William the Conqueror: Villain or Hero ?

William the Conqueror has been described as ruthless, a hard man, a ferocious warrior, harsh ruler, driving administrator and man of vigorous principles. He was also said to have had a fearsome temper and the will power that enabled him to strengthened Edward the Confessor's legal system and create a feudal society in England. The years 1085 to 1086 he ordered England's first census, this we know as the Domesday Book, so called because it was likened to the Day of Judgement, where there was no appeal against what it contained. The new king also saw to it that much of our countries land was given to Norman barons and when the Saxon resisted he put them down with relentless severity.

Villain or hero...What do you think?

Here to get you started are two opposing views on the king.

Edward Augustus Freeman 19th century English historian

"As far as mortal men can guide the course of things when he is gone, the course of our national history since William's day has been the result of William's character and of William's acts. Well may we restore to him the surname that men gave him in his own day. He may worthily take his place as William the Great alongside of Alexander, Constantine, and Charles."

Thomas Paine 18th century English author and political activist,

"A French bastard landing with an armed banditti and establishing himself King of England against the consent
of the natives is, in plain terms, a very paltry rascally original. The antiquity of the English monarchy will not bear looking at."