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Which regions supplied volunteers for William I’s invasion army?
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To prepare for his invasion of England in 1066, William I—then the Duke of Normandy—sought support beyond his own duchy. In addition to securing the backing of the Norman aristocracy and the papacy, he appealed to volunteers from several regions to join his invasion army.
These recruits were drawn from the following areas:
* Brittany
* Maine
* France
* Flanders
* Spain
* Italy
William’s ability to organize this diverse host and impose disciplined cohesion upon them is considered one of his most significant military achievements.1