A-level History: Norman Conquest of England

A-level History: Norman Conquest of England

1. Origins

   • 3 people fight for the throne; Harald III, Harold Godwinson, and Duke William of Normandy.
   • Lack of heirs to the throne.
   • Early 1066 - Edward The Confessor dies

2. Rival Claimants

   • Harold Godwinson
     • Most powerful aristocrat at the time.
       • Was chosen by the Witengamot and crowned by the Archbishop of York
   • Duke William of Normandy
     • Married to Matilda of Flanders, giving him the Flanders family's power.
       • Said to have been chosen by Edward the Confessor as king.
   • Harald III
     • Was an accomplished mercenary.
       • Became king of Norway in 1046.

3. Military Preparations (Harold Godwinson)

   • The English army was organised along regional lines, with the fyrd serving under a local magnate.
     • Harold also had a group of personal armsmen called housecarls.
       • Fryds and housecarls were mainly infantry, though the housecarls had superior armour.
         • The English army did not had few archers.
           • Harold had around 14000 men ready to be deployed.

4. Military Preparations (Duke William of Normandy)

   • Duke William assembled a large invasion fleet and an army gathered from all over Normandy and the rest of France.
     • He also secured diplomatic support, his most notable supporter being pope Alexander II.
       • Duke William had between 7500 to 12000 men, which consisted of foot soldiers, archers, and cavalry.

5. Military Preparations (Harald III)

   • Allied himself with Togwig Godwinson, Harold's brother.
     • Plundered towns he reached.
       • Harald had around between 10000-15000 men.

6. The events of 1066 and Their Ourcomes

   • April 24th. Hayley's comet appears,
     • September 20th. Battle of Bulford, Yorkshire.
       • September 25th. Battle of Stanford Bridge;
         • September 27th. Duke William of Normandy and his army set sail for England.
           • September 28th. William I arrives at Pevensey Bay, Sussex.
             • October 14th. Battle of Hastings.
               • December 25th. Duke William of Normandy Crowned King of England.
   • Battle of Hastings

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