First uprisings against Norman rule including resistance in the west and in Mercia

• After the battle of Hastings, William rested troops for 2 weeks in the hope of the English surrendering the kingdom to him

• The witan chose Edgar Aetheling to be king

• William marched through Kent, building castles, moving around London, setting up camp and waiting

• Edgar Aetheling surrendered the kingdom to William

• William was crowned at Westminster abbey on Christmas Day 1066

William’s initial actions:

• Claiming all England land as his own, giving the land of those who died at Hastings to supporters, allowing earls and thegns to buy back their land

• Gave William FitzObern ( his friend), control of East ANglia and his half brother Odo of Bayeux in charge of the South East, allowing English Nobles to keep their position if they formally submitted to William

• Took Edgar Aetheling, Edwin and Morcar to Normandy, keeping them in comfort and safety but discouraging English rebellion

• Forced English to build motte and bailey castles for Norman lords

Edric the Wild

• August 1067 - Edric, a powerful English thegn who had lost most of his land to Norman knights, joined Welsh princes to raid Norman held land and destroy Hereford

• Carried on for years with no serious threat

Gytha

• King Harold’s mother Gytha plotted a rebellion in Exeter

• Rebels strengthened defenses and send Harold’s sons to Ireland to gather an army to drive out the Normans, contacting the Danish king in hope of an invasion of the east at the same time

• William asked the rebels to swear an oath of loyality to him - they refused and did not allow him into the city, refusing to pay tax to him

Exeter Surrenders

• Exeter citizens met William, promising his entry into the coty

• On return to the city, the fellow citizens were furious and banned the city gates on William who besiegned the city, undermining the walls