The Norman Kings William the Conqueror - 1066-1087 The Normans were direct descendants of the Vikings and inherited their fiery enthusiasm for conquest. William, the illegitmate son of Robert Duke of Normandy, had the skills to channel this energy. He inherited his father's title in 1035 and secured his position as Duke, by defeating a group of Norman rebels in battle in 1047. After the defeat of Harold's army at Hastings, William was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066. In addition to his considerable military expertise he became an able administrator imposing a strict feudal system on the people of England, enforced by his well-trained knights. He ordered a stocktake of English assets which became known as the Domesday Book. It was a record of people, livestock, land ownership and its condition. At the time of William the Conqueror the population of England stood at around two million. He died at the age of sixty after falling from his horse during an assault on the French city of Nantes and was buried in St. Stephen's Church, Caen. William II - 1087-1100 William the Conqueror left England to his son William (Rufus). Robert, his eldest son was granted the Duchy of Normandy. The two brothers became great rivals and both were skilled in the art of war. William II led successful campaigns against the Scots and won back French lands lost during his father's reign. Robert Duke of Normandy took up the cross and joined the crusade of Pope Urban II. William had disputes with the church and treated his people with contempt. His death is the subject of some controversy, as he was killed by an arrow during a hunt in the New Forest. It has often been suggested that his brother Henry was somehow involved in his death. His body lies in Winchester Cathedral. Henry I - 1100-1135 With William dead and his elder brother Robert on crusade, Henry, known as henry Beauclerc, wasted no time in claiming the throne. he took the Royal hoard from the treasury at Winchester and within days was crowned King of England in London. He introduced a number of reforms to please the people. The foundations of the English legal system can be traced back to this time. On his return from the Crusades, Robert felt cheated when he heard that his younger brother had been crowned king. There followed a series of negotiations which ended in war. Henry crossed the channel with his army and defeated Robert at the battle of Tinchebrai in 1106. Henry kept his brother prisoner in Cardiff Castle until his death in 1134. This strong-willed king also had power struggles with the church. His skill as a negotiator however, led to a compromise with both parties satisfied. Disputes with the church were very much a feature of this era for kings who sought absolute power. Great sadness entered Henry's life when his only surviving son died in 1120 during the White Ship disaster. Henry I died in 1135 from food poisoning in France. He is buried before the High Altar of Reading Abbey, which he founded in 1121. Stephen - 1135-1154 During Henry's reign the barons and Stephen, son of Stephen, Count of Blois and Adela daughter of William I, had sworn an oath to accept Matilda, Henry's only legitimate child as his heir. After Henry died however, the barons rejected the idea of Matilda as Queen of England and Stephen claimed the throne for himself. As king he was considered fair-minded yet weak. Matilda would not renounce her claim and this led to civil war. The country fell into anarchy with many of the barons taking advantage of Stephen's lack of leadership. His reign has been described as 'nineteen long winters' when castles were filled with 'devils and evil men'. Matilda married Geoffrey Plantagenet Count of Anjou who went on the offensive and invaded Stephen's territories in Northern France. In 1139 Matilda fell into the hands of Stephen's soldiers who, under his orders, treated her with respect and set her free. Two years later when Matilda's forces captured Stephen they held him prisoner and Matilda prepared for her coronation. She never realised her ambition to become queen, as she was never accepted by the barons or the people of London who drove her and her supporters out of the city by force. Stephen was released in exchange for Robert of Gloucester and more conflict ensued. In 1148 Matilda abandoned her claim to the English throne and left the country. By the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153 Stephen agreed to discuss peace with the Plantagenets. They agreed that Stephen should remain king until his death, upon which the throne would pass to Matilda's son Henry. Stephen died in 1154 and is buried at Faversham in Kent, the base of his monument having been discovered in 1965.