William the Conqueror, known for his victory at Hastings, had a less-than-dignified death. The overweight king tried to lose weight by isolating himself in his castle, but when the French king heard of this, he mocked William’s condition. Infuriated, William decided to invade the French town of Mantes, but disaster struck when his horse threw him off and he suffered severe internal injuries. On his deathbed, William confessed his sins and asked for forgiveness, also distributing his wealth to churches and the poor. After his death, chaos ensued, with the aristocracy fleeing and the servants looting his belongings. In a rather comical funeral, William’s burial was interrupted by a man who claimed the church was built on his family’s land and demanded restitution. The funeral was further disrupted when the stone sarcophagus was too small for William’s decomposed body, causing a terrible stench. Throughout history, William’s tomb was opened and destroyed multiple times, with his remains scattered and thrown into the river. Now, only a thigh bone remains as a symbol of his legacy, but it’s uncertain if even that will find eternal peace.
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