William "the Conqueror", King of England - George Washington's 19-22nd Great-Grandfather

William "the Conqueror", King of England, was George Washington's 19-22nd great-grandfather from the several lines from which George Washington is a descendant of William "the Conqueror." George Washington is also descended from many of the English Barons that were later to sign the Magna Carta (known as the surety barons), with most of them being descendants of the Normans who accompanied William "the Conqueror" in the Norman invasion and conquest of England. Prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066, William had been the Duke of Normandy. He was the bastard son of Robert I "the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, who in turn was descended from Rollo, a Viking who attacked France and eventually reached a peace with the French and became the first Duke of Normandy. William "the Conqueror" married Matilda, the daughter of Baldwin V, the powerful Count of Flanders, who supported William in his conquest of England.

Matilda, Queen of England - George Washington's 19-21st Great Grandmother

Queen Matilda was the wife of William "the Conqueror." Queen Matilda was George Washington's 19-21st great grandmother, with Washington being a descendant of hers through several lines. She was the daughter of Baldwin Forster V, 7th Count of Flanders and Adele Capet, daughter of Robert I, King of France. Baldwin Forster V was a descendant of Charlemagne through his son Louis "the Pious" and his grandson Charles "the Bald." He also was a descendant of Alfred "the Great", the first Anglo-Saxon king of England as well as the royal families of Luxemburg, Italy, Tuscany, Saxony, and Vermandois. Like her ancestor Judith, Princess of the Franks, Queen Matilda was one of the most important women in world history.