William the Conqueror’s Castle in Falaise, Normandy
The story of William the Conqueror begins at the Château de Falaise, located 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Caen in Calvados, Normandy. Born in Falaise around 1027 or 1028, William, often called ‘William the Bastard,’ was the illegitimate son of Robert I, known as Robert the Magnificent. By the time of William’s birth, the Dukedom of Normandy, established in 911 by Rollo the Viking, was a dominating force in northern France.