3.7-3.9 Rebellions

• When was the first rebellion?

  August 1067
• What happened at the first rebellion at Hereford in 1067?

  • powerful thegn Edric lost most of his land to Norman knights

  • he joins Welsh princes to raid Norman-held land and destroyed Hereford

  • he became known as Edric the Wild and lived in the open as outlaw

  • Erdics raids weren't serious threat and carried on for years
• When was the first rebellion of Exeter?


  end of 1067
• What happen at the Exeter rebellion in 1067?

  • William went to Normandy but came back after spies told him rebellion was coming

  • treated lords and bishops well and sent messages to Exeter to encourage loyalty

  • Gytha (Godwinson's mother) was behind rebellion and sent Godwinson's sons to Ireland to gather army to drive out Normans and contacted the Danish king hoping he would invade east

  • William tried to win over Gytha and Exeter citizens by making them force loyalty

  • they refused said he was not allowed in city and they would not pay any more tax then previous kings
• How did William react to the Exeter rebellion?

  • matched to Exeter and spoke to the spokesman of the city

  • citizens of Exeter were furious and barred the city gates

  • William army besigned walls and battle broke out

  • after 18 days Exeter surrendered

  • in return for their loyalty he promised:

  -> not to plunder city

  -> not to punish or demand more tax from people

  -> Exeter could keep precious things they tried to give him

  • he took Gytha's land and build a large castle
• What were the reasons for rebellions against the Normans?

  • Disrespect - Norman lords did not understand local customs

  • Pride - English hated being ruled by foreigners

  • Taxation - William demanded high rates of tax which cause poverty

  • Revenge - many lost relatives at Hastings and wanted revenge

  • Loss of land and status - resentment due to losing titles and land
• What happened at the York rebellion of 1068?


  • William received letter saying if he entered northern lands they would fight him

  • Williams army marched north and built castle in middle of Edwins land

  • Edwin and Morcar surrendered, they were not punished but power and influence was damaged

  • Rebels had fled by the time William got to York but William built a castle to show strength and built more as he went home

  • Godwinsons sons returned from Ireland with army but as they arrived in Bristol they were attacked
• What happened at the Durham rebellion of 1069?


  • William appointed experienced soldier, Robert, an earl

  • Robert and army went to Durham, attacked rebels, looted and killed many

  • Durham citizens attacked soldiers, Robert and army took shelter in house, it was set on fire - killing all inside

  • Edgar and other rebel leaders attacked York, William rode down - after another battle he retook York

  • rebel leaders escaped, William build second castle and put trusted friend FitzOsbern in charge

  • Godwinsons sons made another attempt to invade but were driven off
• What happened at the third York rebellion in 1069?


  • Danish King arrived with fleet of 250 ships

  • Kings brother gathered army, met English rebels led by Edgar Aetheling and made for York

  • York citizens tried to protect city by burning timber so that rebels could use them to cross moat - fire spread destroying city

  • Danes destroyed the rest of York then withdrew

  • rebels along the Welsh border began
• How did William react to the rebellions of 1069?

  • paid the Danes to leave

  • sent for his crown to wear for christmas - reminded people he was a God chosen King

  • sent troops to destroy land in the Harrying of the North
• What was the Harrying of the North?

  • crops, animals and food destroyed cause widespread famine

  • homes were set on fire

  • salt was rubbed into soil preventing crops to be grown for many generations

  • soldiers killed many people
• How did William anger the Church?

  • ordered churches to pay for soliders

  • confiscated money and treasure

  • replaced Stigand

  • any churchmen who sympathised with rebels were replaced by Normans and some were imprisoned
• What happened at Ely in 1070?


  • King of Denmark returned with more troops

  • they attacked and captured Ely

  • local people did not resist as they had Viking heritage and hoped Danes would get rid of William

  • English thegn Hereward took treasure from church before Normans confiscated it and gave it to Danes joining forces
• How did William react to Ely rebellion?

  • William persuaded Danish King to leave and take army - hungry and tired due to hard winter in England

  • with Danes gone Hereward had to take on Normans by himself

  • William thought it would be safer to return to Normandy and left local lords in charge of keeping Hereward under control
• What happened at Ely in 1071?


  • William could see local lords were unable to deal with Ely rebellions so gathered and army and marched there

  • had to send ship to island of Ely to block supplies to rebels

  • soldiers build causeway and used it island (some sources say that the monks betrayed the rebels - leading them through secret pathway)

  • Ely surrendered Mocar and other leader were imprisoned, other rebels had eyes gouged out or hands chopped off