William the Conqueror and the Norman Invasion

In 1066, Edward the Confessor, King of England, died without any children to succeed him. Edward had promised the throne to Duke William of Normandy, Edward’s cousin across the English Channel. However, during this time the power of kings was becoming more limited and the Anglo-Saxon assembly had the power to choose Edward’s successor. The assembly chose Harold Godwinsson, Edward’s brother-in-law. Even though Harold had previously sworn to William that Harold would support William’s becoming king, Harold broke his promise and wanted to become king. However he faced two competitors: William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, who had also inherited rights to the English throne.

Hardrada loved the thrill of battle, and decided to go to war against Harold in order to win the right to be king of England. Harold is described in this way in 1066, the year of the Conquest. The word berserk has survived from the Norsemen’s language. A man who went berserk was seized by a battle-madness far beyond courage: he killed and killed, without mercy, reason or fear, and did not stop until there was nobody left to kill, or until he fell dead himself..... Harold in one word was berserk: the most celebrated, feared and admired berserker of that century.

Harold of England and his army met Hardrada and his soldiers at Stamford Bridge, on the northeast coast of England, in September 1066. Harold’s English army was victorious; and Hardrada, the great warrior, was killed with an arrow in his throat.

In the meantime, in a stroke of luck for William, the wind was favorable for his ships to set sail across the channel to invade England, just two days after the Battle of Stamford. Harold’s soldiers most of whom fought on foot, had to march 250 miles south and try to replenish themselves before a fight with against William’s army. In comparison to William’s army, Harold’s troops were not very well organized or equipped. William had divided his soldiers, many of whom fought on horseback, into horsemen, archers, and infantry. Harold’s army used weapon called the two-handed battle-ax an instrument that could inflict devastating injury on the victim. To evade their blows, William’s archers remained at a safe distance and fired flurries of arrows. The Normans shouted “God’s help!” while the English shouted “God Almighty!” Both sides believed God was on their side. But William’s army was the cleverer one: his forces pretending to retreat then turned around and attacked Harold’s unsuspecting forces. Using this strategy, the Normans were able to break the “shield wall” of Harold’s men. Finally, King Harold was killed by a Norman Knight on horseback, and William the conqueror won the battle and became king of England. The story of William’s conquest of England was recorded in a tapestry in the 11th century. Odon of Countville, the Bishop of Bayeux, and half brother of William the Conqueror, supervised the manufacture of the Bayeux Tapestry, embroidery on a linen cloth. A unique masterpiece, it is over 225 feet long and close to a foot high.

William the Conqueror’s rule brought many Norman traditions and ways of life to England. The French language, Norman castles, churches, clergy, and monasteries, and techniques of weaving all became part of English life. At the same time, William retained many English customs, particularly the increasingly important tradition of consuling with an advisory council before making decisions. William was able to act as a powerful leader, while taking the opinions of the nobles into consideration. In 1086, William decided to order his officials to make a detailed survey of England, so he could find out what land each tenant held, what the tenants owned, and what taxes he could expect. The results of this census are recorded in two large volumes called the Doomsday Book.