In 1066 the Duke of Normandy would conquer all of England, claiming the awesome title William ‘the Conqueror,’ and becoming the last person to ever conquer England. The word conqueror has been and will be mentioned a lot, however, his title of conqueror will not be the focus of this discussion. Rather, using historical sources such as the Oxford Journals and Robert Tombs’ ‘The English and Their History’, we will explore whether he was as successful a ruler as he was a conqueror. Considering how difficult it was to survive as a powerful ruler in the 11th century, establishing a strong governance required certain characteristics. This ultimately comes down to four requisites; true sovereignty, the ability to administer your lands, consolidate power, and enable a successful transition of power. William would meet all of these criteria, proving that he was indeed a successful ruler as well as conqueror.