Dealing with Rebellions

• The Rebellion in 1067

  • Eustace of Boulogne crossed the channel from France to become the head of a rebellion in Kent, after the harsh rule of William fitzOsbern and Odo were regents in place for William who was in Normandy
  • The Dover garrison easily cut down the rebels
• Evaluation of 1067 Rebellion in Kent

  • Dangerous = Part of the warrior class that William had trusted as Eustace had fought with William at Hastings
  • Weak = English easily destroyed them, showing they were reliant; William was not needed; had no clear experienced leader
• The 1068 Rebellion in Exeter

  • Due to increased taxation and inspired by the presence of Harold's mother Gytha
  • William returned from Normandy in December 1067; January 1068 he marched forces into Devon despite harsh conditions
  • Together with the English army, they laid siege to the rebels in Exeter and they surrendered after 18 days
• Evaluation of 1068 Rebellion in Exeter

  • Dangerous = Gytha and the area was a Godwinson stronghold, could potentially rally more people to revolt; William made a dangerous sea crossing showing he valued the rebellions importance
  • Weak = Gave the rebels lenient terms; able to establish a castle; could rely on the English levy system to help him
• Rebellion of 1069 in Somerset and Devon

  • Summer of 1068, Harold 3 sons launch a raid from Ireland into Bristol, but were beaten of by local English thegns
  • Summer of 1069, men from Somerset and Devon lay siege to castle at Montacute + Harold's sons launch raid with 60 ships
  • William relied on Brian of Brittany and Bishop Geoffrey of Coutances as he was occupied in the North
• Evaluation of 1069 Rebellion

  • Dangerous = William was pre-occupied in North so unable to help; Harold's sons could potentially bring more support; two waves of attack at the same time
  • Weak = William was able to rely on his close, trusted network to deal with the threat
• What did William do in 1068 to York?

  • As Edwin felt embittered that William had gone against his word for the marriage of his daughter, knew he wielded little power
  • William knew resistance was brewing in the North, so made lighting raids into Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, allowing his men to harry wherever they went
  • Also established a castle at York
• Rebellion of 1069 in the North

  • Rebels attacked Durham, killing Robert of Commines
  • They then moved to besieging the castle at York, where Edgar the Atheling assumed leadership of the rebellion after moving down from Scotland
  • William was able to relieve the garrison with speed, although Edgar fled back to Scotland
  • William then established a second castle at York
• Evaluation of the 1069 Rebellion in the North

  • Dangerous = Edgar assumed leadership, meaning he could gain support; William had to deal with the garrison in lighting raids
  • Weak = William was able to build a second castle at York
• Second Rebellion in Summer 1069

  • A Danish fleet appeared of the coast of Kent, arriving with 240 ships
  • Along with Edgar the Atheling, they jointly seized York in September
  • William was also threatened by an invasion by Malcolm III in Scotland
  • At the same time, there were fresh uprisings in Wales and South-West
  • William seized York for the 3rd time, then allowed his troops to partake in the Harrying of the North
• Evaluation of the Second Rebellion in 1069

  • Dangerous = Edgar was again head of the rebellion; Huge foreign support aided the rebellion; William decided to lay waste to the land - 1/3 was designated as waste
  • Weak = Danish army was easily paid off
• The Third Rebellion 1070

  • William crossed the rugged Pennies during the winter, almost driving his army to mutiny
  • He surprised the rebels in Chester and Stafford without difficulty, establishing a castle
• Evaluation of the Third Rebellion in 1070

  • Weak = Harold's surprise tactic made it easy to destroy the rebels
  • Dangerous = Almost brought his army into rebellion
• East Anglican Rebellion in 1070-1071

  • Hereward the Wake began the head of a rebellion on the Island of Ely
  • Ely was: surrounded by vast marshland; easily defendable; strategically placed to mobilise a Danish fleet; Ely could also provide reinforcements
  • With the Danes, Hereward launched an attack into Peterborough in June
• East Anglican Rebellion p2 1070-1071

  • William bought off the Danish rebels
  • He had primarily entrusted his deputies to deal with the rebellion as he travelled to Normandy
  • However, William had to return in 1071, as many more English rebels join Hereward such as Morcar
  • He had his fleet blockade the coast and constructed a pathway to so his army could reach the marshes
• Evaluation of East Anglican Rebellion 1070-1071

  • Dangerous = William had to personally lead his army and navy to defeat the rebels; Ely became a centre of resistance, therefore many Saxon thegns moved to the island; Foreign support
  • Weak = Danish were once again easily bought off
• Revolt of the Earls 1075

  • Ralph de Gael, Earl of Norfolk; Roger de Breteuil, Earl of Hereford and Waltheof, earl of Northumbria
  • They were important members of the ruling class (Roger was Williamfitz Osbern's son)
  • William relied on his regent, Lanfranc, to organise its destruction
• Revolt of the Earls 1075 p2

  • Waltheof had confessed the plan to Lanfranc after having cold feet, but Ralph and Roger pressed on, hoping to join forces in the North
  • They never managed to receive local support and the Danish Army never appeared
  • Ralph fled to Brittany; Roger was imprisoned and Waltheof was executed
  • The Danes had arrived with 200 ships however it was too late
• Evaluation of the Revolt of the Earls

  • Weak = William allowed his trusted friends to deal with the rebellion; The foreign intervention never materialised
  • Strong = The Earls could pose danger in England and Normandy; the foreign support