Did the English like William the Conqueror?

Answer 1

The English did not like him for many reasons.

1. He killed the former English king, which the English had chosen and liked - they didn't want William in the first place.

2. He was French and the English didn't want a king from France

3. He burnt down castle's, houses and land in the harrying of the north leaving people hungry and homeless. Many so desperate that they had to eat each other.

4. He built castles on the land that had been burnt down to intimidate and check up on the people.

5. He made up the feudal system, which made his French friends upper class, leaving the English lower class and/or peasants.

6. He made the Domesday book, which made people pay more taxes depending on the amount of land they had. Plus he could take land away from them if needed.

7. The main language was French and if you did not read or write in French you were considered as dumb.

Many people called him William the bas***d because his mother was not married to his father at the time of his birth and at that time It was considered bad and unlawful.

Answer 2

William was French ( Norman) and he took England which doesn't make him popular. He ruled with an iron fist because he knew that he had to. In this time the strongest runs the government and as he got stronger he began to build the strong keeps and castles that may still exist. He set up a feudal system and made about 90% of the people peasants or serfs. French became the national language and it was required if you were noble. Even as late as the 1700's if a person couldn't speak, read, or write French he wasn't considered educated or of a high class. This even extended to the American colonies. Here is an interesting little fact the Queen today still has her menus in French

Answer 3

I don't think any of them did, but the Normans had the power and controlled the land so they had to wait to see if they could regain what they had. Many refused to speak French at first.