William was the only son of Henry I and his first wife, Matilda of Scotland; born in 1103; in a charter issued at Rouen he appears as dei gratia rex designatus ('by God's grace king designate'); he did homage for the duchy of Normandy to Louis VI in 1120; he married Matilda, daughter of Fulk (V), count of Anjou and Maine, at Lisieux in June 1119; he died, with his retinue, when the White Ship sank outside the harbour of Barfleur on 25 November 1120.