Is William the Conqueror considered English?

Answer 1

No, William was not English even though he became King of England.

William the Conqueror was born in Normandy. Normandy was essentially its own country at the time that William was born. A great deal of Normandy had been given to the Norsemen who were marauding on the northern coasts of France. King Charles negotiated a deal for land with the Vikings to put an end to their predations and obtain their submission.

William the Conqueror descended from the Vikings who settled in Normandy. He was the great grandson of Hrolf Ganger, (Rollo, who later became Christian and changed his name to Robert). Rollo was the self-titled King of Normandy. The Norse both brought their wives with them and intermarried with the local population.

At any rate, William became the Duke of Normandy. He was related by blood to the Anglo-Saxon king of England on his Norse side and had been assured that England would become his upon the death of the current king because of that blood tie. That didn't come to fruition and England went to King Harald.

William later invaded England to claim the throne; and, in the Battle of Hastings, King Harald fell. William then became the King of England and he displaced most of the English barons with Norman nobles who had supported and followed him to England.

For a couple of generations, Normandy and England were one kingdom, divided by the British Channel. Eventually, the King Phillip of France saw his opportunity and wrested Normandy from England, making it a part of France until this day.

History books describe William the Conqueror as a Norman (which comes from Normandy).