| “ | See, my lords, I have taken possession of England with both my hands.
— William the Conqueror
|
” |
William I (c. 1028 – 9 September 1087), commonly known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the Duke of Normandy from 1035 to his death, famous for his conquest of Anglo-Saxon England, after which he became King of England.
William was the bastard son of Robert I of Normandy and his mistress. Robert died when William was seven, with William as his only heir. Because of William's youth and illegitimacy, many of Normandy's nobles refused to accept him as duke. A period of civil strife began, with many different nobles seeking to claim the duke's throne.
William gained supporters as he aged, and eventually consolidated enough power to end the chaos and secure his position as Duke of Normandy. He furthered secured his position with a political marriage to Matilda of Flanders, which granted him Flanders as a powerful ally.
In 1066, the childless King Edward of England died. A succession crisis began, with many different kings and dukes seeking to claim the throne. The English witan chose Harold Godwinson as king, but that did not stop William from preparing a fleet and began his own invasion of England.
William met Godwinson on the battlefield at the Battle of Hastings. Godwinson's men were tired from their recent battle against Harald Hardrada, but they held a tactical advantage from atop a hill. William baited Godwinson's men down from the hill through feigned retreats, and cut them down. Godwinson himself was killed by a Norman arrow, and the leaderless army was easily crushed.
William was crowned King of England on Christmas Day of that year. He spent the rest of his life securing his house's control over England. William's youngest son would become Henry I of England, and and his descendants would rule England for centuries to come.
Battle vs. Henry V of England (by Deathblade 100)[]
William: 
Henry: 
Henry V and five of his army stand outside a castle. A trebuchet being drawn back. Two of Henry's men have their Longbows in hand. Inside the castle, William the Conqueror orders two of his Norman soldiers to arm the Torsion Catapult. One of the Normans fires his Composite Crossbow at the attacking English, to no effect.
The Trebuchet is fired, destroying part of a wall. The shattered stone fragments hit one of the Norman crossbowmen, killing him. An arrow from a Longbow hits another Norman behind an arrowslit. One of the Norman duke's men fires his Crossbow, hitting an English knight in the eye. A rock form the Torsion Catapult is released, crushing another Engilsh knight.
An arrow from the Longbow catches a Norman in the base of the throat. Henry ordered his men to scale the walls. Two of the English knights carried a siege ladder to the walls and began to climb. As soon as an English soldier climbed over the wall, a thrust from a broadsword sent him falling back down to the ground. Another English warrior scaled the ladder and drove his longsword though the Norman's flimsy chainmail.
The remaining knights and the English king scale the walls to the castle. A shot from a crossbow took out one of the knights. An arrow shot back killing the crossbowman. As Henry and his last knight start to seek out the Duke of Normandy, the Norman leader emerges from around a tower, kite shield in hand. The Norman's Broadsword whistled down through the last knight's plate armour and neck.
Henry turned and raised his Heater Shield, as the Broadsword came whistling down in a deadly arc. The Norman duke struggled to free the sword from the shield just as Henry thrusts with his longsword, piercing the Duke's heart. As the Duke of Normandy falls of the battlements, Henry raises his sword and yells "For Britain!" in victory.
Expert's Opinion[]
While William did have a more superior catapult, Henry's better Bow, Sword and Armour was what swung the battle to the English King's favour.
To see the original weapons, tactics and votes, click here
Battle vs. Richard the Lionheart (by ILoveBattles)[]
William: 
Richard: 
Richard the Lionheart and 5 soldiers get off a boat and see William the Conquerer on a hill. Richard points at the leader and the two archers fire. They miss, but hit William’s horse in the leg, rendering it useless. The Conquerer runs down the hill, and the Crusaders quickly follow.
William’s soldiers come out of nowhere and start attacking the crusaders. One shoots a crossbow bolt into another archers neck.
The full blown battle begins as metal and steel clashes. Richard the Lionheart flies in on his horse and impales a soldier on his longsword.
The battle becomes more clear as William the Conquerer is almost defeated by a Crusader, but he pulls out his seax and stabs him in the stomach with it.
Richard comes back around for another attack, but is whacked off his horse by a pike. He tumbles and slowly gets up. Meanwhile, William the Conquerer is also injured as he lumbers away and grabs his broadsword. A crusader archer shoots at him, but misses and kills one of William’s soldiers instead. .
William attacks and breaks the longbow of the archer. The archer pulls out his war axe and swipes at William, but it’s no use as William decapitates him with the broadsword.
The crusader guards Richard as he readies his Longsword. Both of them charge and they meet the 3 remaining soldiers. William stays back, but Richard skillfully dispatches one while the other Crusader kills William’s other soldier with his billhook.
To retaliate, William finds his pike and kills the other Crusader with it.
William and Richard stare at each other, both injured from the battle. William attacks with the pike, but Richard quickly uses the tip of his longsword to knock it off the hill. He allows him to get up, and grab his broadsword.
One clash of the swords and Richard pulls out his war axe and chops William’s leg off with it. William begs for his life, but Richard grabs the sword with two hands and thrusts it through his chest.
He pulls the sword out of William and kicks his corpse off the rocky hill onto the beach.
Richard limps away using his longsword as a stand, but lifts his war axe up in triumph.
Expert's Opinion[]
TBW
To see the original battle, weapons and votes, click here.
Battle vs. Robin Hood (by MilenHD)[]
At a road in England leading at village in Nottinggamshire,William the Conqueror and 4 Norman knights are coming to get rid of the problematic thieves.As they crossed the opened gates of the village,one of the people who turned saw the king and bowed down along with many more around him.As William dismounted his horse and told them to get up.As the people rosed up,William showed a sheet of paper showing Robin's face and had spoken: "Citezens of Nottinggam,I had come here as a good king to stop the problematic thief and his gang,if you know were they are,tell me and I will go and erase them.
One of the villagers said:
"Your majesty,the thieves are hiding in the west side of the village"
Hearing this,William pulled his sword and ordered his soldiers to get west.Just there Robin with his gang memebers:Little John,Will Scarlett,Friar Tuck and a new recruit to his gang were sitting and thinking about their next attack against the Sheriff,but little did they know that they had been spotted by the Norman king and his troops.William ordered his knights to fire their crossbows and they killed the new recruit by piercing his skull.
Robin:1234
William:12345
As Robin and his band got up,they aimed the bows,and killed one of the Normans and the other Normans retreated behind one of the houses.
Robin:1234
William:1234
Robin told his group to split in two and catch the Normans off-guard.As William and the Normans saw that their enemies had tricked them,he gave an order to find but stay together as Will and Friar were stalking them,Will fired an arrow,which missed it's target and one of the Normans,decided to go and check what happening,only to get his face demolished by the hatchet.
Robin:1234
William:123
As they heard his dying scream,the Normans and William assaulted the thieves with their axes and swords.First Friar chest got pierced by William's broadsword,while Will was unable with his hatchet to stand against the dane axe of the Norman,which decapitated him.
Robin:12
William:123
Robin and John were moving slowly,but after they approached closer,they saw Will and Friar butchered,John aimed his bow and fired an arrow,killing one of the Normans.
Robin:12
William:12
William and his last Norman attacked Robin and Little John,and John pulled his quarterstaff and he managed to smack and knock down the Norman,but William attacked him with his sword,breaking the staff in half and Little John pulled his broadsword,while Robin tried to kill the Norman with his own sword,the Norman escaped with his long seax and stabbed John in the throat.
Robin:1
William:12
Than William and his last soldier charged at Robin Hood,while Robin was holding his sword,he swung it and killed the Norman,than he turned his attention toward William,who had his sword and shield ready.
Robin:1
William:1
Than both warriors clashed with Robin having only sword and William sword & shield combo,he though he will lose,but he grabbed Will's hatchet and smashed it at William's shield and pulling it away from him.Than with his final breath Robin slashed with full force slicing the King's throat.
Robin:1
William:
Seeing he had slayed the Norman Duke,and restored the Anglo-Saxony in England,Robin looked at his dead gang and he falled on his knees and roared in anger,for his lost team-mates.
Expert's Opinion[]
It was no doubt one of the closest battle ever I had in Season 2.While William had better mid range weapon,training and superior tactics,Robin was both good in long and short range category,also William's crossbow might have been more effective in urban scenario,but Robin's mobility,archery and the fact that he had faced similar opponents before helped him to win.
To see the original battle, weapons, and votes, click here.Battles here were deemed to be unfair or otherwise not in accordance with wiki standards, and have been removed from the statuses of the warriors and displayed below.
Battle vs. Sun Tzu (by BattleGames1)[]
No battle written unfortunately
Expert's Opinion[]
Sun Tzu's losing streak continues here as William's weapons and armour proved to be far superior to most of the Chinese general's arsenal such as the Composite Crossbow which offered William's men greater range than the Chu-Ko-Nu; add to that William's greater experience as a combat-oriented general and the Conqueror claims easy victory. If you think this battle is unfair in any way, shape or form, you can go ahead and do a rematch if you wish.
To see the original battle, weapons and votes, click here.
Reason[]
The battle has been disregarded because Sun Tzu has been disqualified as a warrior.
Battle vs. Hannibal Barca (by Goddess of Despair)[]
William the conqueror Hannibal Barca 
William examined his land with pride, he fought hard for Britain and no one would take it from him. His men continued to set up camp as their king watched their progress. He was pleased in his triumph over the British, but something told him that he was not done; that a greater adversary needs to be defeated. He turned away from the camp and looked once more over the meadow when a stray ray of sunlight caught his eye. He turned his head and examined a small group of warriors, covered in bronze. His attention was quickly drawn to their beast, a large monstrosity that even he had never seen before.
He signaled his men to load the catapult. Hannibal and his forces continued to march through the area when Hannibal’s officer caught his attention. He pointed to the hills, specifically at a large machine that was being moved into position. He examined the men closely, they wore Roman-like armor yet they appear to have different weapons.
Hannibal began to wonder who this adversary was but his thoughts were interrupted when a colossal stone was hurled from the enemy' device, slamming into the ground next to him. Dirt was thrown all over and the elephant began to panic. The beast broke away from Hannibal’s control and stomped on one of his Carthaginians as it charged up to William’s men.
“Reload!” called William to his men as they rolled up a second boulder. The elephant continued its charge to William’s line, making some of his men panic. His looked on in disappointment as his knight carrying the ammunition dropped the stone. It rolled down the hill and slammed into the elephant’s head. The beast cried out in pain and turned away from the Normans and ran directly down the hill towards Hannibal.
Hannibal turned to his men “Javelins!” he yelled as his men in unison threw soliferrums at the charging animal. One soliferrum hit the creature in its eye and another in the leg bringing this ancient battle tank to the ground.
William’s men reloaded and fired the catapult once more, crushing a Carthaginian under a massive boulder.
William ordered his crossbowmen to fire bolts at Hannibal, the bolts meet masculata or shields and merely were bouncing off. Hannibal ordered his men to ready soliferrums and hasten their approach. The crossbow men fire another volley and the second they begin to reload Hannibal’s men hurl their javelins, each meeting the vulnerable troops with deadly accuracy.
Hannibal’s men unsheathe their swords as the Norman knights get the last of their catapult ammunition. William orders his men to roll down the boulder, crushing a Carthaginian who is to slow to move out of the way.
One Norman unsheathes his broadsword as another grabs his shield before Hannibal and his soldier confront them. The first Norman slashed high with his broadsword but the Carthaginian blocked it with his shield and followed up by thrusting his falcata into his chest.
Hannibal thrusted his falcata at the second Norman, who blocked with his shield. He thrusted his broadsword into Hannibal, but the masculata armor protects him from the would be death blow. Hannibal slashed the Norman knight in across the cheek, drawing blood. He slashed once more, this time cutting the Norman’s throat to pieces.
William unsheathed his broadsword and calmly approached a charging Carthage soldier. He blocked as slash from his falcata and shoved him to the ground. Before the man could react William slammed his broadsword onto the man’s head.
Hannibal moved towards William, falcata and shield in hand as the Norman king lifted his sword from the dying Carthage warrior. Hannibal slashed high, but William parried and counter slashed at Hannibal’s chest; yet once again the masculata holds and keeps the Carthage warrior alive. Hannibal shoved William back with his shield but William was unfazed and striked the shield hard enough to make a bone in his arm snap. William slashed horizontally but Hannibal backed away in time to avoid decapitation.
Hannibal rushed forward and slashed at William, but the chainmail deflected the slash leaving Hannibal wide open. William slammed his broadsword onto Hannibal’s helmet, crushing the Carthaginian’s skull. Hannibal fell to his knees as William decapitated him with a final slash.
He sheathed his sword and looked once more onto his new kingdom.
Expert's Opinion[]
This was a very close battle and the warriors were neck and neck during voting but William the Conqeror earned his victory here. When it came to physicality William had the advantage but with tactics Hannibal was shown to be more tactical. His elephant was a powerful psychological weapon but it could become startled and rampage Hannibal's troops instead of his opponent. William's long range weapon could be reloaded and is more accurate. His short range weapon was longer and weights more allowing it to be more lethal. Hannibal's only real advantage was the war elephant but even that ended up playing out against him. Hannibal simply can't compete with a warrior with a 1,000 year advantage in technology.
To see the original battle, weapons, and votes, click here.
Reason[]
The battle was declared unfair for Hannibal Barca because of William the Conqueror's superior metallurgy.
Battle vs. William Wallace (by Goddess of Despair)[]
William the conqueror William Wallace
Wallace and his highlanders are approaching William the conqueror’s camp. Wallace saw the Normans as a threat and readied his ball and chain. “Who are you?” William asked before attacking. “I am Wilgelm the conqueror, king of England.” Wallace heard enough and threw his ball and chain at the Norman, but he missed and instead smashed a Norman soldier.
Wallace lifted a targe and a warhammer as his highlanders armed themselves with claymores and hammers. William the conqueror rallied his men and two charged at the highlanders. The two forces got close to one another but the Normans turned quickly and retreated. Wallace’s men pursued but one stopped to lift a ball and chain thrown by Wallace. The Normans suddenly stop running and crouch as William and another Norman fired two crossbow bolts, the first ramming into a highlander’s face, the second hitting ones shoulder.
The wounded highlander looks up and is quickly met with a strike from a Dane axe. William the conqueror and his Norman crossbowman begin to reload whenever a ball and chain smacks into the Norman crossbowman’s face.
Wallace charged at a Norman he blocked a horizontal slash from a broadsword with his targe, he then slammed the warhammer blunt end into the man’s shield, making a dent. The Norman slashed vertically at Wallace but the Scotsman blocked the blade with his targe, and smashed his hammer’s spike into the man’s lower chest. He fell down, roaring in pain before being silenced with a blow to the head.
William the conqueror lifted his crossbow, now reloaded, and fired a bolt into a highlander’s throat.
A highlander and a Norman were dueling. The highlander smashed the claymore vertically onto the Norman shield. The Norman shrugged off the blade, and slashed with his Dane axe, but it didn’t penetrate the chainmail. The highlander striked again and knocked the axe out of the Norman’s hand. The Norman drew his broadsword and thrusted at the highlander, who steps aside and slashes vertically onto the man’s head, demolishing the skull.
The highlander turns and is met with a thrust to the throat.
William tore the blade out of the highlander’s throat and looked at Wallace. Wallace charged at the Norman, targe in front of him. The Norman readied his shield to receive the charge and to his surprise, the targe blade penetrates the shield, only inches away from the conqueror’s chest. Wallace striked the shield with his hammer’s blunt end, the Norman responded by thrusting his broadsword into Wallace’s shoulder. Wallace took a few steps back, dropping his shield, as did the conqueror. Wallace retrieved a fallen highlander’s claymore and charged at the Norman. He thrusted the blade aiming at the man’s heart, but the Norman side steps and strikes the blade’s handle, barely missing his fingers. Wallace dropped the claymore and drew his dirk, the last weapon he had. Wallace charged at the Norman once more, but was unable to close the range fast enough and the conqueror thrusted his sword into Wallace’s chest. Wallace fell down to his knees in pain as he looked up to see the broadsword thrusted into his throat. Kicking the rebel back, he looked down onto the outlaw and turned to return to his camp.
Expert's Opinion[]
The fight was decently close, but the conqueror prevailed over the rebel. The main reason for this was for his crossbow having better accuracy and fire rate then the ball and chain, and since he was the more tactical combatant. His broadsword can out reach the hammer and his shield were lighter. Another thing to look at is the successfulness of these warriors. Wallace was unable to conquer Britan, his opponent however, did just that.
To see the original battle, weapons, and votes, click here.