Thanks harpygoddess.
Posted on 10/14/2017 5:13:43 AM PDT by harpygoddess
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, in which William the Conqueror initiated the Norman conquest of England by defeating the forces of the Anglo-Saxon King Harold, who was killed in the conflict (although there's been recent speculation that Harold survived).
William, Duke of Normandy, had been promised the English throne by his cousin, Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042-1066), and Harold, earl of Wessex, had sworn agreement to that succession. However, with the death of Edward, Harold crowned himself king, leading William to mount a sea-borne invasion to assert his own right.
Landing his army on the south coast of England, he confronted Harold at Hastings, routed the Anglo-Saxon army, declared himself King William I, and ultimately established Norman hegemony over all of England.
(Excerpt) Read more at vaviper.blogspot.com ...
Oddly enough, the Saxon language remained as the primary source of English; we don’t speak a Romance Language, but a Germanic one.
While I don’t downplay Roman influence (especially in southern Europe), it is incredible that both Dublin and Moscow were Viking settlements.
My paternal family line has been traced back to the Plantagenets, John Lackland, or King John who sealed Magna Carta, and through succession, to William I. I believe the line of succession was not broken from William the Conqueror to Henry II, making me a descendant of William the Conqueror as well. My ancestor left England for the new world a bit before yours, in 1638. He was a Puritan who was the brother of the rector of St. Mary’s church in Beccles, which is still in existence. That church houses a bust of Lincoln, who’s ancestor migrated with the congregation at the same time.
I watched a documentary on this; IIRC after William died he was left stripped naked on the floor of a looted castle.
In describing the battle itself, it was described how the Saxons had the upper hand and the Normans would soon be forced to leave due to lack of supplies. In their enthusiasm the Saxons charged, breaking the their shield wall that had served them well - and then some hand-picked Normans could reach Harold and kill him.
I supposedly had an ancestor that was given land after the conquest. Is there a place I could look to verify this? The town was Tod Morden (I think) and the land was Stanfield (stony field). He took the name of the area and so did those who worked on it.
Our Theatre Arts class performed the "Lion In Winter". I still remember Henry's monologue that closed Act 1.
My life, when it is written, will read better than it lived.
Henry Fitz-Empress, the first Plantagenet, a king at twenty-one, the ablest soldier of an able time. He led men well, he cared for justice when he could... and ruled, for years, a state as great as Charlemagne's.
He married out of love a woman out of legend. Not in Alexandria or Rome or Camelot has there been such a queen. She bore him many children, but no sons. King Henry had no sons. He had three whiskered things, but he disowned them.
You're not mine! We're not connected! I deny you! None of you will get my kingdom. I leave you nothing! And I wish you plague! May all your children breech and die!
My boys are gone. I've lost my boys.
You dare to damn me, do you? Well, I damn you back. God Damn you!
My boys are gone. I've lost my boys. Oh, Jesus. All my boys.
Thanks harpygoddess.
Note: this topic is from . Thanks harpygoddess. Restored the kw and have some offsite sidebars.
The Last Great Anglo Saxon King | Absolute History
The Battle of Hastings 1066 - The Normans - BBC Two
Time Team S20 Special - 1066 The Lost Battlefield
Nick Austin's response to Time Team's Battle of Hastings 'roundabout' theory
The Battle of Hastings - Searching for Bodies
New evidence for Battle of Hastings site considered | December 3, 2013
Battle of Hastings: King Harold death marker moved | July 14, 2016
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