William was born in Normandy 1027. He was the illegitimate son of Robert,duke of Normandy. By his marriage with Matilda of Flanders, that area was joined to his domain of Normandy, and the County of Maine was added by conquest. On the death of his cousin Edward the Confessor, king of England, William went to claim the throne he considered legitimately his by succession and which Edward's brother-in-law, Harold,earl of Wessex, had claimed for himself. In 1066 William landed in Sussex, defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings , and was crowned king of England on Christmas Day. Over the next 20 years William's accomplishments were the estalishment of a strong central monarchy. He crushed rebellion with an iron hand. He built strong castles in different parts of the country. He took a complete census known as the Domesday Survey which he made the basis of a uniform system of taxation. He set up courts of law which, while they diminished local self-government, enabled the poor and weak to get what they called "the kings's justice" against the strong and established church reforms.
The king of Norway was the first to attack. He sailed over the North Sea with an army and landed in the north of England. There he was quickly defeated by Harold and killed in battle. But on the 14th October 1066, at Senlac Hill near Hastings on the southern coast of England and invading Norman force under the Duke of Normandy landed. The invasion was immediately undertaken. The battle resulted in the complete defeat of the English after a desperate contest. Harold was killed, and all organized resistance to William collapsed. With victory in hand William and his Norman Army Marched into London were on the 25th December 1066 he was crowned King of England.
Henry VIII, was only 18 years old when he ascended the throne in 1509. Self-willed, unscrupulous and sensual, he was nevertheless gifted with a keen mind and considerable administrative ability. Thanks to the shrewd and careful management of his father, Henry found himself in control of a full treasury, a smooth-working governmental organization, a pliant Parliament and a united and prosperous people. His bluff and hearty manners, his handsome person and his undoubted mental ability made him a favorite with all classes. His 38 years was marked by fundamental changes in the religious and political institutions of the country all due in his personal quest for a male heir.
