the Conqueror but also of the world in which he lived. No scholar working in the field can afford to ignore this; all readers with an interest in the period will benefit from it.”—Paul Dalton, TLS

TLS - Paul Danton

“Leading expert David Bates gives one of British History’s headline figures the in-depth treatment… From his personality to the consequences of his military actions, this book will heartily extend your knowledge of 1066 and all that.”—History Revealed

History Revealed

“Bates has devoted a lifetime of learning to William the Conqueror and his age. In this definitive biography of the man who forever changed England with hisinvasion of 1066, Bates contends that a full understanding of William’s place in history requires locating him in a longer period.”—Tony Barber, “Best books of 2016”, Financial Times

Financial Times - Tony Barber

“This is serious, definitive history, essential for undergraduates and academics… Bates gets as close to the subject as any medieval biographer could wish.”—Dan Jones, Sunday Times

Sunday Times - Dan Jones