A Christian Burial ?

he 15th October 1066 was a day of reflection. Many of the English dead had nobody to bury them and were left to rot where they lay. Bones were still visible on the site many tens of years afterwards. William after burying his Norman dead must have pondered his next move. He was very close to losing the battle and possibly had little idea that this would be the end of it. He could not have known at this early stage after the battle that more Saxon forces were behind Harold awaiting to attack. Even if there were, they would have been so demoralised at the death of Harold that it would only have been a token effort.

Mountjoy Then Revenge

illiam had a mountjoy constructed to commemorate his victory on the highest point on Caldbec Hill. He decided to return to Hastings, about 10km south to consolidate and give his injured men time to recover. He waited for about a week expecting a deputation to offer England's submission. Nobody came. Casualties on both sides would have been between 1500 to 2000 on the Norman side and possibly slightly higher on the English. Returning to Hastings gave William time to receive fresh supplies from his ships which we assume returned home for this very purpose. Recuperated and re-supplied, William and his men marched towards Dover. This would give him access to the Dover to London Roman road which would speed up his progress to the capital. On his way he settled a score with the inhabitants of Old Romney. William was informed that the two missing boats from his flotilla landed there and the occupants were slaughtered. He took terrible revenge on them by inflicting the same and destroying the village. On top of the White Cliffs of Dover, he built a castle. He met no resistance there. After a short time, he moved his troops along the Roman road to Canterbury where again the inhabitants submitted to him. He knew that the key to England was London. London had always been a law unto itself and could pose a serious problem.

Forward

illiam's progression west and north into the English heartland is a conglomeration of various chroniclers and is thought to represent the facts as they happened. William marched out of Canterbury and over the River Medway towards London. He must have been very wary as he sent a mounted detachment to test the water. In a mad panic the Londoners elected Edgar Aetheling as king, which would eventually be a token gesture. It is thought also that Stigand, the Archbishop of Canterbury was in London or escaped there in advance of the Normans and was responsible for the enthroning of Edgar. William ordered a detachment of about 300 to 500 mounted Knights to advance towards London. They reached the south side of the River Thames at a place known as Southwark where they met some resistance. They sacked the area and headed south out of town. William's main force by this time had continued west and south of London by about 50km. It seems therefore that this was some form of diversionary tactic. The cavalry met up again before passing through Guildford where soon afterwards, another detachment sacked Winchester. By the end of October 1066, reinforcements were arriving by sea at Portsmouth where they rendezvoused with the main force. Stronger now, they headed north. Split into two columns and heading towards Wantage about 60km west of London to join up at Wallingford on Thames. Crossing the Thames here they set up camp. Stigand travelled to William and surrendered himself which was a coup for him as the papacy had given him their approval. It also left William in the enviable position of being able to install his own Archbishop without the trouble of removing the incumbent.

England Is Mine

aving captured a great part of Harold's Wessex, The main group continued in a north easterly direction until they arrived at Aylesbury. The group split again and made a general move through Luton and then to Hertford. Whilst this was going on, splinter groups were raiding as far north as Bedford and Cambridge and along the River Ouse. Eventually they arrived at Berkhamstead where a delegation of English officially surrendered to him. The delegation is not known but William would not have accepted their surrender unless it consisted of eminent Saxons. It is thought that Edgar, Ealdred and possibly Edwin and Morcar, who had let Harold down so badly were in the group. This left the door open to London which was greatly accepted. William was coronated in Edward the Confessor's Church at Westminster on Christmas day 1066. Three months later, William returned to Normandy but received information on the treatment his deputies Bishop Odo and William fitzOsbern had been inflicting on the population. Eustace of Boulogne attempted an attack on the Norman garrison which was fought off by them. Despite the problems, the Normans expanded outwards until they could say by 1070 that England was theirs. William's wife Matilda sailed to England to become queen. Edgar departed to Scotland where he became a problem to William and Edwin and Morcar the Earls from the north were a thorn in his side. William's action in the north was nothing less than severe. He destroyed large areas of Yorkshire and surrounding counties. He defeated the Scots and the Welsh by 1070. He had total power.

Dare You Challenge Me ?

hings did not run as smoothly as he would have liked. Many dissidents were to challenge his position verbally and physically. William the man will be continued in the section entitled " Norman Rule After 1066".