William the Conqueror probably secured earlier. Papal sanction of the marriage appears to have required the founding of two monasteries in Caen – one by William and one by Matilda. The marriage was important in bolstering William's status, as Flanders was one of the more powerful French territories, with ties to the French royal house and to the German emperors. Contemporary writers considered the marriage, which produced four sons and five or six daughters, to be a success. No authentic portrait of William has been found; the contemporary depictions of him on the Bayeux Tapestry and on his seals and coins are conventional
Cultural depictions of William the Conqueror Cultural depictions of William the Conqueror William I of England has been depicted in a number of modern works. William I has appeared as a character in only a few stage and screen productions. The one-act play "A Choice of Kings" by John Mortimer deals with his deception of Harold after the latter's shipwreck. Julian Glover portrayed him in a 1966 TV adaptation of this play in the ITV Play of the Week series. William has also been portrayed on screen by Thayer Roberts in the 1955 film "Lady Godiva of Coventry", John Carson in the 1965 BBC TV series