A Chronological History of Britain
Every episode of The British History Podcast that moves the story forward in a chronological way.
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In early 1068… as William was preparing for the tactical Coronation of Matilda… the three sons of Harold Godwinson were in Ireland. They had come to meet with King Diarmad of Dublin and prepare an invasion force to re-take England.
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Here is the beginning of Hereward the Wake.
And to tell this story, we have to begin with the legend, because nothing in this story is straightforward. Probably because at least some of it is true.
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Gytha and her supporters had fled into the Severn Estuary, and it was the final nail in the coffin of the Exeter rebellion. With no help coming, they were forced to negotiate a peace. But this wasn’t exactly a victory for William, either. He’d been on the throne for scarcely over a year, and he’d already seen three separate rebellions.
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Exeter stood in open defiance against William and his army.
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Earl Osulf II of Bamburgh was a Northumbrian, and he had earned his seat ruling over the region North of the Tyne in true Northumbrian fashion.
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Last week we left off with Dover with some good old fashioned french on french violence… Count Eustace had attacked and attempted to seize the Southern Town… and lost. In fact, he had lost so badly that his poor young nephew (who had never fought in battle before but, trusting his uncle, joined him on this venture) was captured by the forces of de Montfort.
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Feudalism had officially come to England, courtesy of the Normans…
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1067 was a time of incredible change within England. Fortresses were being constructed everywhere. Existing fortresses were seized and then manned by foreign mercenaries. Estates and farms in the surrounding areas were being seized and handed over to many of these same foreigners.
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Duke William was experienced at wielding terror. Whether he was at home or on campaign, William often employed terror tactics. The people of France were well aware of this, and now the English were learning his skill first hand.
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It was autumn of 1066 and after weeks of deliberation, political wrangling, and arguing the English nobility had finally selected their next King.
This may seem like a long time, considering there was a whole invasion happening at the time. And it was. But, to be fair, the politics were very confusing.