Editing William the Conqueror (section)

=== Challenges ===
[[File:Tree of William I struggle for Normandy.svg|thumb|upright=3.4|Diagram showing William's family relationships. Names with "---" under them were opponents of William, and names with "+++" were supporters of William. Some relatives switched sides over time, and are marked with both symbols.|center]]
William faced several challenges on becoming duke, including his illegitimate birth and his youth: he was either seven or eight years old.<ref name=Bates36>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 36</ref><ref name=Douglas37>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 37</ref>{{efn|How illegitimacy was viewed by the church and lay society was undergoing a change during this period. The Church, under the influence of the [[Gregorian reform]], held the view that the sin of extramarital sex tainted any offspring that resulted, but nobles had not totally embraced the Church's viewpoint during William's lifetime.<ref name=Crouch132>Crouch ''Birth of Nobility'' pp. 132–133</ref> By 1135 the illegitimate birth of [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert of Gloucester]], son of William's son [[Henry I of England]], was enough to bar Robert's succession as king when Henry died without legitimate male heirs, even though he had some support from the English nobility.<ref name=Bastards42>Given-Wilson and Curteis ''Royal Bastards'' p. 42</ref>}} He enjoyed the support of his great-uncle, Archbishop Robert, as well as King [[Henry I of France]], enabling him to succeed to his father's duchy.<ref name=Douglas38 /> The support given to the exiled English princes in their attempt to return to England in 1036 shows that the new duke's guardians were attempting to continue his father's policies,<ref name=DNB/> but Archbishop Robert's death in March 1037 removed one of William's main supporters, and Normandy quickly descended into chaos.<ref name=Douglas38>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 38–39</ref>

The anarchy in the duchy lasted until 1047,<ref name=Douglas51>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 51</ref> and control of the young duke was one of the priorities of those contending for power. At first, Alan of Brittany had custody of the duke, but when Alan died in either late 1039 or October 1040, Gilbert of Brionne took charge of William. Gilbert was killed within months, and another guardian, Turchetil, was also killed around the time of Gilbert's death.<ref name=Douglas40>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 40</ref> Yet another guardian, Osbern, was slain in the early 1040s in William's chamber while the duke slept. It was said that Walter, William's maternal uncle, was occasionally forced to hide the young duke in the houses of peasants,<ref name=Bates37>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 37</ref> although this story may be an embellishment by [[Orderic Vitalis]]. The historian Eleanor Searle speculates that William was raised with the three cousins who later became important in his career&nbsp;– [[William fitzOsbern]], [[Roger de Beaumont]], and [[Roger of Montgomery]].<ref name=Searle196>Searle ''Predatory Kinship'' pp. 196–198</ref> Although many of the Norman nobles engaged in their own private wars and feuds during William's minority, the viscounts still acknowledged the ducal government, and the ecclesiastical hierarchy was supportive of William.<ref name=Douglas42>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 42–43</ref>

[[File:Colonne Vimont.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|Column at the site of the [[Battle of Val-ès-Dunes]] in 1047]]

King Henry continued to support the young duke,<ref name=Douglas45>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 45–46</ref> but in late 1046 opponents of William came together in a rebellion centred in lower Normandy, led by [[Guy of Burgundy]] with support from Nigel, Viscount of the Cotentin, and Ranulf, Viscount of the Bessin. According to stories that may have legendary elements, an attempt was made to seize William at Valognes, but he escaped under cover of darkness, seeking refuge with King Henry.<ref name=Douglas47>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 47–49</ref> In early 1047 Henry and William returned to Normandy and were victorious at the [[Battle of Val-ès-Dunes]] near [[Caen]], although few details of the fighting are recorded.<ref name=Bates38>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 38</ref> William of Poitiers claimed that the battle was won mainly through William's efforts, but earlier accounts claim that King Henry's men and leadership also played an important part.<ref name=DNB/> William assumed power in Normandy, and shortly after the battle promulgated the [[Peace and Truce of God#Truce of God|Truce of God]] throughout his duchy, in an effort to limit warfare and violence by restricting the days of the year on which fighting was permitted.<ref name=Bates40>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 40</ref> Although the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes marked a turning point in William's control of the duchy, it was not the end of his struggle to gain the upper hand over the nobility. The period from 1047 to 1054 saw almost continuous warfare, with lesser crises continuing until 1060.<ref name=Douglas53>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 53</ref>