william the conquer

[spazzluver88]

what did william the conquer look like

[Aaralyn]

Unfortunately, no authentic portrait of William has been found and the contemporary depictions of him on the Bayeux Tapestry, on his seals and on coins of the time are conventional representations designed to assert his authority rather than depict the king as he was. However, there are some clues in written records which describe him as having a burly and robust appearance, with a guttural voice. He appears to have enjoyed excellent health until old age and although he became quite fat in later life he was apparently strong enough to draw bows that others were unable to pull and had great stamina. Geoffrey Martel described him as without equal as a fighter and as a horseman, suggesting that he must have been physically fit. Examination of William's femur, the only bone to survive when the rest of his remains were destroyed, showed he was approximately 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) in height, which was quite tall for the time.