after the battles/uprisings

after Hastings

William rested for two weeks hoping the English would surrender the Kingdom but instead the Witan chose Edgar Aetheling to be king

William marched through England building castles as he went and then set up camp around London

Edgar Aetheling surrendered the kingdom to William

taking control

William tried to take control but many were angry or fearful

he tried to establish his authority by:

Claiming all English land as his

  • he claimed all English land

  • gave land of those who died at Hastings to his supporters

  • allowed earls and thegns to buy their land back

Dividing the country to control it

  • William FitzOsbern in control of East Anglia

  • his half brother Odo of Bayeux in charge of the south east

  • allowed English nobles to stay if they formally submitted to William

Led an army through East Anglia

  • this was an area with strong Danish links

forced the English to build castles

  • motte and bailey castles

  • built for the new Norman lords

Taking hostages

  • took Edgar Aetheling, Edwin and Morcar to Normandy with him

  • discourage rebellion

first uprisings

Edric the wild was the first uprising but it was not a real threat:

  • near Hereford in August 1067

  • he was a powerful English thegn

  • he had lost most of his land to Norman knights

  • he joined with Welsh princes

  • raided Norman land and destroyed Hereford

  • never a serious threat but he carried on for years

Exeter rebellions

Harold’s mother, Gytha plotted a more serious rebellion:

  • William stayed in Normandy leaving Odo and FitzOsbern to it

  • his spies told him trouble was coming so he returned at the end of 1067

  • he treated the Lords and bishops well for loyalty

  • Gytha had fled to Exeter after Hastings

  • she sent Harold’s sons to Ireland to gather an army

  • she contacted the Danish king, hoping he would invade from the east at the same time

  • he tried to win Gytha and Exeter over (asked them to swear an oath of loyalty)

  • they refused, said they would not pay taxes and he was not allowed in the city

  • William gathered an army

  • he besieged the city

  • after 18 days, Exeter surrendered

  • William pardoned them

  • he offered to not hurt them or the city or demand more tax in return for their loyalty

  • he took Gytha’s lands and built a large castle

uprisings north

uprising continued and William began treating them more harshly

in the summer of 1068, William got a letter from the people of the North saying they would fight him if he tried to enter their land → this rebellion involved Edgar Aetheling, Edwin and Morcar

William gathered an army and built a castle and Warwick in the middle of Edwin’s lands and then another in Nottingham → Edwin and Morcar surrendered

on his way home he built castles in Lincoln, Huntingdon and Cambridge

Harold’s sons came with an army from Ireland but the people of Bristol fought them off

after 1068 William appointed Robert of Comines (an experienced soldier) as earl of Northumbria → before long Robert was attacking rebels and Durham, looting and killing

Durham attacked them and when Robert and his men took shelter they were set on fire and they all died.

Edgar Aetheling and the other rebel leaders attacked York

there was a vicious battle and William retook York, built a castle and appointed William FitzOsbern

in June 1069 Harold’s sons made an attempt to invade again but they were driven off again

in early September 1069 the Danes invaded with 250 ships (because Gytha had persuaded the Danish king, Cnut, to invade)

they were met by Edgar Aetheling in York

the citizens of York tried to protect the city with fire but the whole city burned down

William had to march hnorth

in 1070 William got tired and took action

  • paid the Danes to leave

  • sent for his crown to wear for Christmas

  • Harrying of the north

    • crops, animals and food were destroyed causing famine and we can see depopulation in the Domesday books

throughout 1070 - 71

  • William replaced Stigand with Lanfranc from Normandy

  • removed any church members who sympathised with the rebels

  • everyone was made unhappy

in 1070 the Danes took the money and then didn’t leave

they captured Ely in June → the locals didn’t resist because they did not like William

Hereward the Wake attacked Peterborough Abbey and joined forces with the Danes

the Danes left because they were hungry and tired and William convinced them

William returned to Normandy

he left the local lords to control Hereward

the abbot of Ely supported Hereward

Edwin and Morcar joined Hereward

rebels came from all over England to Ely

1071 - William returned with an army → he sent ships to block supplies to the rebels in Ely

the English surrendered

Hereward escaped but there were no more serious uprisings against William