Description[]
William the Conqueror or William of Normandy is a Strategist Hero of the Middle Ages in Empire Earth and main character in the first three scenarios of the English Campaign. William's early days were marked by various assassinations of his loved ones, and it was these tragic events that shaped his personality.
Official Bio[]
Robert I, Duke of Normandy, died in 1035 having named his only son, William, as his heir. But William was an illegitimate child and his claim to the Dukedom was questioned. Numerous attempts were made against William’s life before he had even reached adulthood, but they were unsuccessful and served only to strengthen his resolve to retain Normandy. With the help of Henry, King of France, young William defeated his rivals and secured his grasp on the Duchy of Normandy. With the death of King Edward the Confessor in 1066, William anticipated becoming the next King of England, as Edward had promised him. When Harold, Earl of Wessex, succeeded Edward to the throne instead, William planned and executed a daring cross-channel invasion of England. William’s forces bested the English at the Battle of Hastings, in which King Harold himself fell in battle. England capitulated and William was crowned King. William spent the following years solidifying his hold on power. Among other projects, he commissioned the Tower of London. William ruled harshly, by some accounts, but quite capably until his death in 1087.
In-game voice lines[]
- "Oui?"
- "My ally?"
- "Saxon dogs!'
- "For the crown!"
History[]
The Return of Young William[]
William was born in 1027 as the illegitimate son of Robert I, the Duke of Normandy. Doubts were raised about who would take the Dukedom after his father's death in 1035. King Henry of France, ignoring his promise to the late duke regarding William's status, invaded Normandy, capturing and plundering a good portion of land. The man in charge of the safety of the region, Lord Toustain, did not intervene in Henry's attacks. He instead, decided to have them as an excuse to fortify his castle at Falaise. William, taken from his throne, sought justice with his own hands. Initially with a small band of troops, he gathered more all across Normandy until he finally had enough men to siege Toustain's castle, an act that would grant the young warrior the so desired Dukedom.
William, Duke of Normandy[]
William's rise to the throne has led to the rebellion of many Norman civilians, as being the fruit of an extramarital relationship led to people perceiving him as unworthy of the Dukedom. It was his jester, Gollet, who warned him of the conspiracy. After learning about it after a seemingly normal day Bayeux, Gollet faced the dangerous path between Bayeux and Valognes at night, disguising himself in peasant attires to get past the guards, who were conspirators as well. When inside the city, he woke up his master in the night, and together they snuck out of Valognes towards Falaise, where many dangers would be found in their way. William learned that it was his cousin, Guy of Burgundy, who was the leader of the coup. He then requested assitance from King Henry of France to put down the rebels, and he agreed to do so. The decisive battle took place in Val-es-Dune, where William came out victorious, securing his authority for years to come.
The Battle of Hastings[]
In 1051, William convinced Edward the Confessor, King of England, to have him as the heir to the english throne. However, after the death of Edward in 1066, it was his brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, who claimed the crown right after, even though the new king himself had pledged support to William in the past. This brought anger to the Duke of Normandy - He planned an invasion to England with great timing, as Harold Hardgraade of Norway had coincidentally also set sail to english shores with his troops. William took this opportunity to invade as Godwinson's forces would be at a disadvantage. After setting sail and landing in England, William headed northeast at Hastings, where the opposing army was waiting, thus beginning the battle. In the middle of the combat, William got injured - and his horse, killed, making the Norman loyals believe he had been slain. To prevent his army from going desperate, he climbed on a nearby hill as proof he was still alive. With the tension relieved, the fight could continue, and this time, it was Godwinson who got striked. He retreated to a hill where he would regroup with his Huskarls at the camp, leaving his army severely demoralised and easily dealt with. The norman forces then climbed up on the hill and confronted the army of Huskarls, where Harold Godwinson was put to the sword. With his rival defeated, William had to look for a new horse, and found one in a nearby town, with which he rode off victoriously into London.
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