Early Rebellions

• Uprisings against Norman rule between 1068 and 1071

  Three main rebellions: Revolt of Edwin and Morkar in 1068, Rebellion supported by Edgar Atheling and the rebellions of the North in 1069, Rebellion of Hereward the Wake at Ely between 1070 and 1071
• Earls Edwin and Morkar rose up against Norman rule in 1068
• Edwin and Morkar were former allies of Harold Godwinson
• Edwin and Morkar led the charge at Gate Fulford in 1066
• Edwin and Morkar supported Harold's crushing of the Viking invasion at Stamford Bridge
• Edwin and Morkar gambled that William would not be able to control land stretching from Normandy to Northumbria
• Causes of the rebellion: Edwin was angry as William had gone back on a promise that he could marry one of his daughters, William did not trust Morkar to help defend the North against invasions, Edwin and Morkar were humiliated when shown off like conquered prisoners by William in 1067
• Consequences of the rebellion: William built castles in Edwin's lands in Warwick and Nottingham, and in Morkar's lands in York, Morkar was replaced as Earl of Northumbria, William showed leniency compared to later actions, this rebellion likely affected William's reactions in later rebellions in 1069 and 1070
• Rebellion of Edgar Atheling and the rebellions in the North in 1069 going into 1070
• Causes of the rebellion by Edgar Atheling and the North


  • Resentment over the Norman takeover, Edgar Atheling hoping to be the next king
• Rebellions in the north in 1069 going into 1070 were caused by four different things: resentment over the Norman takeover, Edgar Etheling hoping to be the next king, Anglo-Saxon rebels thinking the Danes and Scots would help them, and a fear of losing land to the Normans
• After the death of Harold Godwinson, Edgar Etheling had briefly been proclaimed king but never had a coronation
• Anglo-Saxon rebels thought the Danes and Scots would help them to rebel
• Fear of losing land to the Normans was a significant concern
• Events of the rebellion early 1069

  Norman army attacked at Durham by local forces, many Normans slaughtered, leader Robert burned to death, English army laid siege to York, Edgar Atheling led rebellion, William marched north, broke siege, rebels fled, William built second castle in York, rebels dispersed
• There were two motte-and-bailey castles in York after the rebellion
• Threats William faced in the second rebellion of 1069

  Large Danish invasion fleet raiding the coast, Edgar Atheling seized control of York, attacks on Normandy, rebellions in the southwest and Welsh border, invasion by King Malcolm of Scotland
• William's response to the threats

  Marched his army north, caught rebels off guard, English fled, Danes stayed on ships, William celebrated Christmas in York, ruthlessly destroyed opposition, harrying of the north
• William successfully responded to all the threats in 1069, putting down the rebellions and showing great leadership
• The harrying of the north intimidated future would-be rebels
• William put down the rebellions of Edward and Morkar in 1068
• William successfully responded to all the threats of 1069
• Hereward the Wake led the rebellion at Ely in 1070-1071
• Ely was known as the island of Ely, deriving from the old English for the island of the eels
• Ely was a large island surrounded by water in marshland, making it difficult to attack
• The rebellion at Ely represented a guerrilla war with hit and run attacks by a smaller, less powerful army
• The rebellion at Ely was eventually won by William the Conqueror
• The rebellion at Ely was like a guerrilla war, similar to the Vietnam War
• Hereward the Wake emerged as the leader of the English rebels at Ely
• The rebels at Ely attracted more support, increasing their threat
• Earl Morkar joined the rebels at Ely
• Exiles could easily travel to Ely by sea
• William sent messages to King Swain of Denmark offering him money to go home, which worked
• William surrounded the island of Ely and ordered his men to build a causeway onto the island
• A witch cursed the rebels from a tower, but the rebels burned down the tower and killed her
• William defeated Hereward's forces at Ely
• William likely had the support of some monks at Ely and was shown a secret entrance to the island
• When William got to Ely, he had people's hands and feet cut off and eyeballs pulled out
• Successful attack made using boats and wooden planks

  1. William defeated Harwood's forces

  2. Likely support from some of the monks at Ely

  3. Shown a secret entrance to the island

  4. People's hands and feet cut off, eyeballs pulled out, some imprisoned for life
• Herowood disappeared from history, some suggested he escaped and would rise up again, others suggested he may have been killed