Territorial evolution of France face up to the formidable challenge with which they were presented. The Duke of Normandy William the Conqueror became King of England in 1066 through his victory at Hastings over the Saxons. On the extinction of his male line of descent, his heir was the Duke of Anjou, Henry Plantagenet, grandson by his mother of Henry I of England. Two months before he ascended to the English throne, as Henry II, he married Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest heiress in the French kingdom and ex-wife of the King of France. The kings of France nevertheless, held some trump cards:
William the Conqueror (film) William the Conqueror (film) William the Conqueror () is a 2015 French historical film directed by Fabien Drugeon. The film is about William the Conqueror when he is about to embark from Dives-sur-Mer to conquer England in the year 1066. In the event that he would not return alive, William introduced his son Robert to his loyal barons to receive the ducal throne heritage. We then have an extensive flashback. William's father Duke Robert declares William his heir before departing for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The barons swear loyalty. However, Robert dies and William, still a child, has to flee.