Coronation confusion. When William the Conqueror was crowned at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1066, his guard mistook a shout of acclamation for a defiant roar and massacred bystanders.
100 Mind-Blowing Conqueror Facts
French was the official language of England for over 300 years: After William the Conqueror of France completed the Norman Conquest of 1066, French became the official language of England. However, the language was mainly spoken by noblemen, whilst lower classes spoke English. French continued to be the official language of England until 1362. Historians believe that the country reverted to being English-speaking due to King John’s loss of the French region of Normandy in 1294. This was encouraged further by the 100-year War against France, which started in 1337. Despite this, French names were popular throughout England, with Richard, Robert and William still being common names to this day!
During the reign of William the Conqueror, criminals were not given a death sentence but were instead blinded and castrated.
English was not always the national language of the UK. In 1066, William the Conqueror established French as the national language of the UK and it remained so till 1362.