Saxon England and Godwin Feud

Some history stuff that might be interesting.

Causes of Harolds defeat at Hastings

Contrary to common belief relations between Anglo Saxon England and Normandy were actualy good prior to the Death of Edward the Confessor (Edward-t-C), who himself had resided in Normandy during the rule of the Danish King Cnut. When Cnut was succeeded by Harefoot and later Edward-t-Cs half brother Harthacnut Edward-t-C had tried to overthrow his half brother (1041) from Normandy and presumably with at least tacit Norman support. In this failed coup Edward-t-Cs younger brother Alfred was captured by Earl Godwin (father of Harold) who handed him over to Harthcnut; Alfred died. The sheer fact that the Normans were prepared to harbour such a high ranking Saxon claimant to the English Throne was a threat to Cnut and the Scandanavian succession that proves at least their tacit support for the Saxon claimants.

When Edward-t-C died without an Heir - he had recenetly recalled recalled his nephew Edward the Exile and made him his heir but Edward the Exile died in 1057 in somewhat mysterious circumstances in which some impute the Godwins. On his deathbed Edward -t-C is supposed to have "touched Harold Godwinsons hand". This was taken, by those present, as a nomination of heir. What Edward-t-Cs true intentions are we shall never know but the Godwin family had been responsible for the death of his brother Alfred and perhaps his nephew Edward the Exile. The Godwin family had long had their sights set on the throne and now had a clear run - the only legitimate heir Edgar the Aethling, son of Edward the Exile, being then 15 yrs old. As war was on the horizon Edgars claim, which Harold could have championed, was disregarded and the witan elected Harold.

Harold, having by chance or design, ascended the to Kingship must have expected trouble from Normandy - it must have been known that an invasion was coming. Harold went so far as to assemble an army on the Isle of Wight but sent them home the very day that Harold Hadrada and his brother Tostig landed in the North (September 7-8th). Hadrada was possibly the most famous warrior of his day who had served under Byzantine Emperors before becoming King of Norway, he also had a very distant claim to the throne. Hadrada was not related at all to Cnut and had actually fought against Cnut's allies and lost when he was 15, resulting in his exile. Harolds rushed march north after the Earls Morcar of Northumbria and Edwin of Mercias attempt to hold the Norse army at Fulford, while resulting in a succesful victory at Stamford Bridge (September 25th), must be regarded militarily as a major contribution to the defeat at Hastings (October 14th). On the 8th September Harold is in the Isle of Wight and dismisses his army, he must then re-assemble (probably at London) and march 185 miles to Stamford Bridge, which it is said they did in 4 days. William therefore landed unopposed on September 28th.

Some books claim that the Battle of Fulford was a 'draw' but York later surrendered to Hadrada and Tostig thus requiring Harolds attentions. If Fulford had been a more substantial Saxon victory perhaps Harold himself could have remained in the south or at least left a more substantial rearguard and leuitenant.

The main problem for Harold was his own brother Tostig. It was Tostig who had induced Hadrada to invade and had recruited troops from Franders and Scotland (whos rulers were allies of his) and been raiding . This came about largely because of the Mercian familys desire to advance it's income. In 1065 Morcar (younger brother of Edwin Earl of Mercia) rose against Tostig as Earl of Northumbria. It is said that Tostig was often absent from the region at Court and naturaly the Godwin family was a Saxon southern family, Harold being Earl of Kent and Wessex. However Tostig was close friends with Malcolm 3rd in Scotland and this forestalled any trouble from the north to Northumbria.
In 1065 Harold Godwinson was sent north by Edward-t-C to sort out the trouble between his brother and the Mercian brothers Edwin (who's sister was married to Harold Godwinson) and Morcar. In the decision that a year later would cost the Godwins a dynasty Harold decided against his brother and in favour of his brothers in law, thus forcing Tostig into the arms of Malcolm of Scotland, Baldwin V of Flanders (Tostigs brother in law) and later the more dangerous Hadrada, all of whom sent soldiers for the Northern Invasion that ended at Stamford Bridge, resulted in Williams unopposed landing, loss of troops and forced marches leading upto Hastings in 1066. Harolds Brothers in Law, Edwin of Mercia and the Earl of Morcar would later fail to defeat Tostig and his allies (now including Hadrada) at Fulford.

In the events after Hastings the Mercian brothers Edwin and Morcar supported the claim of Edgar the Aethling but failed to prevent Williams subsequent advance on London, presumably because their power base was in the north. Why they did not follow Harold south with their troops after Stamford Bridge remains a mystery - the North was secured but they had fought 2 battles (Fulford and Stamford Bridge) so presumably felt required in their areas. However it is interesting to note that in 1051 Aelfgar, father of Edwin and Morcar was given the Earldom of East Anglia briefly while Harold Godwinson and his father and brothers had been exiled.

One could argue that the Godwin brotherly feud between Harold and Tostig essentialy stopped the family establishing a dynasty for without a Battle of Stamford Bridge a Battle of Hastings may not have occured even as a landing would have been presumably have been opposed rigoursely with an army not diminished by losses in a pevious battle the tiredness of forced marches. The events that lead upto this began with the Northumbrian rebellion against Tostig in 1065 and Harolds fateful decision in favour of his Wifes family over his own brother... as always cherche la femme!

In a way Harolds critical mistake was made in 1065 when he supported his brother in law Morcar over his brother Tostig.

The 'legitimate' Saxon line, represented by Edgar 'the Aethling' (which might be translated as 'Prince') and his sister Margaret of Wessex lived on. They were descended from Edward the Exile who was the son of Edmond Ironside, the Saxon King prior to Cnut. Edward and his brother had been sent to Norway by Cnut (doubtless to 'vanish') but Edward somehow (it has never been explained) survived and lived in Kiev and/or Hungary (he married Agatha who may have related to the Holy Roman Emperor or of Rus descent - the Kievan Rus at that being 'Viking'). The Scottish line lived on and when Margaret of Scotland married Henry lll of England the Saxons royal line came back 'home'. The successor of Henry lll was therefore Edward l.

An earlier attempt to unite the two houses was made when Henry l of England (youngest son of William the Conqueror) married Matilda of Scotland (daughter of Margaret of Wessex or St. Margaret of Scotland). Their son, known as William 'Adelin' or 'Aethling' died in the White Ship disaster of 1120 and brought about the civil war between Stephen and Matilda.

Edgar the Aethling was actually proclaimed King after Hastings with the support of the Mercian brothers but when William advanced on London their forces, presumably still recovering after Stamford Bridge, were in the north. He went to take part in the First Crusade and was friends with Williams eldest son Robert of Normandy.

I think there are two main points that can be summarised from this relating first to 'Northern Situation' and second to the 'Norman Policy'.

On the 'Northern Situation': The Battle of Stamford Bridge was in fact a continuation of the problems Harold thought he has resolved in 1065. When Harold went north in 1065 he went without an army since he was only sent to 'negotiate'. When he met the rebels, by now joined by Edwin of Mercia and Morcar at Northampton in October 1065, there was in fact very little he could do. Tostig was already expelled and the Godwin position in the North had been lost. He had to accept the 'fait accompli' for then. However when Tostig (using ships from Flanders) raided the Isle of Wight and Kent in May 1066 he could have acted then to enforce Tostigs claim on Northumbria before Hadrada, who was a serious threat, became involved. Tostig was an experienced military commander in his own right (he had lead one army in Wales while Harold lead another) and his claim on Northumbria was legitimate. Harold should perhaps have acted to enforce his brothers rights before Hadrada got involved. There would have been no Stamford Bridge and the Norman landing would have been opposed and most likely defeated. Trying to treat with Tostig just before the Battle of Stamford Bridge, as is alleged to have occurred, by offering him back his earldom, was too late. As for alleged offer to Hadrada of "Six feet of ground or as much more as he needs, as he is taller than most men" he'd have been better buying him off.

The Norman Policy appears not to have been anti the legitimate Saxon Royal House. Edward the Confessor launched an attempted overthrow of Harthacnut with Norman support in 1041 and Edgar the Aethling was not murdered after Hastings. Also the marriage of Henry l with Matilda of Scotland is a clear attempt to reunite the legitimate house with the de facto Norman rulers. The Norman policy seems to have been particularly anti Godwin, who they may rightly have regarded as illegitimate claimants. Harold, it says in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, opposed the Norman influence on Edward the Confessor (who after all had spent alot of time in Normandy). Had Edward the Exile survived it is quite likely that no Norman invasion would have occurred.

The later Norman claims that William was offered the Crown by Edward the Exile are the story of Harold swearing loyalty etc I think can be dismissed as propaganda, a little like Richard lll became a 'hunchback' after Henry Vll (who's claim was dubious to say the least) became King. Edward the Confessor almost certainly wished for Edward the Exile to succeed but he died (perhaps with Godwin connivance) and after that was probably hoping to live long enough to have Edgar the Athling in place. He certainly did NOT 'offer the crown to William' as he would have known full well that he had not the authority to do so; the King was elected by the Witan ("meeting of wise men"). That Harold spent time, after being shipwrecked, is almost certainly true. He fought with/for William against Conan ll of Britany and may have arranged a marriage to Williams daughter Adeliza during this time. Naturally the marriage never occurred. As for swearing fealty etc if it did happen one can only assume that happened under duress.

I am sure William’s claim was as real and valid as the Donation of Constantine.

After all, why would he lie?
:laugh4: