11 Surprising Fun Facts About William the Conqueror: Discover the Man Behind the Legend

1. William's Booze-Only Diet

Before the world of competitive eating set foot on Nathan's turf, William the Conqueror nearly had a banger in the mouth moment of his own: The famed king, sensitive about his ballooning weight, attempted a rather unorthodox wine and spirits-only diet which, unsurprisingly, proved to be unsuccessful.
Source => history.com

2. Matilda: Brains and Beauty Behind the Throne

William the Conqueror was no brute who believed solely in "brawn over brains" – perhaps the secret behind the scenes was the full package: brains and beauty! Enter Matilda of Flanders, William's wife: she was not only intelligent, gorgeous, and pious but played a crucial role in securing control over neighboring regions and winning the respect of nobles to strengthen her husband's reign.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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3. Norman Twist on "The Floor is Lava"

When William the Conqueror played "The Floor is Lava" in England, he put a uniquely Norman twist to it: he gave away land and top jobs in the Government and Church to his friends, and built imposing castles as not-so-subtle hints to the locals to keep calm and carry on under their new management.
Source => nationalarchives.gov.uk

4. William: Avid Reader and Domesday Bookmaker

Before he became the original "King of the Hill" in 1066, William the Conqueror was an avid reader who made sure his literary appetite was well satisfied: He commissioned the creation of the Domesday Book, a meticulous survey of England's lands and properties, providing an indispensable treasure trove for historians trying to piece together life in medieval England.
Source => oxfordreference.com

5. Conqueror's Booze Cruise Liquid Diet

Before Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, there was William the Conqueror's All-Liquid Booze Cruise Diet: In 1087, the man himself dabbled in an unconventional wellness routine, feasting solely on alcohol while lounging in bed—thus recording history's first known liquid diet.
Source => latimes.com

6. Prom-King Turned Powerhouse Ruler

You might call him the original "prom-king" turned ruler on steroids: William the Conqueror actually rose to power thanks to a potent blend of savvy military tactics, a papal thumbs up, support from Emperor Henry IV, and wooing the lovely Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders, rather than simply banking on King Edward the Confessor's alleged promise to hand over England's throne.
Source => royal.uk

7. French Flair in the English Court

Bowing down to the Conqueror's linguistic prowess: Standing at a towering 5'10", William the Conqueror frenchified the English royal court by the end of his reign, permanently gifting the English language with a smorgasbord of fancy French-derived words we still use today.
Source => reddit.com

8. Conqueror: The Original Property Brother

William the Conqueror, the original Property Brother: He meticulously catalogued all the land and property in medieval England in the Domesday Book, a blockbuster real estate survey that remains a treasure trove for historians to get the insider scoop on the nation's population, economy, and Norman-rule structure.
Source => historic-uk.com

9. Defying the "Bastard" Label

They say "bastards ain't loyal," but William the Conqueror sure did defy expectations: Born out of wedlock, he managed to become the heir to his father's dukedom of Normandy, successfully breaking the chains of illegitimacy that usually barred such children from succession.
Source => royal.uk

10. William the Language Bumbler

William the Conqueror, or should we say, "William the Language Bumbler," had quite the flair for conquering lands and hearts, but sadly, not quite the knack for grasping the native tongue: Despite his best efforts, the intrepid monarch was never fully able to learn the English language during his reign, though the Norman invasion, ironically, forever changed it by infusing French into its very essence, transforming it into a linguistic plat-du-jour that prevails to this day.
Source => history.com

11. Scaring Stonework: The White Tower

Before bricks turned white with fear and scaffoldings hid the tears, there was one conqueror who truly knew how to scare stonework into submission: Unveiling the granddaddy of architectural intimidation, William the Conqueror built the White Tower in 1066 as the ultimate fortress palace and symbol of Norman power – a stone-faced legacy still standing tall in Europe today.
Source => whc.unesco.org