According to the chronicler, William was an excellent ruler because he maintained order and respected God, among other things. William acquired a reputation as a ruthless warrior due to his many victories in battle. With the aid of an invading army, William sailed from Normandy, beat Harold at the Battle of Hastings, and was proclaimed King of England (Chronicler). He does, however, criticize William for the negative aspects of his personality. According to him, he was greedy, for he extracted much too much gold and constructed far too many castles than was required and the poor were persecuted. Men certainly endured a significant deal of suffering and suffered a great deal of injury throughout his lifetime.
He also describes the positive aspects of William as a determined adversary who can be cruel at times. Since several of his battles were won in the face of overwhelming odds, his renown and self-assurance blossomed. Aside from everything else, he achieved greatness by bringing peace to this region, making it possible for a man with self-confidence to go throughout his realm unharmed (Chronicler). Sagacity and foresight allowed him to completely survey England and ensure that he understood who owned what and placed it in his writ. Because of William’s desire to know the extent of his kingdom’s financial resources, he prepared the Domesday Book.
However, despite the Chronicler’s agitation and the fact that he is losing this battle, he does not alter his content of records. This is evident as he does not accuse William of being harsh at all times, as later historians often do, claiming that William was a terrible, savage man who hacked people’s hands and feet off. It is also evident that he praises William of being smart, powerful and dignified leader who surpassed all of his predecessors in strength and dignity. He acknowledges him as being kind to those who really want to serve God, but he is ruthless against those who refuse to submit to his authority.
Reference
Chronicler, A.-S. (n.d.). English Kingship. William the Conqueror, 1-47.