Topic Summary

The Succession Crisis of Summary of England in the 11th Century

1. England had a troubled History in the 50 years

leading up to the succession crisis of 1066.
2. There were no clear rules in place for
succession to the English throne.
3. Edward the Confessor had been a weak ruler.
He increased Norman influence at court and
allowed the Godwins to increase their power.
4. Of the four claimants to the throne in 1066
Harold had the strongest position – being
already virtually in charge of England. However,
he faced competition from others who thought
they had the right to be king – in particular
William, Duke of Normandy.
1066
•
England had rich mineral resources and
fertile farming land.
•
England was a Christian country.
•
1013 the Vikings invaded England and
Canute became the first Viking king of
England.
•
England was divided into four Earldoms:
Wessex, Northumbria, Mercia and East
Anglia. The Earls became the most powerful
men in England after the king.
The claimants to the throne in 1066
Edgar Aetheling
•
Edward was able to become king because the Vikings were
losing interest in England.
•
Edward was crowned king on 3rd April 1043.
•
Edward appointed Normans to important posts in his court
as he felt he could trust them
•
The Witan (English advisors) did not like this and
encouraged the Godwin family to return to England.
•
Edward turned out to be a weak ruler. He focused more on
religion.
•
Late 1050s Harold Godwinson was proclaimed sub-regulus
Harald Hardrada (The Viking)

Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses

5. Harold was hurriedly crowned just one day after
Edward’s death. The haste reflected how
• Was an experienced • He settled disputes using
• Edward’s nearest blood • He was only 14 years
insecure he felt. He knew he would face ruler of Norway force
relative old in 1066 • A famous Viking warrior • His name means ‘hard
challenges from other claimants. • His grandfather was • He had no money, • Had the support of ruler’ and that was the
named successor in soldiers and no military
Harold Godwinson’s approach he took
How to name a successor 1056 but died in 1057 experience
brother (Tostig)

English Custom:
Harold Godwinson (Earl of Wessex) William, Duke of Normandy (The Norman)
•
The dying King’s ’last words’ was more
important than any promise made before that Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses
moment. • The strongest and • Attempted to overthrow • Distant cousin of • Illegitimate son – known
richest man in England Edward in 1051 but Edward the Confessor as ‘William the bastard’.
• Acted as sub-regulus to failed • Promised the throne of
Norman Custom Edward during the final • Sword an oath of England after helping
years of his life allegiance to support Edward defend against
•
Earlier promises of the throne were seen as
• Skillful military leader William’s claim to the the Godwin rebellion
• Edward asked Harold to English throne already • Proved himself to be a
final and could not be undone, even on the become king on his capable ruler in
king’s deathbed. deathbed. Normandy
 Topic Summary
1. Harold Godwinson became king
when Edward died, but he knew
that he was likely to face
challenges.
2. He faced threats from both Harald
Hardrada and William of
Normandy.
3. Both William and Harold made
extensive preparations for war
and both assembled large armies
and navies.
4. The Battle of Stamford Bridge was
a convincing victory for Harold
but Harold’s army arrive at
Hastings exhausted.
The Battle of Hastings was a
5.
closely fought encounter.
6. The Normans used archers and
cavalry, while the English relied
on foot soldiers and hand-to-hand
fighting.
7. William won the Battle of
Hastings due to a combination of
superior tactics, better leadership,
disciplined troops and luck.
8. By winning the battle, William
cleared a path to become king, but
he had much more work to do to
fully secure the English kingdom
as his own.
Why did William win the Battle of Hastings?
Harold Godwinson Vs Harald 7) Hardrada and Tostig were both killed.
1) The English has just lost Hardrada
Three days later Godwinson was told
against the Viking army at the
William hand landed in the south of
Battle of Fulford Gate
England
The Battle of
2) Godwinson marched north Stamford 6) A lone Viking warrior
with his private army. Bridge defended the bridge until he
was killed by the Saxons
3) Marched 190 miles to York in
four days, attacking on the 25th 4) The Vikings were surprised by 5) Many Vikings did not have
September 1066 the Saxons and had not defended any armour on due to being
the bridge properly surprised by the Saxons
Harold Godwinson Vs William
Duke of Normandy
The story of the Battle of Hastings…
The shield wall was
The Norman archers At midday there was a
The Normans ran away Wiliam ordered the disintegrating. The
and cavalry attacked break from the fighting.
and were chased by the cavalry to charge. The housecarls attempted to
the Saxons on Senlac William changed his
fyrd who became stuck Normans deployed the shield Godwinson but
tactics and got his
Hill, but were blocked a the bottom of the hill feigned retreat again he was killed. Seeing
archers to fire straight
by the housecarls and and were slaughtered. weakening the numbers his death the fyrd broke
This became known as
into the housecarls
of fyrds in the Saxon ranks and fled. The
their shield wall which caught them by
the feigned retreat shield wall Normans were
formation surprise
victorious
Why did William win the Battle of Hastings?
Luck William’s leadership Harold’s weaknesses Other
• Both Hardrada and William • William delayed his invasion • Harold hurried to face • The invasions happened
launched their attack at the which demoralised Harold’s William. He could have during harvest season which
same time. soldiers. waited for an extra 20,000 led to desertions in Harold’s
• A number of Harold’s best • William brought all the troops. fyrd.
troops were killed during the equipment needed to feed • Harold chosen to fight on • William gained the Papal
Battle of Stamford Bridge and defend his army. foot rather than horseback. Banner so his soldiers
• Some say William’s soldier’s • William’s troops were This made it difficult to believed they had Gods
ran away, which led to the organised into divisions with communicate with his troops. blessing to fight.
feigned retreat. a system of communication.
 Topic Summary
How did William establish control over England?
Terror: use of violence Military Presence: Patronage: giving land Concessions: Legality: show he was
1. William took over two months to
to crush rebellions. intimidating people by and titles to people for Compromising with the legal and rightful
secure the throne before being using soldiers and castles their loyalty. enemies for their support. king of England.
crowed king.
• 1066: William • 1066: William left a • Edgar Aetheling and • William offered the • Attempted to ensue
2. William ruled both England and punished the town of garrison of soldiers at other senior Saxons Danes money if they their was continuity
Normandy and had to rely on loyal Poitiers for their role Hastings and Dover to swore oaths of loyalty left and stop from Edward’s reign.
followers to rule on his behalf. in killing Normans. defend his position. to William at supporting the • Royal Writs continued
Most of the town was • 1067: William Berkhamsted. Northern Saxons in to be written in
brunt and key people returned to Normandy • English lords who their rebellion. English.
3. William was able to overcome all the were killed. but took some of his pledge loyalty to • Paid off many of his • Stigand remained as
rebellions against him but it was not • Those who died at potential enemies with William were allowed followers who wanted archbishop of
easy and he had to use a variety of Hastings had their land him including to keep their lands. to return to Normandy Canterbury until 1070
tactics, such as intimidation, given to Normans who Archbishop Stigand. with money from the
patronage and granting concessions. had fought for • The Normans built monasteries.
William. castles to defend their
• 1068: William positions and collected
4. The use of terror in the north was to besieged the city of taxes to pay for them
try to prevent any future rebellion in Exeter which and Norman soldiers. Castles
a troublesome region. surrendered to the • A castle was built in
Normans after 18 Warwick to stop Earls
days. Edwin and Morcar Why were Castles Built?
5. William built castles throughout the
country to maintain a military • Harrying of the North: from rebelling. Strategic reasons: Symbolic reasons:
presence, particularly in difficult killed Saxons, burnt • After defeating the
down their homes, uprising in the north, They housed soldiers who would put Castles were a permanent reminder to
areas, and to intimidate the people in animals and crops. William built a second down any attempted rebellion in that the Saxons of who was now governing
the hope they would not attempt to • Early revolt of 1075: castle in York and area. This was enough to deter anyone the country. Often houses were torn
rebel. William took land off placed Fitz Osbern in considering mounting a challenge to down to make the castles and the
earls and beheaded charge. Norman rule English had to build and pay taxes to
6. While the succession to his sons was Waltheof to show his maintain them.
not without complications, the power.
Normans were secure in their
leadership of England.
Motte: earth Keep: a tower
mound (hill) built on the
Motte
King William II (Rufus) King Henry I
•
Sent to England with a letter which gained •
Possible that Henry murdered his brother
Palisade: fence Bailey: where
him the support of Lanfranc. Rufus. the troops were
•
1087: Crowned King of England. •
1105 Henry attacked Normandy and defeated stationed
•
1088 Bishop Odo plotted a rebellion against his brother Robert in 1106.
Rufus but William of St Calais informed him •
Henry I ruled both Normandy and England as
of the plot. his father (William I) had done
•
Rufus divided the barons by giving them Ditch: make the
concessions and the rebellion failed. castle harder to
attack