The Norman Conquest 3/26/13
Alfred prevented crisis that striked Frankland and protected England (King at end of 9 C)
11thC Norman Conquest
Emma of Normandy (Queen of England)
- Married Anglo Saxon King of England- King Aethelred II of England, “the Unready”
- Aethelred unable to hold off invasion of England by Danes
- Fighting for control of England, but was losing, he died and control fell to Danes
King Canute of England- to legitimize claim to England, he married Emma (better than left as widow to
past King)- good move for both
- Through hereditary right and military force- came to be King of England, Denmark, Norway and
parts of Sweden
- Canute followed Anglo Saxon royal tradition in England, was Xtian, respected existing AS
customs, and was patriarch of English monasteries
- Canute dies, but Emma had 1 son with Canute (Harthacanute) and 2 with Aethelred (Alfred,
Edward)
o King Edward of England, “the Confessor”- only surviving son with Aethelred
- Emma was “king maker”- Canute legitimized power by marrying her, and in 2 disputes managed
to get her son on the throne
Emma of Normandy
- Daughter of duke of Normandy, sent Edward to live in Normandy for safe- keeping and lived there
for 27 years before became king of England (culturally more Norman than Anglo Saxon)
o Introduced Norman customs to English court (upset AS nobles), doesn’t follow their
customs
o Had no children, had to select an heir
- Chose King William I of England, “the Conqueror”
o Signals that kings of England will remain Norman, AS excluded from power
o before Edward died in 1066, he changed his mind on his heir, override promise to give
kingdom to William and gave to Harold Godwinson
- Harold Godwinson- of prominent AS family
2 mens with claim to same throne
- Harold had sworn loyalty to William before being elected as next King
- Trouble from King of Norway (tried at shot at throne, possible invasions from north of Norway and
south from Normandy)
- William wanted to conquer it but dind’t get vassals’ support for sea invasion
o Persuaded Pope that English crown belonged to him and received blessing for
expedition, so norman lords fell in line
Use papal sanction to enforce authority over vassals
Battle of Hastings
- AS (Godswinson) army and Norman army meet in 1066
- William wins
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