Fifteen years in the making a landmark reinterpretation of the life of a pivotal figure in
British and European history In this magisterial addition to the Yale English Monarchs series
David Bates combines biography and a multidisciplinary approach to examine the life of a major
figure in British and European history. Using a framework derived from studies of early
medieval kingship he assesses each phase of William's life to establish why so many trusted
William to invade England in 1066 and the consequences of this on the history of the so-called
Norman Conquest after the Battle of Hastings and for generations to come. A leading historian
of the period Bates is notable for having worked extensively in the archives of northern
France and discovered many eleventh- and twelfth-century charters largely unnoticed by
English-language scholars. Taking an innovative approach he argues for a move away from old
perceptions and controversies associated with William's life and the Norman Conquest. This
deeply researched volume is the scholarly biography for our generation.
