Caen - Abbaye aux Hommes

The tombstone in the choir of Saint-Étienne, once the abbey church of the Abbey of Saint-Etienne (aka "Abbaye aux Hommes") marks the grave of William the Conqueror (aka "William the Bastard"), who had founded this abbey.

When William had married Matilda of Flanders (~ 1051) a papal ban was issued at the Council of Reims on the grounds of consanguinity. In 1059 Pope Nicholas awarded dispensation, after William and Matilda agreed to found to monasteries as penance.

During the Wars of Religions Calvinists rampaged church and abbey. Iconoclasts destroyed William´s grave got, his remains got lost. A legend tells, that one leg bone was hidden by a monk. This bone is under the slab now.