William I: how we misunderstood the conqueror for 950 years

The cheerful and generous nature many chroniclers ascribed to the victor of the battle of Hastings in fact belonged to someone else, says historian

The history books refer to William the Conqueror as jovial and generous, among other surprising qualities recorded in an 11th-century Latin text written after the king’s funeral.

In fact, historians have got him wrong. A new translation of the rambling chronicle reveals that such praiseworthy adjectives were directed at someone else completely – a recently deceased abbot rather than the late king.

Continue reading...