Norman conquest of England

William's military experience:

• Two decades of experience in leading/fighting battles- conquest in Maine got him title of 'conqueror'.
• Feudal system in Normandy meant that all leading nobles were at the top of a war-orientated society (very strong opposition).

William's preparation/leadership:

• Had a strong Norman line/claim to the throne- lots of support.
• Invasion was presented as a crusade (papal banner) since Stigand was accused of pluralism.
• Increased the number of mercenaries and experienced soldiers= fought for God.
• Successfully transported army across the channel;ravaged land to provoke Harold.

Harold's weakness:

• Rushed into battle; lacked experienced housecarls as he didn't wait to remobilise troops.
• Untrained peasants broke the shield wall in feigned retreats; no tactical preparation.
• Didn't allow troops to recover from Stamford Bridge- exhausted and depleted in numbers.

Unequal armies:

• William had heavy cavalry and archers.
• Harold limited in command as he fought on foot (viking style) whereas William was horse-borne so could rally his troops easily.

External factors:

• Weather; they were lucky with the wind changing allowing them to get to England.
• Hales comet; bayeux tapestry depcits comet being spotted when Harold was being crowned (omen).
• Papal banner made the A-S unmotivated (didn't have god on their side)= less superior.

The submission of the earls:

• After battle, William was in a vulnerable position with a battle-damaged army.
• London blocked his advance and North unknown to him, Welsh/Scottish posed a threat too.
• Stigand put Edgar forward as the new King; earls refused to agree to this.
• To gain control of the SE he employed terror tactics (savage attacks), made Dover and Canterbury surrender.
• Wasted parts of the West and established a castle to prevent relief reaching London.
• Stigand left London to offer his surrender (london cut off from North).
• Remaining English leaders surrendered (inc Edgar and the 2 Northern earls).
• Crowned King and annointed by Archbishop of York, gained the aura of being blessed by God (could now tap into A-S inherent loyalty to the Crown).

Rebellion in the South 1067-69:

• William saw no threats so left to Normandy; left FitzOsbern and Odo in charge.
• Harshness of their rule encouraged first stirrings of revolt= Kent rebelled.
• Rebels were quickly stoppped; initial lack of English resistance due to shock of defeat and heavy losses suffered to warriors from 1066, absence of leadership (not unified).
• Many thegns prepared to accept new regime to keep estates; William initially had policy of conciliation, promised to rule in accordance with Ed's and the traditional elites.
• First true rebellion began in Exeter; increased taxation to fund Norman occupation.
• Dangerous threat; William returns (was a Godwinson stronghold, hadn't submitted to him).
• Marched troops into Devon (raised under A-S levy system- many adjusted to new rules).
• William laid seige and soon they surrendered; established a castle to ensure future control.
• Staged marches nearby to underline strength and make areas submit to him like Bristol.
• SW still not secure; 1068, 3 of Harold's sons came to raid but beaten off by English forces.
• Harold's sons launched a second raid, William relied on his nobles to restore order= successful.

Harrying of the North 1068-70:

• Posed greatest threat; forced to take the field 3 times in extended campaigns.
• Edgar, Edwin and Morcar dejected from his court; despite his promises, nobles wielded little power and influnce.
• William executed a trail of destruction in the North (lightning raids) and established a castle in York; Edwin and Morcar surrendered.
• Edgar moved to York to assume leadership of the rebellion, William established a second castle there after relieving garrison at York and Edgar fled back to Scotland.
• Danish fleet appeared off Kent due to appeals by English exiles; Edgar joined their forces.
• Jointly seized York; had a figurehead in the form of Edgar (strong claim to throne).
• Scottish threat as Malcom had links with Edgar and a desire to control Northumbria.
• William devastated the land in staged marches; reoccupying York for the 3rd time.
• Set about systematic harrying of Yorkshire; wasted lands, destroyed for generations.
• Dealt with rebellions in NW by a winter assault; establishing castles and ravaging the region.
• Danish fleet dispersed with a bribe; rebellious spirit of the North was crushed.

Foreign intervention and East-Anglian rebellion 1070-71:

• East Anglia= last bastion of resistance to Normans.
• English rebels collected there from 1070 when it was occupied by a section of the Danish fleet.
• Hereward the Wake= chief rebel leader; local thegn who's land was confiscated by Normans.
• Ely= ideal location, surrounded by marshland so could allow Danish to strike anywhere.
• Had sea access= reinforcements, posed a danger to Norman control with a raid in Peterborough, led by Hereward.
• William dealt with threat successfully through diplomacy and force; bought off Danes.
• His deputies tried to capture Ely but Hereward used superior military skill to hold them off.
• 1071; William took command and sent a fleet to blockadethe island; army advanced and led a successful assault but not without difficulties.

The revolt of the earls 1075:

• 3 conspirators: Ralph de Gael, Roger de Breteuil + Waltheof (all earls).
• All had Breton, Norman + English backgrounds; could cause trouble in England + Normandy.
• Rebellion failed to pose a significant risk to King; William stayed in Normandy and relied on Lanfranc to organise its destruction.
• Lanfranc was warned of the plot; Waltheof confessed (2 remaining earls pressed on).
• Ralph and Roger split with the aim to join forces and isolate the North but failed to gain much local support and didn't get backing from the Danes so couldn't face 2 Norman armies.
• Ralph fled to Brittany so William ensured his followers were captured and mutilated.
• Roger spent the rest of his life in prison once captured.
• Waltheof was executed the following year; when the Danes finally arrived with 200 ships, the revolt was effectively over.
• Determined resistance to Norman rule came to an end; his success in dealing with rebellions is partly due to their lack of co-ordination, his supporters, ineffectiveness of Danes/Scots and used ruthless/widespread tactic of wasting land to deter further uprisings.