Norman Conquest and Control

• • Reign of Edward the Confessor was stable and prosperous
  • England divided into earldoms, led by earls
  • Other than the King, the most powerful man in England was Harold Godwinson. The Godwins were the most powerful family in England
  • King Edward exiled the Godwins in 1052, but they returned and he was unable to oppose them and had to accept it
• Government:

  • ruled by King Edward the Confessor since 1042
  • Earls very powerful
  • Witan were leading earls and churchmen who advised
• Population:

  • around 2 million people
  • 90% peasants
• Religion:

  • Central to all lives
  • Catholic Church was very powerful
  • Church owned large amounts of land and made rules, including rules of inheritance
• Defence:

  • King and earls commanded around 3000 housecarls
  • could call upon peasants to fight
• Society:

  • clear hierachy
  • King, earls and church at the top
  • Peasants at the bottom
• Wealth:

  • England was earthly and targeted by raiders
  • Trade with France and Scandinavia
  • Advanced - own minting system (producing coins) and treasury
• • Edward the Confessor died childless - no heir to the throne
  • there were four main claimants to the throne; all with valid claims under the rules of succession
  • Harold Godwinson was crowned King of England on 6th January 1066
• 4 claimants

  1. Harold Godwinson (Saxon)
  2. Edgar the Aethling (Saxon)
  3. William Duke of Normandy
  4. Harald Hardrada
• Male Inheritance: A son of the King could inherit the title, No Sons - a male relative of a previous King could be chosen
• Post Obitum “After Death”: a bequest (gift) by the old king before he died, NORMAN custom; final and could not be undone by Novissima Verba
• Novissima Verba : The king could choose his heir on his deathbed, ENGLISH custom; Kings “last words” and so more important than any previous promise made
• The Witan : The group of earls and churchmen could suggest an heir
• Force: Claimants could challenge each other for the throne and the successful man was then crowned as the King
• Claimant: a person who believes they have a right to something
• Sub-regulus: the ‘deputy king‘ could have a strong claim to the throne
• Edgar Atheling:

  • Inheritance - great nephew of Edward, lived with him since childhood
  • Witan - had the support of many English earls
  • Only 14 in 1066 - lacked experience and politica/military skill
• Harold Godwinson :

  • Sub-regulus - Edward’s deputy King from 1066 till 6th January 1066
  • Inheritance - Edwards brother-in-law
  • Novissima Verba claim - Edward promised him the throne on his deathbed
  • Witan - had the support of the Witan and English nobles
• William, Duke of Normandy :

  • Duke of Normandy from age 7
  • Inheritance : Distant cousin of Edward - Edward Frey up in Normandy and was influenced by French rule - possible that he wanted a Norman to succeed him
  • Post Obitum Claim - Edward promised him the throne years earlier - William claimed that Harold made a religious oath to support him in 1064
• Harald Hardrada:

  • ’Hard Ruler’ - experienced and powerful leader
  • Inheritance claim - relative of the previous Viking king Cnut - claimed that his father (Magnus) had been promised the throne by Cnut’s son, Harthacnut. But Edward took it in 1042 so Harold wanted to take it back
• • william prepares to invade through political, military and religious means
  • the vikings ( Harold Hardrada and tostig) defeat the Saxons ( Edwin and morcar at battle of fulford gate
  • the Saxons ( Harold Godwinson defeat the vikings at the battle of Stamford bridge, but Harold’s army is weakened
• Key Dates :

  • 8th sept - Harold disbands his army for harvest
  • 20th sept - battle of Milford gate
  • 25th battle of Stamford Bridge
  • 28th sept - William lands at pevensey
  • 6th oct - Harold arrives back in London
• William Political Preparations :

  • William controls Normandy, and secures neighbouring Main in 1063
  • The King of France is only 14 so doesn’t threaten William
  • William is one of the most powerful men in North- Western Europe and can look to invade elsewhere
• William Religious Preparations:

  • William secures the Papal Banner to invade England
  • William was able to recruit men from across Western Europe as they were willing to fight beneath the Papal Banner, as a Holy War. They believed God was on their side
• Williams Military Preparations:

  • A force of around 8000 was assemble, due to Papal banner and promise of riches and land in England
  • William built a large fleet of flat-bottomed boots (easier to transport horses)
  • New weapons and flat-pack castles made to help secure land in England
  • William kept his men and fleet in good condition - very disciplined
• Battle of Fulford : 20th sept. 1066

  • Edwin & Morcar vs Harald & Tostig
  • Harald and 300 Viking ships sailed up River Humber and landed 10 miles from York
  • Harald joined by Tostig and 7000 Vikings
  • Saxon army commanded by Earls Edwin and Morcar and 3500 men
  • Initial Saxon attack took Vikings by surprise but Viking numbers overwhelmed them
• Battle of Stamford Bridge:

  25th Sept. 1066

  • Harold marched 300km in 4 days to meet Harald, he reassembled his army and gathered more soldiers on the
  • Saxons launched surprise attack on morning of 25th sep
  • Vikings were scattered and unprepared but it was a long, bloody battles
  • Hardrada and Tostig were both killed
  • Only 24 out of 300 Viking ships returned to Norway
• • William is more prepared for the Battle of Hastings
  • Harold has to travel at speed back to the South from the Battle of Stamford Bridge in the north
  • Harold and the Saxons are defeated by William and the Normans
• The Battle of Hastings : Key Dates

  • 28th sept - William lands at Pevensey
  • 6th oct - Harold arrives back in London
  • 11th oct - Harold leaves London, not waiting for 30,000 reinforcements
  • 13th oct - Harold reaches Hastings
  • 14th oct - Battle of Hastings
• Battle of Hastings: Army Comparison

  
• The Battle of Hastings began at 9am with the Anglo-Saxons forming a shield wall.
• The Normans were unable to break through the Anglo-Saxon shield wall.
• Arrows flew over the Normans' heads and cavalry charges were useless up the hill.
• One group of Normans ran backwards, causing the inexperienced Saxons to sense victory and chase them, breaking the shield wall.
• Saxons were killed at the bottom of the hill.
• William ordered more feigned retreats during the Battle of Hastings.
• William also changed his tactics in the afternoon and moved his archers to the front of his formation.
• William ordered his archers to fire into the air, landing on top of the Saxons and causing chaos.
• William continued to use feigned retreats, archers and cavalry attacks to fully break the Saxon shield wall.
• Harold was killed, possibly with an arrow to the eye, during the Battle of Hastings.