KING HAROLD GODWINESON and The BATTLE OF HASTINGS
Coming up soon will be the 944 th anniversary of the last Englisc King, Harold Godwineson’s death , on that fateful day of October 14 th 1066 Senlac (Battle) near Hastings in Sussex;
Englishmen and women know this date so well and will never cease to be amazed at the amount being written and discussed to this very day, Harold Godwineson had not only William ( the Bastard ) of Normandy to worry about. His own brother Tostig was plotting against Harold, taking the side 0f Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. Brother Tostig unhappy at not getting the Earldom of Northumbria, joined forces with Hardrada of Norway against Harold, moving forces towards York to do battle with his brother Harold . They met at Stamford Bridge where King Harold crushed the Norwegians killing Hardrada and Tostig on September 25 just three days after William of Normandy had landed at Penvensey in Sussex on the south coast. Harold Godwineson force marched south. As he passed through East Anglia, Essex, and Kent he was joined by their fyrds, along with volunteers from London. Harold pressed on toward ‘s Penvesey, ignoring two ridges which lay between London and Penvesey Sussex. These probably would of been better for Harold to have met William on. Meeting him there would have given William a long march through difficult forested country before doing battle.While on the other-hand Harold with his West Saxon men would of being much nearer friends. However, Harold chose to fight on the ridge at Senlac seven miles from Hastings on October the 14th 1066
King Harold formed his men in the Anglo-Saxon fashion, (locked shields), with strict instructions not to break rank, on the brow of a hill behind a stockade. This, they defended chiefly with their great battle axes, while William relied on Archers and mounted Knights. The Normans were tactical soldiers, who found it impossible to break the English line. William’s opportuntity came when the Bretons broke ranks and turned to flee (perhaps they feigned flight, under Williams orders). A section of West Saxon churls broke ranks and pursued the fleeing Bretons, which was when the Norman cavalry swung round turning upon the Saxons and charged so fiercely that they prevented them from reforming their line. Meanwhile the Norman Archers shot fast upon the defending force aiming the arrows way into the air, making them drop onto the heads of the Anglo-Saxons, who were using their shields to guard there bodies, one of those arrows killed Harold Godwineson. The defending forces were thrown into disarray and men fell thick and fast. The Normans were masters of the field. Several of Harold’s brothers were slain and the power of the House of Godwine utterly crushed
In October every year there is a tribute to King Harold II, Godwineson, and the men of the fyrd who fell on that fateful day in October 1066. A service is held near the Harold Stone within the grounds of Battle Abbey in East Sussex, by an assembly of the warriors of The White Dragon, with others paying their respects, such as the Englisc charity Steadfast. An Old Englisc Service is taken by the Arealdor of the Englisc Gesiithas. Flowers and wreaths are be laid by those present.
The Normans
“The Normans”, a three part series, was well worth watching on BBC2. The first of this series centred on that infamous and tragic year for England 1066.
The Normans originated from Scandinavia, who were very powerful .They forced their arrival in France centuries before, to create Normandy, a fortified region of France and sought to extend their empire. This would eventually lead to English King Harold’s untimely end. Harold Godwineson was a Saxon holding numerous Shires in the South. Harold, was one of the sons of Earl Godwine of the West Saxons head of the most powerful family in England.
King Edward the Confessor was a Saxon, although he was brought up from a early age in Normandy France, so was naturally fond of Norman life and manners. He spoke French himself and soon filled his court with French speaking Normans, many in high places. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert of Jumieges (who was previously Bishop of London) was a Norman.
Naturally this fuelled discontent amongst the Godwines. Matters came to a head when Eustace of Boulogne, Edward’s brother-in-law, marched into Dover as if he had conquered the town and quartered his men on the inhabitants. The men of Dover resisted, a fight broke out in which some of the strangers where slain. Edward called on Godwine the Earl of Wessex to punish the rioters. He refused, and Edward then called on Leofric of Mercia and Siward of Northumberland to help him against Godwine. A meeting of the Witan was called and Godwine and Harold were outlawed. Godwine went to Bruges in Flanders and Harold went to Ireland.
While Godwine and Harold were away, Edward received a visit from William of Duke of Normandy William (the Bastard, as he was known). He heard French being spoken on nearly every side, so being ambitious he conceived the idea of being King of England, bearing in mind at this time the Normans were very powerful even had a king of southern Italy. It was only ten years since a Northman had reigned in England and there was no likelihood that he would meet with formidable resistance with Godwine and Harold now removed. It is said Edward made a promise of the Crown to William. This he had no right to do, because the election was in the hands of witena-gemot; but William returned to Normandy well satisfied.
A year later everything changed Godwine and Harold returned and the King was forced to make terms with them. The Archbishop Robert was expelled along with many Frenchmen. Stigand, an Englishman was made Archbishop and the House of Godwine was again supreme
Godwine died in 1053. Now Harold became Earl of the West Saxons in 1055 and the power of the kingdom was divided between Harold Godwineson, and Edwin, Morcar, the sons of Earl Leofric. In 1066 Edward died . The question was “who was going to be his successor?” Direct line was Prince Edgar the Atheling. He was King Edmund Ironside’s grandson, but he was still a boy. The English Witan decided that Harold the son of Godwine should be King, although Edward had promised it to Duke William of Normandy. It was very certain that William the Bastard would attempt to take the throne which Edward had bequeathed to him.
William made promises of land and titles to his followers they followed his banner. In the meantime Harold, fortified positions along the South Coast. While he was doing this he was faced with invasion of the North by his brother Tostig and King Harald Hardrada of Norway. Harold marched north to reinstate Earl Morcar Leofricson who had been overthrown by Tostig and the Norwegians. He defeated the Norwegians at Stamford Bridge. In the meantime, William was crossing the Channel and was about to land at Pevensey in Sussex .
Harold marched frantically back to London to gather more support. On his way he raised the fyrd of East Anglia, Essex and Kent. Harold would need as many men as possible as William had a substantial forces, it was said that there were 700 ships with over 200,000 thousand men, historians sometimes over estimated in those days. (It is likely that the numbers were nearer to 300 ships with 15,000 men). Harold chose to fight on a ridge 7 miles from Hastings, although he could have chosen several closer to home near London. Harold arrived at the ridge and formed his men in English fashion locked shields. The Normans attacked and tried to break Harold’s lines, but the English held firm with their battle axes, while the Normans using archers and mounted knights. The Normans were more tactical in warfare, and the Bretons may feinted flight. Some Saxon churls broke ranks and charged after the Bretons. The Norman cavalary wheeled round and charged so fiercely that they prevented the English from regrouping. Showers of arrows reigned down on their heads, as they attempted to use their shields to defend their bodies. At this point, Harold was killed along with several of his brothers. Mayhem broke out and men died by the score. The power of the Godwines was crushed.
Harold Godwineson’s army were defeated .William of Normandy was utterly ruthless and cruel. We know there were pockets and even small armies of Anglo-Saxons who were waiting for Normans to enter their area. Only 10,000 – 15,000 Normans entered the country after Hastings. They were wary and would not venture too far into England to begin with.
William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066. He was looked upon by the witenagemot not only as a conqueror, but as a sovereign of the English. William’s views were to keep England secure, reward his Norman followers and to keep the Norman noblemen from becoming too powerful. The Battle of Hastings had only overthrown the power of Harold and the Saxons in the South and East. The men of the North and the Midlands had not fought yet with the Normans. We know from 1067 to 1071 rebellions broke out everywhere and were crushed by the Normans.
In the North and East the English united with the Danes, capturing York and massacring the garrison. William’s reign was in serious danger, but William hurried to York fought off the Danes and defeated the English. William decided to guard himself from similar attacks he would ravage the North to North East. Once fertile land was ruined by William and for centuries the North was set back, not regaining its position until centuries later.
In 1071 the English rose again. Hereward the Wake inspired the rebels with Morcar and Edwin at their head. Edwin was killed by his own men and Morcar held out on the Isle of Ely Cambridgeshire, which was said to be impregnable, but William attacked on land (a secret path across the Fens was shown to William with the help of a traitorous monk). Also attacking from the sea, William finally overcame the English. After these disasters, the English gave up the struggle and William was able to carry through his policies.
He putNormans in chief places in the Church and State. Edwin and Morcar had lost there Earldoms he did not replace them. He thought the great Earldoms were dangerous, after what he had seen in Burgundy and Provence. The Dukes who governed these areas gradually made themselves hereditary rulers. They granted land to their followers for military service, they had gained control over the law courts and rapidly made themselves stronger than kings, as had Earl Godwine. He had plenty of land to dispose of due to the confiscation caused by the English rebellions. To keep down the English, William built castles in every large town forming a military presence 0f trusted men. In the church William replaced English prelates and Abbots with Normans. This brought the church in England closer to Rome.
In late 1071 and in the Shires, William made twelve men of each shire to declare the laws of the English as it was his intention to preserve these laws and not toreplace them by Norman practices. While making these changes, William steadily strengthened the kingship of England, which was then in Norman hands.