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Period: 1042 to Jan 5, 1066
Edward the Confessor's reign
- He was a respected law maker
- He was very religious
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1055
Tostig appointed Earl of Northumbria
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1064
Harold's embassy to Normandy
Norman story - Harold takes an oath to help William become king -
1065
Rising against Tostig and him being exiled
Causes:
- Tostig was a southerner and didn't fit in
- Tostig taxed Northumbria too heavily
- Tostig was unjust and abused his power
Overall he was highly resented by Northumbria -
1066
Succession Crisis
Edward left no heir to the throne as he had no children
There were 4 contestants for the throne:
- Egard the Aethling | Only 14 years old | nephew to Edward
- Harold Godwinson | Chosen by Witan |
- Harald Hardrada | Viking | King of Norway
- William of Normandy | Claimed to have been promised the throne -
1066
William's march on London
- After seeing the earls weren't going to submit, William set out on a march, destroying homes and farms, trying to use fear to gain power.
- William marched all the way to Berkhamstead where he was met by Edgar Aethling, Edwin and Morcar.
- They all submitted to William, offering him the crown.
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Period: Jan 6, 1066 to Oct 14, 1066
Harold Godwinson's reign
- Appointed by Witan
- Harold Godwinson was the most powerful earl before Edward's death
- Earl of Wessex
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Sep 20, 1066
Battle of Gate Fulford
- Harald Hardrada + Tostig attack England and win
- Harald and Tostig set up camp at Stamford Bridge
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Sep 25, 1066
Battle of Stamford Bridge
- Harold Godwinson marches his army north to suprise Hardrada and Tostig
- Harald Hardrada + Tostig are unprepared
- Harold Godwinson loses a third of his troops and his army is left weakened
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Sep 28, 1066
Normans land at Pevensey Bay
- They instantly build a castle to secure their position
- They wait for Harold Godwinson to arrive
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Oct 14, 1066
Battle of Hastings
- Harold forms a shield wall
- Normans perform a feigned retreat causing English soldiers to break formation
- Norman soldiers turn back around to kill English soldiers
- Harold Godwinson dies (supposedly shot in eye)
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Period: Dec 25, 1066 to Sep 9, 1087
William the Conqueror's reign
- William was ruthless and pursued a strategy of detruction and creating fear
- He built Motte and Bailey castles to hold power
- Created marcher earldoms to reward followers and protect England from a Welsh attack
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1068
Revolt of Edwin and Morcar
- Caused because of Edwin and Morcar losing part of their earldoms and resentment against high tax
- They were joined by Edgar Aethling
- Revolt was quickly crushed, Edgar escaped to Scotland and Edwin and Morcar were pardoned
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1069
Rebellions of the North
- Earl of Northumbria, Robert Cumin was killed
- Edgar Aethling supported the revolt
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Period: 1069 to 1070
Harrying of the North
- Caused by Robert Cumin's death (Earl of Northumbria)
- William burned towns and murdered people
- He put salt in the ground so that crops do not grow
- Many fled from the North and some even turned to cannibalism
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1070
Lanfranc replaces Stigand as Archbishop of Canterbury
Stigand was corrupt because of:
Nepotism - Favouring relatives when giving jobs
Pluralism - Having more than one job
Simony - Taking money for granting jobs
- Lanfranc was also Regent for William I -
Period: 1070 to 1071
Revolt of Hereward the Wake
At Ely (Swampy Wetlands)
Hereward escaped while Morcar was imprisoned for life -
1075
Revolt of the Earls
Who:
- Waltheof | Earl of Northumbria | Ango-Saxon | Informed Lanfranc of the planned revolt | Aimed to get Anglo-Saxon support
- Ralph de Gael | Earl of East Anglia |
- Roger de Breteuil | Earl of Hereford | Son of William FitzOsbern
Overall the revolt failed as Danish support arrived too late, there was little Anglo-Saxon support, and Waltheof telling Lanfranc of the revolt.
- Waltheof was imprisoned the executed
- Roger was imprisoned for life
- Ralph escaped to Britanny -
1077
William I's son (Robert Curthose) rebels against him
- Robert's two younger brothers (William Rufus and Henry) played a prank on him
- William I did not punish the two younger brothers and Robert decided to raise an army against his father.
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1082
Bishop Odo imprisoned
For raising troops without royal permission -
1085
William orders Domesday Book surveys
- No other European country had made such detailed surveys of landholding. This showed the power William had.
- It may have been made so William gets more money from his tenants
- William feared a Viking invasion and wanted to see how many extra soldiers each tenant-in-chief could bring
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1087
Odo is pardoned by William on his death bed
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Sep 9, 1087
Succession dispute
Usually the eldest son would be the heir to the throne. However, William chose William Rufus to be king of England and Robert Curthose to be Duke of Normandy. -
Sep 26, 1087
William Rufus crowned king
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1088
Odo leads a rebellion against William Rufus
- He supported Robert Curthose's claim to the Throne
- And thought he could be more easily controlled
- Odo hoped Robert Curthose would assist him in the rebellion, but help never came and Odo was forced to surrender