10 Most Interesting Royals Named William

Kingdom: England, Duke of NormandyEngland, Duke of Normandy

Lived: 1028 - 1087 (died at age 59)

Reign:1066 - 1087

Nicknames:The Conqueror, The B*stard

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William’s early career focused on securing his hold on the Duchy of Normandy. William sharpened his skills on the battlefield against rivals, becoming France’s strongest noble. He aimed for bigger goals.

When Edward the Confessor died without a clear heir, William claimed the late king promised him the crown. He brought a strong army in 1066 to claim it. After winning the final Battle of Hastings, William was crowned King of England on Christmas Day, 1066. He consolidated power in England while watching Normandy.

His reign changed England’s culture, language, and religion. A new castle style also emerged.Windsor Castle, began construction around 1070, and remains occupied today. William’s rule ended with more fights with nobles, including his son Robert. His final major action was ordering a kingdom survey, recorded in the Domesday Book(the Middle English spelling of Doomsday).

The exact cause of William’s death in 1087 while campaigning in France is debated. He might have just gotten sick. One story claims his large belly, which grew obese later, stuck out so much he was killed by the saddle's wooden and steel pommel. Another tale suggests his body later exploded. Regardless of that story, his impact on history remains intense.

Kingdom:Scotland

Lived: 1142 - 1214 (died at age 71/72)

Reign:1165 - 1214

Nicknames:The Rough, The Lion (posthumous)

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William was one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Scottish history. He took the throne after his sickly brother Malcolm died early. William’s imposing size and red hair sharply contrasted his mild, religious brother. The young lion got into trouble when he led the charge at the Battle of Alnwick and was captured.

English King Henry IIHenry II occupied Scotland and forced William to sign a humiliating treaty. This treaty made Henry his overlord and forced William to pay for the occupation. The treaty lasted 15 years until Richard the Lionheart (lions were a popular royal symbol back then) took the English throne and needed money for a crusade. William paid back his kingdom's freedom for a kingly price in 1189.

After a tough start, William became an effective ruler. He handled a tricky diplomatic situation well. His church support earned papal recognition and secured Scottish church independence. This distinction helped future independence moves. He also managed civil and legal changes and stopped Norse raids in northern Scotland.

His nickname, “The Lion,” referred to his royal banner: a red lion rampant on a yellow background, still used now. During his life, people called him “The Rough.”

Kingdoms: The United Kingdom, Hanover.

Lived:1765 - 1837.

Reign:1830 - 1837.

Nicknames: The Sailor King, Silly Billy.

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William took the throne at 64 when his older brother died without an heir. William, the youngest of three brothers, did not expect to be king. He served in the Royal Navy and saw action in the American Revolutionary War. George Washington even tried a kidnapping plot against him, which failed.kidnapping plotby George Washington that was ultimately foiled.

As king, William showed a more grounded side than his brother's lavish spending. His coronation was simple, happening during political unrest. Whigs pushed for sweeping reforms to make political representation fairer. Some boroughs had only seven voters.

William’s time on the throne was short but had major events. He passed the Great Reform Act of 1832 after a big fight. The following year, slavery ended in the colonies. William supported the law and many key reforms during his seven years.Great Reform Act.of 1832, which passed after a great struggle, slavery was abolished in the colonies the following year. Despite speaking against abolition before, William supported the law and many other key reforms over his seven-year reign.

William died in 1837 without a legal heir. He had 10 illegitimate children with Dorothea Jordan. None of the children with his wife Adelaide survived infancy. The crown went to his niece Alexandria, who became Queen Victoria.

Kingdoms: England, Scotland, Ireland, Prince of Orange.

Lived:1650 - 1702 (d. age 52).

Reign:1689 - 1702.

Nickname:William of Orange.

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell:The Dutch-bornPrince of Orange.was the grandson of Charles II. He learned early he was meant for great things. Losing both parents by age 10 caused tension between the English and Dutch over the young prince. William claimed a future English throne when he married his cousin, the daughter of future James II.James II., Mary.

James II’s Catholic faith and fights with his parliament pushed people to ask William to come to England. People did not know if the goal was to overthrow James or just get the last Stuart king under control. Still, when James ran off with an army in 1688 after William arrived, William was crowned king the next year while James was gone. People spread wild rumors about James’s parents to excuse this power grab. One story claimed James was smuggled into the palace as a baby in a bedpan. This whole thing became the Glorious Revolution to cover up the power grab.

The following year, James's hopes of getting his crown ended at theBattle of the BoyneJames ran to France and never came back. Many of his descendants tried to take back the House of Stuart throne.

As King William ruled with Mary and accepted the limits parliament put on the crown's power, William was not a popular ruler. He signed theBill of Rightsand Act of Succession into law, two rulings that shaped modern Britain.

For such a key figure in British history, it fits that William's fall from power came from a small thing—literally. A fall caused by his horse stumbling broke his collarbone, gave him pneumonia, and he never got better. His Jacobite rivals then raised a glass to thewee gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat” to mock his unsuccessful end for generations.

Kingdom:England

Lived: 1056 - 1100 (d. age 44)

Reign:1087 - 1100

Nicknames:Rufus ("the red")

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William II, known as William Rufus for his red hair or ruddy skin, is known more for his strange end and scandalous personal life than for many kingly deeds. Frankly, this might show his loose attitude toward the church and letting bishop openings stay open to claim church money for himself, not his inability to rule. Aspiring rulers: do not get on the wrong side of the people who write your legacy.

William found some wins securing parts of his kingdom. William defeated Malcolm III, stopping frequent Scottish raids. William also took back Maine, France. He never married or had a child, which led torumors about his sexuality, though no proof supports or refutes those claims.

A hunting incident in the New Forest in southern England ended his controversial reign. An arrow shot him, but whether it was on purpose or an accident is debated. Regardless, hisyounger brother Henry took the throne, and thanks to the foundationsWilliam laid foundations, enjoyed a prosperous reign.

Kingdom: The Netherlands

Lived: 1880 - 1962

Reign:1890 - 1948

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: Wilhelmina's 58-year reign justifies her inclusion on this list, though queens are not expected. The Dutch queen took the throne at age 10. After coming of age, she worked to secure her dynasty's line. As the last surviving member of her house, she needed an heir. After eight years and several miscarriages, Juliana was born in 1909.

Wilhelmina saw investment opportunities. She grew her inheritance greatly, becoming the first female billionaire. She used good judgment in foreign affairs. The Netherlands avoided involvement in WWI. When the German Kaiser abdicated in 1918, she gave William II political asylum. She fought against Allied attempts to extradite him.

However, the queen did not avoid WWII. She fled to England, where she ruled in exile. Her regular late-night broadcasts from London helped boost Dutch resistance efforts.Her late-night broadcasts from London helped boost Dutch resistance efforts.These broadcasts from London helped galvanize Dutch resistance efforts.The broadcasts from London helped galvanize Dutch resistance efforts.Post-WWII years hurt her health. She stepped aside for Juliana.Juliana was born in 1909.Wilhelmina of the Netherlands passed away in 1962. She lived her final years mostly away from public view. Her work during her long reign kept the Dutch dynasty and the monarchy alive.

Kingdoms: Sicily

Lived:1120 - 1166 (died at age 46)

Reign:1154 - 1166

Nicknames: The Bad

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William I (Guglielmo in Sicilian) was the fourth son of Roger II.Roger IIWilliam likely did not expect to rule the Norman kingdom of Sicily. The kingdom's name suggests only the island, but it covered much more; at its height, it spanned from Libya to the southern Italian peninsula. William took power during hard times, losing African lands and facing trouble at home.

His conflict with the Sicilian nobility caused his unflattering nickname, not malice or poor skill. William left many small details to the advisors who served his father well.Maio of Bariwas his chancellor and largely managed the affairs.

Policies stripping noble privileges and strengthening the crown caused tension. The Byzantine Empire supported the revolt in 1155, but William's army defeated it.Treaty of BeneventoThis treaty helped normalize relations with the papacy. Peace with the Byzantines followed two years later.

Tensions with the nobility continued. Maio died during a 1160 coup attempt. The king survived the capture, keeping the people and army's support and eventually winning. They blinded and hamstrung rebel leader Matthew Bonnellus for killing Maio. William's nobility issues ended. He left a stable base for his son to rule. 'The bad' was actually quite good for the Middle Ages.

Kingdoms: Prussia, Germany.

Lived:1797 - 1888.

Reign:1871 - 1888.

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William.(or Wilhelm in his native German) became the first Kaiser of the German Empire. As the second son of the King of Prussia, he did not expect to rule Prussia, much less a unified German Empire. He served in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Later, he helped stop a revolt against his older brother during the 1848 Revolution.1848 Revolution.William became regent for his brother after the latter suffered a stroke. He took the crown later when Frederick IV died in 1861. William spoke well and acted quietly in politics. He left daily details to his very capable subordinates.

He received service from the dynamic statesmanOtto von Bismarck.and the skilled general Helmuth von Moltke. Short, sharp fights against Denmark, Austria, and France unified Germany. William was crowned Kaiser in the Hall of Mirrors in 1871. William followed Bismarck, though. Bismarck's sharp diplomacy kept Germany leading the world.

Kingdoms: Sicily.

Lived:1153 - 1189 (d. age 36).

Reign:1166 - 1189.

Nicknames: The Good.

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell: William II (Guglielmo in Sicilian) was called “the good.” This might suggest a break from his father's troubled rule. But William's policies were similar to his predecessor. He enjoyed life in his lavish Palermo palace. His court was varied, and he accepted wide tolerance. He backed building monasteries to help Christianize Sicily.Monreale Cathedral.Construction started during his reign.

With stability at home, William focused on foreign trips. An attack on Egypt failed. So, the Byzantine city of Thessalonica suffered a brutal sack in 1185.

William's mostly peaceful reign ended suddenly. He died young, at age 35. His early death started a fight for the throne. It ended a quiet period in Sicilian history.

Kingdoms: Prussia, Germany.

Lived:1859 - 1941 (d. age 82).

Reign:1888 - 1918.

Nicknames:Kaiser Bill.

Notable events:

Reign in a nutshell:William II.(Wilhelm) became Germany's last emperor. A painful birth left him with a damaged left arm, which he hid in public. William possessed intelligence and loved science. His quick mind had a fast temper. Unlike his liberal father who hated war, William favored a military view. He felt intense jealousy toward the overseas empires of Britain and France. After his grandfather died, William became heir apparent for less than 100 days. His terminally ill father died of cancer in June 1888.

As Kaiser, William distanced himself from Otto von Bismarck, dismissing the statesman in 1890. Bismarck predicted William would ruin Germany. The Kaiser's standing suffered from the Eulenburg-Harden affair.Eulenburg-Harden affair, a 1907 scandal showed many in the Kaiser's inner circle were homosexual.

William was not involved in the rumors, but the scandal deeply hurt him. He made several diplomatic mistakes that weakened his predecessors' careful statesmanship. His desire to build a fleet to match Britain's proved costly. This venture created tension with Britain and started an anti-German alliance between Britain and France. The Kaiser's attempts to weaken this agreement failed.

His conduct during thelead-up to WWIHistorians widely debate this. William may not have wanted war. He made a failed personal effort to talk to his cousin Nicholas II.Nicholas IIWilliam was careless with Austria-Hungary's army mobilization. The so-called "blank check" - Germany's unconditional support for Austria-Hungary to fight Serbia, despite high escalation risk - caused the war to start.

William was sidelined during the war and a figurehead by 1916. As things worsened, he had to abdicate on November 10, 1918. Germany signed the armistice the next day. William lived in the Netherlands for the rest of his life, protected from extradition by the Queen. He watched sadly as Hitler took power and started a war again. He died in exile in 1941.