William the Conqueror and Theocentric Law (Theonomy Applied)

William the Conqueror (1028 - 1087) was Duke of Normandy from 1035 - 1087, and the first Norman King of England (as William I) from 1066 - 1087.

He became king of England after defeating the English with a Norman army in 1066, and is known for being the last foreigner to conquer England.

William understood the importance of theocentric law, namely, that in legal matters (as in any other matter), God, the highest Authority in the land, should be acknowledged before anything else. 

We see this in the first of a set of laws that William established after becoming king of England:

First that above all things he wishes one God to be revered throughout his whole realm, one faith in Christ to be kept ever inviolate, and peace and security to be preserved between English and Normans.[1]

Notes

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[1] Cited in  Paul Halsall, ed., "Laws of William the Conqueror," Internet Medieval Sourcebook (NY: Fordham University, Feb 1996). Retrieved June 14, 2012. [Note: we do not endorse Fordham University.]

Note about the Theonomy Applied Series: In quoting any particular law, we do not necessarily endorse every aspect of that law as biblical, whether it be the prohibition, sanction, court procedure, etc. Rather, we are merely showing the more or less attempt to apply biblical law in history, whether or not that application was fully biblical. Moreover, in quoting any particular law, we do not necessarily consider those who passed and/or enforced such a law as being fully orthodox in their Christian theology. Professing Christian rulers in history have ranged in their theology from being orthodox (that is, Reformed Protestants) to heretical (for example, Roman Catholics).