I just knew that Terenz would add his great knowledge of military history to this thread!

Someday I have got to meet you! Did you study military history in school or is it just an avocation? As I noted somewhere else, I will scan your posts the next time I will be traveling near any battlefields, etc.!

However, I must disagree with you on one point. Regardless of what William's father thought of him, William, himself, was none too thrilled with the appellation. And who could blame him. In an era where Kings claimed a divine right to rule, and the Church was all powerful, being born out of wedlock was not exactly one's ticket to ANY Royal throne.

Another lesser known tidbit was that the individual who had ordered the Tapestry to be created was William's brother, I believe the Archbishop of Rouen (?). I do not know if he was, like his brother William, a ......., or whether he was William's half-brother. Supposedly it was English weavers who had created the tapestry which was ultimately hung in the Cathedral in Bayeux.

The History Channel often shows a very enlightening and humorous miniseries on the history of the Middle Ages, hosted by amateur Medieval Historian Terry Jones -- Yes, that Terry Jones of Monty Python fame (You know, the guy who is bare ... naked sitting and playing the piano). For an era that heretofore I thought was extremely dull, he makes it come to life with his dry humor.

Moreover, his miniseries on the Crusades is truly not to be missed!!!