William the Conqueror (AD 1028– 1087)
As Edward the Confessor lay on his deathbed he summoned Earl Harold of Wessex. Harold was Edward's brother-in-law and had no blood claim to the throne. Harold had helped run England for a dozen years, was a prefered candidate by the other Anglo-Saxon Earls and the dying king named Harold as successor. Or so that is the story according to Harold.
When William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy heard he was furious, as he believed through French connections he should have been king. Hence the Bayeaux Tapestry (50cm high and 70 meteres long), a huge unique work of graphic evidence and propaganda, that was stitched to the orders of William's half-brother.
Seems Harold may have promised to support William's claim for the throne and then took it himself.
King Harold was trying to strengthen his position by a marriage of convenience to Ealdgyth (granddaughter of Lady Godiva) and sister to two of the country's most powerful earls. Harold might have been better off marrying his lover with whom he had five sons and two daughters with.
Harold had also fallen out with his fiery brother Tostig - who was now teaming up with King Hardraada of Norway who also believed he had a claim to the throne of England. In September 1066 Harold heard Tostig and Hardraada had landed forces in Northumbria and had taken control of York.
William's fleet were poised on the other side of the channel.
Harold marched his army north covering 180 miles in four days took the invaders by surprise and won a fierce and brilliant battle at Stamford Bridge both Tostig and the king of Norway were killed. This was a great victory and gave the Saxon army the reputation for being the nimblest and most lethal fighting force.
Just three days later William of Normandy landed his troops in Sussex. Harold's army marched south as quickly as possible, picked up reinforcements and marched on Hastings.
The Bayeaux Tapestry shows the Normans riding their horses into battle whilst the Saxons were on foot. The Saxons are depicted with droopy moustaches and long hair whilst Normans were clean shaven and hair cut short; so the enemy could not get an advantage by grabbing their hair. The Normans' horses were compact and powerful horses (probably Arabian blood from their shape) and gave the Normans a distinct advantage.
Six hours later, after the longest battle in Middle Age history Harold lay dead on the battlefield with an arrow through his eye.
And so, William of Normandy (or William the Conqueror or William I) became the third king of England in a tumultous year. And England became Norman.
The Tower of London has been a part of British royal history for nearly 1,000 years, and has become a national symbol of royalty and power. The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture. It was built on the Thames by William the Conqueror to protect London and assert his power.
As Edward the Confessor lay on his deathbed he summoned Earl Harold of Wessex. Harold was Edward's brother-in-law and had no blood claim to the throne. Harold had helped run England for a dozen years, was a prefered candidate by the other Anglo-Saxon Earls and the dying king named Harold as successor. Or so that is the story according to Harold.
When William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy heard he was furious, as he believed through French connections he should have been king. Hence the Bayeaux Tapestry (50cm high and 70 meteres long), a huge unique work of graphic evidence and propaganda, that was stitched to the orders of William's half-brother.
Seems Harold may have promised to support William's claim for the throne and then took it himself.
King Harold was trying to strengthen his position by a marriage of convenience to Ealdgyth (granddaughter of Lady Godiva) and sister to two of the country's most powerful earls. Harold might have been better off marrying his lover with whom he had five sons and two daughters with.
Harold had also fallen out with his fiery brother Tostig - who was now teaming up with King Hardraada of Norway who also believed he had a claim to the throne of England. In September 1066 Harold heard Tostig and Hardraada had landed forces in Northumbria and had taken control of York.
William's fleet were poised on the other side of the channel.
Harold marched his army north covering 180 miles in four days took the invaders by surprise and won a fierce and brilliant battle at Stamford Bridge both Tostig and the king of Norway were killed. This was a great victory and gave the Saxon army the reputation for being the nimblest and most lethal fighting force.
Just three days later William of Normandy landed his troops in Sussex. Harold's army marched south as quickly as possible, picked up reinforcements and marched on Hastings.
The Bayeaux Tapestry shows the Normans riding their horses into battle whilst the Saxons were on foot. The Saxons are depicted with droopy moustaches and long hair whilst Normans were clean shaven and hair cut short; so the enemy could not get an advantage by grabbing their hair. The Normans' horses were compact and powerful horses (probably Arabian blood from their shape) and gave the Normans a distinct advantage.
Six hours later, after the longest battle in Middle Age history Harold lay dead on the battlefield with an arrow through his eye.
And so, William of Normandy (or William the Conqueror or William I) became the third king of England in a tumultous year. And England became Norman.
The Tower of London has been a part of British royal history for nearly 1,000 years, and has become a national symbol of royalty and power. The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture. It was built on the Thames by William the Conqueror to protect London and assert his power.
