William arrived at the palace with Osborne's steward and his army, and soon met with Henry I after presenting the letter of the king.

"William, I know you're in big trouble, I'll promise you if you say it!" Henry I said.

"Your Majesty, please make me the Duke of Normandy!" William knelt down on one knee at Henry I's feet and pleaded.

"I promise you, William!" Henry I happily agreed: "I remember that you were willing to fight for me when you were six or seven years old, and I promised you at that time that I would say yes to whatever help you needed!" ”

William did not expect that things would go so smoothly, and Henry I would agree to William's request so easily, willing to canonize William as the Duke of Normandy.

The next day, after William finished bathing, he put on a white robe that symbolized the purity of his heart, and a red robe that symbolized the price of blood.

William returned to the palace on the Île de la Cité, where hundreds of nobles had gathered to attend William's canonization.

Under the incredulous gaze of the nobles, William walked up to Henry I with his head held high, knelt down on one knee, put his hands together in Henry I's hands, looked at him with sincere eyes, and said:

"I swear, from this day forward, I am you, the courtier of Henry, King of France. I will serve you with my life, body, and glory until I die! ”

Henry I held William's small hand with both hands, nodded and said: "I accept your vassal, and spare no effort to protect your life and property, anyone who is hostile to you is an enemy of me!"

From today onwards, you are the 7th Duke of Normandy! ”

So saying, Henry took a golden crown from the squire's hand, put it on William's head, took a scepter and a handful of dirt with grass, and gave it to William.

The scepter and a handful of clay symbolized the authority and land of the Duke of Normandy, and giving William these two things meant ripping the earth.

After taking over the two tasks, William stood up and stepped forward, and the two kissed each other on the cheek.

When the ceremony was over, William turned and looked at the nobles as if to receive cheers.

However, the nobles seemed to be surprised by Henry I's canonization of the young illegitimate son, and they talked to each other and pointed fingers at William.

Henry I couldn't stand it, and said loudly to the noble officials present: "Do you know? William was willing to fight for me when he was six or seven years old, and I was still in a very difficult situation at that time, which shows that his heart is indeed so pure and precious.

I tell you now that I regard William as my own son, and that you are not allowed to disrespect him in any way! Got it? ”

"I obey your orders, Your Majesty."

In the face of Henry I's strength, the nobles had to salute respectfully.

Henry I, who was in his twenties and thirties, had not yet married and had no children, so he regarded William as if he were his nephew.

After the canonization ceremony, there was a sumptuous feast and a wonderful performance by the bards.

William, who was concerned about this other matter, had no intention of talking to the nobles of Paris, and after a hasty end of the banquet, he was called to his room by Henry I.

"William, I know that there is a rebellion in your Duchy of Normandy, and I will declare your asylum and send an emissary to return to Normandy with you, and I will station an army outside Rouen, so that I think no one will dare to disobey your orders and prevent you from exercising your power as a duke!" Henry I said with a smile.

"Nope! Your Majesty, I don't need to go back to Rouen right now. William stubbornly shook his head in refusal.

"Oh? How so? Henry I looked surprised, slightly annoyed in his heart, and asked, "Don't you want to be the real Duke of Normandy?" ”

"Not really, Your Majesty!" William shook his head slightly and explained: "I want to use my own strength to pacify Normandy and sweep away the rebellious nobles, instead of being an unworthy Duke of Normandy in the midst of many rebellious surroundings." ”

"I respect your choice, William." Henry I nodded in agreement, "The Barony of Wexon, north of Paris, was given to you by my father Robert as a reward for your father's ascension to the throne.

Previously this territory was held by your father, and now I'm giving it to you! ”

Saying that, Henry I handed over to William a small bag of dirt symbolizing the Barony of Wexon.

Originally, Henry I planned to take back this territory as a reward for sending troops to help William return to Rouen and subdue the nobles, but now William rejected this proposal, and Henry I did not want to take this territory back.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" William got down on one knee, respectfully took this bag of dirt, and said.

Henry I easily made William Duke of Normandy, in fact, to take advantage of William, because he did not like a strong, unified Duchy of Normandy, nor did he like a strong Duke of Normandy.

And with the support of the Duchy of Upper Burgundy, the Count of Mortan, Kay. Morality. Yverea was the one most likely to unite the Duchy of Normandy and become a powerful Duke of Normandy.

In order to prevent the reunification of the divided Duchy of Normandy and threaten the rule of Henry I, he needed William, the illegitimate son of an unrecognized Norman nobleman, as a duke, and William was a young and ignorant puppet tool that could be easily manipulated.

William had previously rejected Henry I's proposal, making it impossible for him to directly control William in his hands, which made him slightly annoyed, but quickly calmed down, after all, William was still very young, and he still had many opportunities to manipulate and guide William.

Why did Henry I use William to divide the Duchy of Normandy?

This was not only due to the proximity of Normandy to Paris, but also the fact that the Duchy of Normandy was too powerful, a force that could destroy almost everything, as he had seen during the War of the Succession two years earlier.

Therefore, it was impossible for Henry I to reunite the Duchy of Normandy and threaten his royal power.

After all, the direct territory of Henry I's Capetian dynasty currently accounts for only one-fifteenth of the territory of France, and his power is surrounded by various princes, unable to break through the small island of Paris.

In other words, he was a nominal king, a vassal alliance who could not interfere in the internal affairs, justice, and military diplomacy of the various princes.

Now Henry I's chance has come, and it is quite possible that he will take the Duchy of Normandy under control through William.