"The king of England, though in certain respects he is not as religious as we would wish, still shows himself to be more acceptable than other kings... he neither destroys nor sells the churches of God.. and he bound priests by oath to dismiss their wives".

That's that canny old king William the Bastard (French version) or William the Conqueror (British version). Now there was a man who knew how to invade a country ! First rule: don't upset the natives (or the religious body, if it has influence). Second rule: do your best to keep their systems in place. Third rule: if you have an improved system then introduce it gradually and let the locals see the benefits and be sold on it first.Don't go in arrogantly, throwing your weight around and telling them in Norman French: 'It's my way or the highway !' Fourth rule: abolish the death penalty

That's the King Fred , now which Pope said it?

Pope Alexander II

My Source (bottom of the page) mentions the following Pope ,"Gregory VII".

Pope Gregory VII made the following comments about William the Conqueror in a letter to a friend. (1081)

quote:

Originally posted by mozart56:
My Source (bottom of the page) mentions the following Pope ,"Gregory VII".

Pope Gregory VII made the following comments about William the Conqueror in a letter to a friend. (1081)

I'd guessed that the pope in question was the pope at the time of the Conquest in 1066 , not his successor