William the Conqueror

Hey kids! Annoy your history teacher with this fun fact: "William the Conqueror" (b. 1028, d. 1087) was known at the time as "William the Bastard" (Guillaume le Bâtard).

He got this name because he was the illigitimate son (ie. a bastard) of "Robert the Devil", Duke of Normandy.

So you could say that the bastard did well for himself...