1. William was of Viking origin. Even though he spoke a dialect of French and grew up in Normandy, a fiefdom loyal to the French kingdom, he and other Normans descended from Scandinavian invaders.
2.William did not speak English when he took the throne and even failed to master it despite his efforts. French was spoken in England's courts for centuries and completely transformed their language, as they used new words.
3.William's jester was the first casualty at the Battle of Hastings. So apparently he taunted the English by juggling his sword and was promptly killed.
4. Millions of people are thought have descended from William. Every English Monarch that followed him is considered a descendant of him. According to some people more than 25 percent of the English population is distantly related to him.
5. The name William was introduced to England by William the Conqueror, and quickly became very popular.
2.William did not speak English when he took the throne and even failed to master it despite his efforts. French was spoken in England's courts for centuries and completely transformed their language, as they used new words.
3.William's jester was the first casualty at the Battle of Hastings. So apparently he taunted the English by juggling his sword and was promptly killed.
4. Millions of people are thought have descended from William. Every English Monarch that followed him is considered a descendant of him. According to some people more than 25 percent of the English population is distantly related to him.
5. The name William was introduced to England by William the Conqueror, and quickly became very popular.