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The Embarrassing Burial of William I the Conqueror
William’s dead body exploded during the burial
William I the Conqueror (1028-1087), also known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard, made history when he invaded England in 1066 and won the Battle of Hastings, thus conquering England.
Although strong and lean in his youth, William grew very fat in his later life. He was very sensitive about his weight. He even tried a diet comprising only wine and spirits, but it didn’t work out.
The French king provoked William into an attack by comparing him to a pregnant woman due to his fatness.
Not-so-glorious end of the mighty warrior king
In 1087, while he was raiding the territory of the French king, William got gravely injured. His horse stepped on a burning wood and reared up, throwing William forward in his saddle. William’s huge belly hit the pommel so hard it ruptured his internal organs.
He was transported to nearby Rouen where he suffered for several weeks before dying. His men hurriedly left, knowing anarchy would soon start, to their castles and estates to secure them.
William’s servants took the opportunity and stole everything they could, even the clothes from the dead king, leaving him naked in a robbed room.
The fire broke out when the body arrived at the final resting place
A local knight, at his own expense, transported the body from Rouen to Caen — the place where William wanted to be buried. The transport took a few days.
Once the body of the king arrived in Caen, a fire broke out, and the funeral had to wait for a few more days before the flames were extinguished.
