The Norman Invasion Trilogy is set during the dispute for the Crown of England in 1066. The vacancy of king was left by Edward the Confessor who died childless. With numerous men vying for the crown, war comes to England.
The Kings...
King Edward the Confessor
Reign 1042-1066
Reign 1042-1066
Following the death of King Harthacanute, Edward became King of England. He left much of the running of the country to the powerful Earl Godwin and Godwin's son Harold. Edward died childless. With no natural successor, England was faced with a power struggle for control of the throne.
Earl Harold Godwinson
Reign 1066
Reign 1066
Despite having no royal bloodline, Harold Godwinson was elected king by the Witan (a council of high ranking nobles and religious leaders), following the death of Edward the Confessor. The election result failed to meet with the approval of William, Duke of Normandy, who claimed that his relative Edward had promised the throne to him several years earlier. Harold defeated an invading Norwegian King Harald Hardrada and his army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, then marched south to confront William of Normandy who had landed his forces in Sussex. The death of Harold at the Battle Of Hastings meant the end of the English Anglo-Saxon kings and the beginning of the Normans.
King Harald Sigurdsson "Hardrada" King of Norway
Reign 1046-1066
Reign 1046-1066
King Magnus King of Norway and Denmark and his predecessor King Harthacnut of Denmark and the English, agreed in 1038 that if either died, the other would inherit. Sigurdsson had a claim to the throne as the uncle and heir of King Magnus.
Tostig Godwinson and Harald Hardrada invaded Northumbria in September 1066 and defeated the local forces under Morcar and Edwin at the Battle of Fulford near York. King Harold received word of their invasion and marched north, defeating the invaders and killing Tostig and Hardrada on September 25 at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Tostig Godwinson and Harald Hardrada invaded Northumbria in September 1066 and defeated the local forces under Morcar and Edwin at the Battle of Fulford near York. King Harold received word of their invasion and marched north, defeating the invaders and killing Tostig and Hardrada on September 25 at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Edgar the Ætheling
Reign 1066
Reign 1066
English clergy and magnates nominated Edgar the Ætheling as king (after Harold's death at Hastings).
King Edward’s young great-nephew Edgar the Ætheling of the House of Wessex was proclaimed king after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 but was never crowned and was peacefully deposed
King Edward’s young great-nephew Edgar the Ætheling of the House of Wessex was proclaimed king after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 but was never crowned and was peacefully deposed
Duke William of Normandy
Reign 1066-1087
Reign 1066-1087
English king Edward the Confessor was childless and supposedly named William (his first cousin once removed) his successor.
William was seven or eight when he inherited the duchy of Normandy. King Henry I of France supported him. A number of William's guardians were killed in the attempts on his life.
William spent a great amount of his majority in warfare. At Alençon William cut the hands and feet from the prisoners before catapulting them back into the city. This was to retaliate for the taunting of hides hung from the walls as an insult to William's heritage.
When Edward died he set sail for England. It was early August, adverse winds kept the ships in Normandy until late September. William landed in England at Pevensey Bay on September 28, 1066.
William was seven or eight when he inherited the duchy of Normandy. King Henry I of France supported him. A number of William's guardians were killed in the attempts on his life.
William spent a great amount of his majority in warfare. At Alençon William cut the hands and feet from the prisoners before catapulting them back into the city. This was to retaliate for the taunting of hides hung from the walls as an insult to William's heritage.
When Edward died he set sail for England. It was early August, adverse winds kept the ships in Normandy until late September. William landed in England at Pevensey Bay on September 28, 1066.
King Sweyn II, King of Denmark
Reign 1047-1076
Reign 1047-1076
Magnus the Good, King of Norway and Denmark dividing the Norwegian throne on his deathbed.
Harald Hardrada would get the throne of Norway, while Sweyn would be king of Denmark. A long war was fought with Hardrada wanting not only Norway but Denmark. In the end, Harald relinquished his claim to Denmark. When Harald died trying to take the throne of England, Sweyn turned his sights on England, once held by his uncle Canute the Great.
Sweyn sent a force to back Edgar Atheling, the last heir to the Anglo-Saxon royal house. But he was paid off by William the Conqueror and abandoning Edgar.
Harald Hardrada would get the throne of Norway, while Sweyn would be king of Denmark. A long war was fought with Hardrada wanting not only Norway but Denmark. In the end, Harald relinquished his claim to Denmark. When Harald died trying to take the throne of England, Sweyn turned his sights on England, once held by his uncle Canute the Great.
Sweyn sent a force to back Edgar Atheling, the last heir to the Anglo-Saxon royal house. But he was paid off by William the Conqueror and abandoning Edgar.
King Malcolm III
Reign 1058-1093
Reign 1058-1093
In 1072, William of Normandy came north with an army and a fleet. Malcolm met William at Abernethy and, agreed to peace. Malcolm handed over his eldest son Duncan as a hostage and arranged peace between William and Edgar, accepting William's overlordship.
But Malcolm did not keep to the agreement with the English king and raids continued into Northumbria, which led to further trouble in the earldom and the killing of Bishop William Walcher at Gateshead. In 1080, William sent his son Robert Curthose north with an army while his brother Odo punished the Northumbrians. Malcolm again made peace, and this time kept it for over a decade.
But Malcolm did not keep to the agreement with the English king and raids continued into Northumbria, which led to further trouble in the earldom and the killing of Bishop William Walcher at Gateshead. In 1080, William sent his son Robert Curthose north with an army while his brother Odo punished the Northumbrians. Malcolm again made peace, and this time kept it for over a decade.
Other Historic Characters...
Tostig Godwinson Earl of Northumbria and brother of King Harold Godwinson. After Harold exiled him, Tostig supported the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada's invasion of England. Tostig was killed alongside Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.
Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria - When his father, Siward, Earl of Northumbria, died he was considered to young to succeed. King Edward appointed Tostig Godwinson to the earldom instead.
Margaret of Wessex, Princess of England, Queen of Scotland - Sister to Edgar Ætheling - she was born in Hungary, as daughter to the exiled Prince of England Edward the Exile and granddaughter of Edmund Ironside, King of England. When forced to flee north with her siblings Edgar, and Cristina and their mother Agatha, she would eventually marry Malcolm III King of England.
Robert de Comines, Earl of Northumbria - One of William the Conqueror's followers. he rewarded Robert with the earldom of Northumbria.in 1068.
