How far do we believe the chroniclers? Tuesday 16 th September How do you think we know about the events leading up to the Norman invasion? What might be some problems with these sources?

Objectives Encounter the key historical debates surrounding the succession Evaluate the strength of sources

Examine the main sources for: - Edward’s promise to William - Harold’s visit to William - Ed’s deathbed confession Find points of difference and points of similarity between sources.

The chroniclers… Read the information on each of the chroniclers you encountered. Keep this sheet – you will meet these guys a lot! Can we explain any of the differences we encountered?

Plenary Having examined the sources do you think… 1 – That Edward promised the throne to William? 2 – That Harold swore to uphold William’s claim? 3 – That Edward gave Harold the throne on his deathbed? You may wish to refer to/recall Purser. 1 – p16; 2- p19-20; 3 – p21

Resources

Did Edward promise the throne to William? ‘Soon after came Earl William from beyond sea with a large retinue of Frenchmen; and the king entertained him and as many of his companions as were convenient to him, and let him depart again.’ Anglo-Saxon chronicle’s account of Williams’ visit in ‘Edward, king of the English, who had already established William as his heir and whom he loved as a brother or a son.’ William of Poitiers. ‘There is no doubt that Edward had bequeathed the realm of England to his kinsman William, duke of Normandy, announcing it, first by Robert, archbishop of Canterbury, and afterwards by Harold himself, and, with the consent of the English, making the duke heir to all his rights.’ Orderic Vitalis

Did Harold swear fealty to William? There is no mention of Harold’s visit to Normandy in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle. ‘Harold in that place swore fealty to the duke employing the sacred ritual recognised among Christian men. And as is testified by the most truthful and most honourable men who were there present, he took an oath of his own free will in the following terms: firstly that he would be the representative of the Duke William at the court of his lord, King Edward, as long a the king lived; secondly that he would employ all his influence and wealth to ensure that after the death of King Edward the kingdom of England should be confirmed in the possession of the duke.’ William of Poitiers. ‘Edward, king of the English, lacking an heir sent Duke Harold, the greatest of all the earls to swear fealty to William, Duke of Normandy concerning Edward's crown. Harold remained with the duke for some time, and swore fealty concerning the kingdom with many oaths, before being sent back to the king laden with gifts.’ William of Jumieges. A monk, Eadmer, writing in 1112, wrote that Harold went to Normandy against the wishes and advice of Edward, in order to secure the release of the hostages Wulfnoth (younger brother) and Hacon (nephew). He said that William made Harold promise to surrender Dover castle to him (part of Harold’s earldom) and to help him become king, and that if he agreed to take an oath on this then he would release Hacon immediately and Wulfnoth when he became king. ‘There is no way that Harold could have escaped, except by agreeing to William’s demands.’ Frank Barlow – Historian. The Bayeux Tapestry shows Harold swearing an oath on two relics. It does not state the nature of his oath.

Was Edward’s last wish for Harold to be king? ‘Edward the noble; by his country defended -- by land and people. Until suddenly came the bitter Death and this king so dear snatched from the earth. Angels carried his soul sincere into the light of heaven. But the prudent king had settled the realm on high-born men -- on Harold himself, the noble earl; who in every season faithfully heard and obeyed his lord, in word and deed.’ Anglo-Saxon chronicle’s account of Edward’s death. “I commend this woman and all the kingdom to your protection.” Edward speaking to Harold from his deathbed in Vita Edwardi Regis ‘Returning to his country, his ambition tempted him to aspire to the crown and to forfeit the fealty he had sworn to his lord. He imposed upon King Edward, who was in the last stage of decay, his account of his crossing of the sea, falsely adding that Duke William would give him his daughter in marriage and concede to him, as his son-in-law, all his right to the throne of England. The feeble prince was much surprised by this statement; however, he believed it and granted all tha crafty tyrant asked.’ Orderic Vitalis’s account of Harold at Edward’s deathbed. The Bayeux Tapestry shows Harold at the deathbed of Edward the Confessor. It is not clear if Edward is giving him the kingdom or if he is reminding him of his oath to William.

Who are the chroniclers? Anglo-Saxon chronicle- is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great. Multiple copies were made of that original which were distributed to monasteries across England, where they were independently updated. Nine manuscripts survive in whole or in part. These manuscripts collectively are known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The Chronicle is not unbiased: there are occasions when comparison with other medieval sources makes it clear that the scribes who wrote it omitted events or told one-sided versions of stories; there are also places where the different versions contradict each other. Much of the information given in the Chronicle is not recorded elsewhere William of Poitiers- was a French priest of Norman origin and chaplain of Duke William of Normandy, for whom he chronicled the Norman Conquest of England in his Gesta Willelmi ducis Normannorum et regis Anglorum ("The Deeds of William, Duke of Normandy and King of England") He had trained as a soldier before taking holy orders. William of Jumieges- a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of our earliest writers on the subject of the Norman Conquest. He is himself a "shadowy figure", only known by his dedicatory letter to King William as a monk of Jumièges. Orderic Vitalis- extracts from Historia Ecclesiastica, described as the greatest English social history of the Middle Ages. Orderic was a monk who wrote most of the book between 1123 and Any writing prior to 1071 is largely based on William of Poitier’s Gesta Guillelmi Eadmer- an Anglo-Saxon monk born shortly before the conquest who wrote on the history of England between 1066 and 1122 (his death) Bayeux Tapestry- disputed origin. Dominant theory is that it was commissioned by William’s half-brother, Bishop Odo, and that it was designed and constructed by Anglo-Saxon artists. Vita Edwardi Regis- ("Life of King Edward") is a historical work completed by an anonymous author c and commissioned by Queen Edith, wife of King Edward the Confessor.