Normandy, France, the 11th century. Guillaume “Le Bâtard”, known in English as William the Conqueror, succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy at the age of eight. Despite being impetuous, he was a shrewd strategist who turned Normandy into a powerful duchy, feared by the king of France.

After the death of Edward the Confessor, William seized the crown in England thanks to his victory in the battle of Hastings in 1066. This conquest made him one of the most powerful monarchs in western Europe and led to some profound changes in English society, as the Anglo-Saxon elite was replaced by Norman lords.

Documentary: William, the conqueror
Directed by: Frédéric Compain
Production: ARTE France & Les Films d'ici

#freedocumentary #fulldocumentary #documentary #history #england #france #europe #medieval #strategy #king #war