So, I'm going to do something educational on my page. I'm going to share my obsession with the English Royal Line with all of you! Each day, (or so) I'm going to highlight an English monarch, tell you a few things about them, and post a pic. Why? Because the English Monarchs are super fun, and I highly hope that this will inspire people to learn a bit more about these fascinating people.
So, first up, we have William I (The Conqueror, or alternately "The Bastard")
- Was technically a bastard child, since his dad wasn't married.
- Became the Duke of Normandy by force
- Named heir of England by Edward the Confessor
- Killed Harold Godwinson when Harold took the throne for himself
- Set up a tax system in England (It was counted out on a checkered cloth... thus creating the idea of the "exchequer" and writing "Cheques.")
- Let the English keep their old laws such as "trials" to establish innocence or guilt, which most countries still use today.
- Had to continually fight to keep his realm intact
- Spoke French, not English (Which led to the rich speaking French, and the poor speaking Anglo-Saxon... which is why we have words like "Pig" and "Pork," "Cow" and "Beef.")
- Created the Domesday book, a census, which led to us getting surnames. (Many, such as "Miller" or "Smith" being based on profession.)
- Built a metric tonne of castles, including the white tower, or the "Tower of London."
- Split his realms between his sons, the eldest got Normandy, the middle kid got Engand, the youngest kid, Henry, got dick all.
- Got grossly fat in his old age, then hurt himself on the pommel of his horse's saddle, got sick, and died.
- His body popped and burst at the funeral, causing people to vomit all over the place.
- Is immortalized on the Bayeaux Tapestry. (Look it up, it's cool.)
- Was basically a brutal warmongering jerk, but a powerful one.
So, first up, we have William I (The Conqueror, or alternately "The Bastard")
- Was technically a bastard child, since his dad wasn't married.
- Became the Duke of Normandy by force
- Named heir of England by Edward the Confessor
- Killed Harold Godwinson when Harold took the throne for himself
- Set up a tax system in England (It was counted out on a checkered cloth... thus creating the idea of the "exchequer" and writing "Cheques.")
- Let the English keep their old laws such as "trials" to establish innocence or guilt, which most countries still use today.
- Had to continually fight to keep his realm intact
- Spoke French, not English (Which led to the rich speaking French, and the poor speaking Anglo-Saxon... which is why we have words like "Pig" and "Pork," "Cow" and "Beef.")
- Created the Domesday book, a census, which led to us getting surnames. (Many, such as "Miller" or "Smith" being based on profession.)
- Built a metric tonne of castles, including the white tower, or the "Tower of London."
- Split his realms between his sons, the eldest got Normandy, the middle kid got Engand, the youngest kid, Henry, got dick all.
- Got grossly fat in his old age, then hurt himself on the pommel of his horse's saddle, got sick, and died.
- His body popped and burst at the funeral, causing people to vomit all over the place.
- Is immortalized on the Bayeaux Tapestry. (Look it up, it's cool.)
- Was basically a brutal warmongering jerk, but a powerful one.