About William the Conqueror (c.1028-1087):
William I was the Duke of Normandy, one of the mightiest nobles in France, but he is best remembered for leading the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, which earned him the title “William the Conqueror” and changed the course of English history, resulting in an Anglo-Noorman Kingdom with William I as King of England. You can learn more about the momentous invasion here.
Considering the time in which he lived, he was reported to be a pious man, and helped to further the Church by endowing several monasteries in Normandy and welcoming foreign priests.
Note: We must try, when evaluating history, to understand actions in light of the time in which they lived. Obviously, we are not ruled over by Kings today, we do not necessarily consider conquering another country a notable achievement, etc. These were the norms in the time of William the Conqueror.
About The Abbey of Saint-Étienne (Abbaye aux Hommes):
Translated as the Abbey of the Men (differentiating it from the Abbey of the Women), the Abbey was founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror and dedicated to Saint Stephen. William the Conqueror had planned for this to be his final resting place, and so it was.
Address: Esp. Jean-Marie Louvel, 14000 Caen, France
Tel: +33 2 31 30 42 81