On which date was William I crowned?

William I was crowned King of England on December 25, 1066.

The ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London, shortly after William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. William’s coronation helped turn his military victory into a claim of legitimate kingship. Choosing Westminster Abbey was also symbolically important because the church had been founded by Edward the Confessor, whose succession was central to William’s claim.

The ceremony was conducted by Ealdred, Archbishop of York. Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, was present but had been excommunicated and therefore did not officiate. According to contemporary accounts, confusion during the ceremony led Norman supporters to shout that William was king, while English observers reportedly interpreted the noise as a sign that the king was being attacked.

William was crowned again at Winchester in 1070 by papal legates. That later ceremony confirmed the Church’s acceptance of his rule, but the date normally meant by this question is his original coronation on Christmas Day 1066. His wife, Matilda of Flanders, was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1068.