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There really isn’t a story about this picture. The story is about the battlefield near these ruins.
England in the 1000’s was a country in transition. Edward the Confessor was king, but he did not rule in his own right. He tried to rule, but his plans backfired. The real power was the man behind the throne, Godwin, Earl of Wessex. This man was somewhat of an Anglo-Saxon relic, but he controlled English people and English money. Godwin, also, attempted to control the throne by offering his daughter in marriage to Edward, who had no choice but to accept Godwin’s proposal, yet he never consummated this marriage. Edward’s refusal to father children angered Godwin, who wanted to establish a royal line issuing from his own family. Edward and Godwin fought over official appointments, and violence came to a head with Edward’s appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury against Godwin’s wishes. Edward’s plans were put into motion, and violence turned to bloodshed. Godwin fled England after his land and titles were revoked. However, a year after leaving, Godwin returned with his own army which humbled King Edward. From that time on, no one doubted that Godwin was really the man in control. Edward retreated into a monastic existence, earning his moniker “The Confessor.” Though Godwin ruled, Edward was still king until the winter of 1065-1066, when Edward died. By that time Harold Godwinson already assumed control of the family business after Godwin died years previous. Harold expanded the Godwin power throughout England and Wales, and became one of the most powerful men in Europe. Because Edward had no children, when his death became imminent, the question of a successor to England’s throne became quite serious.
Who was to rule England? Harold , Harold’s renegade brother, Tostig, Harald Hardrada from Denmark, and William Duke of Normandy all claimed the throne. According to the Bayeaux Tapestry, the winter was a harrowing time. The “hairy star”, Halley’s Comet, proved to be the evil omen all feared. Powerful storms swept over England that winter destroying homes and trees. Edward died while attempting to name his successor; leaving no one with closure.
Harold Godwinson took the throne based upon Edward’s hand touching his hand as Edward died. This outraged the other claimants. Tostig and Harald Hardrada assembled an army and sailed from Scandinavia to take England. Harold Godwinson organized his army as it was “battle season”, in which the nobility had to supply arms and personnel for an agreed upon period. The Viking army landed at Stamford Bridge, and found that Godwinson’s army had stunningly made the 100 mile+ trek in the matter of days, an astounding feat. The battle began early morning and lasted into the night. It was brutally intense, but Godwinson’s army had stumbled upon a bit of luck. The Viking’s did not suspect an English army would arrive so quickly, therefore, they fought without armor. English longbowmen, had a field day with the Vikings. Tostig and Hardrada fell quickly, and the Vikings were routed. The invasion force arrived on 16 ships, and fled on only 3 ships. Godwinson was not yet in the clear, however.
William had a strong claim to England’s throne. First, according to the Norman Chroniclers, Edward swore the throne to William. Second, when Harold Godwinson was in hiding in France, he was part of William’s Norman army, and fought alongside him. Harold fought valiantly, even saving Norman lives, maybe even William’s life. William seeing that Harold was valuable concocted a scheme. He planned a church ceremony in which Harold swore an oath of allegiance to William. Little did Harold know, but he had sworn his oath over sacred relics! Medieval superstition would only allow such an oath to be broken by the death penalty. Harold was now cornered, or so William believed him to be.
William did not forget that oath, and was outraged to find HIS throne occupied by Harold. William appealed to the Pope, and received the Papal backing against Harold. Harold expected to fight William in spring 1066, not Tostig and Harold Hardrada. Time became the main issue and began to run out on the agreed period that the nobility would fight for Harold. Spring turned to summer, summer to autumn. Still no William as bad weather kept William in Normandy. Finally in October, winds were favorable, and William landed at Pevensy and occupied a Roman Castle. From there, William spread out his Norman Knights along the English countryside. Time had plagued Harold who lost much of his army due to harvest. Remaining troops were still a considerable force, however.
Both armies met at Hastings, October 14, 1066. Hell visited England that day. At first, it seemed that Harold would be victorious. He held the high ground, and the Norman Knights could do nothing to break English ranks. William withdrew his knights, and had his archers reign many volleys behind English lines. This proved successful, and Harold was fatally struck by one of these frequent volleys. William then rounded those left with his Knights and swept the battlefield clean.
William still had much to do to convince the English that he was now in charge. He fought from town to town en route to London proving Norman power now held sway. When he arrived to be crowned King of England, riots broke out throughout the city. Buildings were enflamed, and the Normans found quelling tension difficult. It is said that William was shaking like a leaf while being crowned, but when he exited Westminster Abbey the warrior returned to battle destroying all rebellion.
William lived a violent life, fighting well into his 60’s when his horse, spooked in battle, threw him to the ground. William was taken to a nearby abbey and died from his wounds. No one cared for him. His body was left to balloon and explode sending a rotten stench throughout the abbey. William’s legacy shows that he did, however, do much good for English History. He created a census, “The Domesday Book” being his greatest legacy. His influence on a more common level is seen in our own language. Many words considered English are actually French, and were introduced by the Normans after William’s Conquest, such as sheriff, castle, yacht, and thousands more.
armchaircapitalist 