I think nearly all of us know the most famous date in English History:1066 and the Battle of Hastings where England’s rightful King, Harold Godwineson, was defeated by Duke William of Normandy at a site now known as Battle, seven or so miles from Hastings on England’s south coast.
There’s a lot more to Harold than just this one disastrous (for the English) battle though. Earl Harold of Wessex, as he was before the year 1066, had been King Edward’s (later called the Confessor) trusted advisor and second-in-command for many years. He was a capable, experienced military commander and was elected King of England when Edward died on the 5th/6th January 1066.
Yes, elected... It was usual during Anglo-Saxon times for the Æthling (often the king’s first-born son, but not always,) to become the next king because he’d been trained for the job. Edward had no children, no son to follow him. It was known that Duke William, across the Channel in Normandy, had an eye on the English Throne for himself, claiming that right through his Great Aunt, Emma of Normandy who had been Queen of England twice when married to Cnut of Denmark (he of Turning the Tide fame), and prior to that to Æthelred (the Unready) by whom she’d given birth to Edward. William also claimed that Edward had promised him the throne way back in 1052/1053. Which Æthelred might have done, but had no right to do, because the choice of a successor was not the outgoing king’s prerogative, it was for the Witan, the Council to decide. Which is what happened on 6th January 1066 at Westminster in London when the elderly Edward died. He had a nephew who could have been chosen, but he was young and inexperienced. Harold was the eldest of the Godwine brothers – his sister, Edyth, was also the, now widowed, Queen. He was the best man for the job. Naturally, when he found out, Duke William didn’t agree. He sited several objections. (Fake, Conspiracy Theory News and Political Propaganda is nothing new!) One was the promise Edward had made, another was that Harold had agreed, under God’s Oath, to support William’s claim. A third was that the Pope backed William.
 |
| King Harold swearing an oath of allegiance to Duke William |
So What About That Oath?
A few years before, Harold had travelled to Normandy on some sort of diplomatic mission. We know this because of the Bayeux Tapestry, (which is actually an embroidery, not a tapestry). The Tapestry shows the events that led to the Norman Conquest and the battle itself. Much of it, we think, is accurate although as much of it we don’t understand as explanatory text detail is minimal. It shows Harold going to church at Bosham, where he had his main estate (say it ‘Bozzum’ by the way,) and then feasting with family and friends, before setting sail with a small retinue of men and gifts for the Duke. For anyone who knows Bosham, these scenes are remarkably accurate – the church doorway has been shown by local historian, the late John Pollock, to have originally been twice the width it is now, and those steps into the rising tide? Shoreline houses today still have them.
 | ||
 |
The real Game of Thrones
had begun.
What choice did Harold have? Swear or never see his freedom again? Swear or risk his men being killed? Swear or not achieve the probable reason for his visit – the release of two hostages who had been held since 1053, his youngest brother, Wulfnoth, and his nephew, Hakon.
He knew he would, eventually have to break that enforced oath, but what was less honourable – to willingly perjure yourself or be responsible for the deaths of men in your care? In fact, Hakon returned to England with Harold – he later died at Battle, but Wulfnoth never saw his freedom again.
After 1066, Duke William was to make much of this oath, and as for the Pope, I firmly believe that he did not sanction William’s claim until after the final outcome. England was a wealthy country (which is why William wanted it,) Normandy, before the Conquest was basically just a dukedom – on the rise to power, but not yet there. The Pope, I am certain sat firmly on the fence.
As for King Harold, had he been victorious that fateful day in October 1066, the Norman Conquest would not have happened. Much changed because of it, but, fortunately, the enjoyment of a good feast has stayed the same from then until now!
Harold
the King (UK title) https://viewbook.at/HaroldTheKing
I
Am the Chosen King : (US title) https://viewBook.at/ChosenKing
Available in e-book or paperback (Kindle unlimited UK)
The following is my counter blast to the Norman propaganda machine, based upon the research for my novel Harold The King, (published in the USA as I Am The Chosen King)
1066, the most famous date in English history. The Battle of Hastings. To be precise, the 14th of October, 1066, the day when William, Duke of Normandy, led his conquering army against King Harold II of England.
Today, more than 959 years later, one could be forgiven for thinking that politicians had invented spin doctoring, but media manipulation is nothing new. By 1077 Duke William's half-brother, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, had commissioned an embroidery - now called the Bayeux Tapestry - to depict the victorious events; William of Poitiers and William of Jumièges had both written a detailed version of the Conquest. William himself had ordered the building of a splendid abbey on the battle site, the altar being placed at the spot where Harold fell. Supposedly killed by an arrow in the eye.
However, the Norman versions are heavily biased, their explicit purpose: to prove to a Papal inquiry, concerned at the level of brutality and aggression meted on the English, that William's conquest had been justified.
I smell a rat.
Within twenty years of the Conquest, after the North of England had been savagely razed and the Domesday Book compiled, King Harold II's reign of nine months and nine days was completely undermined. Despite legitimate crowning and anointing, therefore taken unto God, in the newly built Westminster Abbey, he was systematically downgraded to his pre-1066 title of Earl and discredited. William's media managers had to justify political murder.
Strip away the Norman gilding, and what do you get? Twisted truths and blatant lies. Start with the fact that William had no right whatsoever to claim the English throne.
He was the result of Duke Robert's liaison with Herleve, the daughter of a tanner. No one in Normandy expected Robert to die before he took a wife and had a legitimate heir. In fairness to the boy, who grew up to be little more than a sadistic, psychopathic tyrant (well I am a Harold supporter) he did suffer a traumatic childhood. The Norman nobles were not happy bunnies, they did not want an eight year old by-blow as their next Duke. As a child, William had to flee for his life more than once; saw his trusted servant murdered before his eyes. What a pity there was not a Norman equivalent of child counselling. Had there been, perhaps England would have been left in peace and William would have kept his land and wealth-grubbing hands off.
William's claim, in 1066, was that his great-aunt, Emma, had been Queen of England - the only woman to have been queen to two different kings of England. Æthelred, better known as the Unready, and Cnut - that's the correct spelling of Canute - the King famous for attempting to hold back the tide. Her firstborn son was Edward, later canonised and called the Confessor. Blame the Conquest on him.
He was sent into exile when, with Æthelred dead and England falling to the conquest of the Dane, Cnut, Emma decided to remain queen by marrying him. For more than thirty years Edward languished in Normandy. He was in his early teens when he left, a man approaching middle years when he came back, recalled to be crowned King of England. He was a man indoctrinated with the Norman way of life, and probably, would have preferred to take Holy Orders. He may have declared a vow of chastity, or he may have been gay. (There are indications to infer he was.)
His wife, Edith, bore him no children. In this period of history barrenness was always the woman's fault but Edith was never blamed. Edward even took her back as wife after a nasty incident when her father was accused of turning traitor and forced into exile. Edith was sent to a nunnery, always a woman's fate, but after a year, with Godwine forgiven and re-instated as Earl, she too was recalled.
Oh, and by the way, the Normans were not French, although William's great-grandfather had embraced Christianity and the French, civilised, way of life. The Normans were relocated North Men. They were Vikings.
According to William's biographers, King Edward had appointed him his heir, and despite swearing an oath to support his claim, Harold had seized the throne in indecent haste and had himself crowned on the same day as the old king's funeral, January 6th 1066. Outraged, William immediately ordered an invasion of England and while Halley's Comet blazed in the sky a fleet was assembled. In September, he crossed the English Channel without mishap. In the meantime, Harold's brother, Tostig had invaded Yorkshire. Moving swiftly, Harold marched to Stamford Bridge near York and won a victory, but when he heard of William's landing he had to return, hot foot, south.
Medieval spin doctors would have us believe that Harold was a poor commander who fought with a tired and depleted army against the elite supremacy of Norman cavalry. Victorious, William marched on London and on Christmas Day was the first king to be crowned in all splendour in Westminster Abbey. Personally, I think his title of bastard is for the other use of the word, and has nothing to do with his lack of legitimacy.
So how had Harold become King? His father, Godwine, was the most powerful man beneath Edward. He had risen to power under Emma and Cnut. Five of his six sons became earls and his daughter, Edith was Edward's childless queen. When Godwine died Harold stepped into his shoes as Earl of Wessex. Harold proved, several times, that he was an able and capable soldier. He conquered Wales, not Edward I in the thirteenth century. Harold became King of England because he was chosen as King; he was the most suitable man for the job. Edward could not have appointed William as heir, things did not work like that in Anglo-Saxon England. When a successor had to be found the most suitable man was chosen by the Council, the Witan. William might have been considered, but against Harold? No contest.
The coronation took place on the day of the funeral because, knowing the king was dying, everyone of importance had been summoned to the Christmas Court. By early January they needed to return home and England could not be left vulnerable until the next calling of Council at Easter. There was nothing untoward about accomplishing such important issues on the same day.
But what of the claim that Harold had pledged an oath to aid William? In 1064 Harold went to Normandy, his voyage duly recorded on the Bayeux Tapestry. Norman sources declare he went to offer William the crown; more likely he was hoping to achieve the release of his brother Wulfnoth and nephew Hakon, held hostage by William since that temporary disgrace of Earl Godwine back in 1052. (I'll not go into detail, suffice to say the exile was caused by some Normans stirring trouble in Dover. Godwine refused to take their side, hence his falling out with the King. When the Normans went home they took the two boys with themto ensure safe passage.)
Harold did return to England with Hakon, but Wulfnoth never saw his freedom again.
While William's guest, Harold went on campaign with the Duke earning himself honours by rescuing two men from drowning near Mont St. Michel (again depicted in the tapestry). Riding with William, Harold would have discovered what sort of man he was. Dedicated to his cause. Single-minded. Ruthless. At the siege of Alencon, William had men skinned alive for daring to taunt him about the nature of his mother's background. William was the one who invented starving to death by incarceration in a dungeon. He was quite capable of slaughtering innocent women and children.
At William's Court, Harold was forced to swear, on holy relics, an oath to agree to support the Duke's claim to the English throne. Did he have any choice? What would have been the consequences for Harold and his men if he had refused? William, as his own vassals knew and Harold had discovered, was not a man you said non to. If you knew you would be locked away for the rest of your life and your men butchered, wouldn't you have let them die or risked perjury to save them?
For a Saxon nobleman it was a matter of honour to protect those you command. To place his men in danger by refusing, Harold would have brought a greater dishonour on himself. Only those Norman spin doctors claimed an oath made under circumstances of coercion was binding.
As for Harold's command at Hastings - he showed aptitude and courage, dignity and ability. Norman propaganda states that he fought with tired men, with only half the fyrd - the army - and without the support of the North.
That is not true.
In mid-September, Harold had marched from London to York in five days to confront his jealous, traitorous brother, Tostig, who had allied with Harald Hardrada of Norway. The southern fyrd, on alert all summer, had been stood down - because William had already tried invading and had been soundly beaten at sea.
Harold's only mistake: he underestimated how quickly William could re-gather a new fleet.
Harold took only his housecarls - his permanent army - north, gathering the men of the midlands to him as he marched. Undoubtedly, the housecarls were mounted for no infantry could cover that distance so quickly. Already the fyrds of the north had fought and lost a great battle at Gate Fulford, outside York. Under Harold, they fought again - this time to win - at Stamford Bridge.
It was not that the nobility and the men of the fyrd did not want to support Harold at Hastings; they could not, for their numbers were savagely depleted, many of the survivors wounded and exhausted after fighting two battles. It would have been impossible for them to have marched south when news came that William had landed. The northern earls did in fact follow Harold as soon as they could but, of course, by then it was too late.
The battle that took place seven miles inland from Hastings is almost unique for this period. Fighting was usually over within the hour, two at most. This battle lasted all day. The English, for the most part, stood firm along the ridge that straddled the road out into the Weald, stood shield locked against shield, William's men toiling again and again up that hill. This was deliberate strategy on Harold's part. He and his men had marched to York and back, fought a battle in between. Doesn't it make sense to make the opponent do all the hard work?
Yes, perhaps Harold would rather have waited before committing his men to fight, but he had no choice in the decision: once out into the Sussex Weald it would have been difficult to stop William. Within the Hastings peninsula, he and the extensive, deliberate, damage he was doing to people and property were firmly contained. Harold had to keep him there, therefore Harold had to fight.
EXCERPT: THE OATH
Harold is visiting at Duke William's court in Normandy, his prime motive, to secure the release of his younger brother and nephew who have been William's hostages for some years,but William has tricked him into declaring an oath of fealty...
How binding was a promise? Ah, that depended on the nature of the oath and the amount of honour within the man. When a man offered his sword to his chosen lord he was bound to keep his word or lose his honour; the promise to set an afeared youth free of his shackles was equally binding. An English lord paid homage and loyalty by undertaking to do his best by the men who served him. To rule fairly, to protect the children and womenfolk, to lead bravely in battle. To take upon his shoulders the responsibility of caring for those men who had promised to serve without question. And in the Saxon tradition, above all else, a man could knowingly declare false oath and not be perjured for that swearing, if the safety or honour of another depended on it.
They were waiting expectantly, most of them hoping Earl Harold of England would show himself the greater fool by refusing outright the duke’s command. Harold must surely oblige them, for William had no right to demand he speak the word of faith and fidelity. It would be an oath taken against his will and better judgement. Yet had not most of the men here this day proclaimed their troth under the same harsh conditions? Swear, or lose your land and freedom. Or your life.
William was holding his hand out to Harold, the gloating smile broadening into triumph. “We are allies, are we not?” he coaxed, his voice smooth with charm. “Soon, alas, we must set you on your way home to England, accompanied by your nephew. Soon, also, your brother, Wulfnoth be his name? Wulfnoth will honour me by escorting my eldest- born daughter to you. In return for the patronage of my kinship you will agree to represent my care and concern for the future of England’s throne. You will remind King Edward that he did favour my claim. I shall expect him to honour that favour in the making of his will, and from you also, as my sworn vassal.”
The fury choked in Harold’s throat. Vomit rose in his gullet. So this was why he had been kept in Normandy, why he had been played for the simpleton! Once the annual day of oath-taking was past, once he had pledged this foul promise, he would be free to return to England. Aye, free, but bribed with the lure of the daughter of the duchy as wife, threatened with harm to his brother if he refused. Yet for the good of another an oath might be made and broken without loss of honour. For the good of Hakon, and more, for the safety of England. They were only words, after all.
Harold stepped forward, his throat and lips dry, his fists clenched. He stared with a hard dislike at William, then knelt, touched the sword and set his lips to the duke’s ring.
William nodded his acceptance, but before Harold could repeat the oath said quickly and with menace, “I think I may need some further assurance from you, my Lord Harold. Being that you do not reside here in Normandy.” He clicked his fingers; two servants brought in two wooden caskets. “These contain the holy relics of Normandy’s most precious saints. Swear your oath on them, make your words truly binding.”
Harold’s rage almost boiled over the edge of restraint. It was one thing knowingly to break an oath made to a man, another to do so against God. Yet was not God, too, just and honourable in His wisdom? Did He not respect the time-cherished ways of the Saxon kind? Not bothering to mask the rage that was churning in his mind and stomach, Harold laid a finger on each casket, repeating aloud the words of fealty that Bishop Odo dictated to him: “I pledge to my lord Duke William, son of Robert of Normandy, my fealty and my loyalty. Do offer my duty as Earl of England to your honour. To speak your words, as if spoken from your mouth, to the noblemen of England’s realm. To provide for you, when Edward is at the end of his noble life and called unto God, the crown, the sceptre and the throne of England, so that you may rule in the way of Edward’s wisdom.”
It was done. With gorge in his mouth, but done.
William nodded, satisfied. He took and held Harold’s hand between his own palms a moment. Met, as he rose to his feet, Harold’s blazing eyes.
In them there was no calm of spirit, no come-what-may frivolity. Nor was there any hint whatsoever of fear. In that one brief passing instant William realised he had made a vast error of judgement. All these long months observing Harold, assessing him, deciding his worth, moving each piece of the game, square by square, slowly, surely; calculating the ultimate goal. Again and again William had won his private tournament against this English earl. Looking direct into Harold’s eyes, that mid-December afternoon, William belatedly understood, with stomach-churning dread, that Harold, too, had been playing a game. His foolery, his complacence, his mild manners had lulled his opponent with blithe ease into a false appraisal.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for leaving a comment - it should appear soon. If you are having problems, contact me on author AT helenhollick DOT net and I will post your comment for you. That said ...SPAMMERS or rudeness will be composted or turned into toads.
Helen