author
Pictaviensis Gulielmus
A Norman priest and chronicler from the 11th century, he is best known for writing one of the most important near-contemporary accounts of William the Conqueror and the Norman conquest of England.
1 Audiobook
Histoire des ducs de Normandie, suivie de: Vie de Guillaume le Conquérant
by of Jumièges William, Pictaviensis Gulielmus
About the author
Before entering the Church, William of Poitiers is said to have trained as a knight, a background that helped give his writing unusual detail about warfare and leadership. He later studied in Poitiers and became a priest in Normandy, serving as chaplain to William the Conqueror.
His best-known work, Gesta Guillelmi ducis Normannorum et regis Anglorum (The Deeds of William, Duke of the Normans and King of the English), is a major source for the events around 1066. Although the text survives only in part, it remains especially valuable for its vivid account of the conquest and for the perspective it offers from within the duke's circle.
Writing with clear admiration for his patron, he combined firsthand knowledge with the style of a learned medieval historian. That mix of closeness, energy, and bias makes his work both fascinating to read and essential for anyone interested in William the Conqueror and the Norman world.