# William the Conqueror — The Rights of Man character guide

> William the Conqueror in The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** William, the Conqueror

**First appearance:** 0002-part-first-being-an-answer-to-mr-burke-s-attack-on-the-french-revolution

## Who they are

Norman king of England, cited as an example of conquest-based rule.

## In the story

### [Rights of Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/rights-of-man)

Paine cites William the Conqueror and his descendants as the source of the capricious election charters in England.

### [Miscellaneous Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/miscellaneous-chapter)

Paine references William the Conqueror in the context of hereditary succession and the origins of monarchy.

### [Of the Origin of the Present Old Governments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/ii-of-the-origin-of-the-present-old-governments)

His Norman invasion and tyranny are cited as the origin of the English monarchy, deeply hated by the nation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/william_the_conqueror
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters