The Submission of the Earls

After winning the Battle of Hastings, William had defeated Harold. However, he needed to secure power by winning over the Witan and the earls.

William heads to London

William’s men fell ill with dysentery after the battle. They marched from Hastings to the larger town of Dover, on the English coast.
Meanwhile in London, the Witan and earls chose Edgar Aethling, the teenager, after the Battle of Hasting to be the next King of England.
William marched his troops to London, pillaging towns, villages, and farms (essentially stealing and destroying them).

William's pause

William curved around London, setting up his military camp at Berkhamstead (which is North West of London), instead of marching straight into London.

The English surrender

The situation was now: William camped in Berkhamstead vs 15 year old Edgar Aethling who was now King of England. He had not been appointed King earlier, because he was not old enough & didn't have much of a support base.
The English earls and Edgar surrendered - this is known as the Submission of the Earls.

Why did the earls submit?

There are lots of factors:
- Edgar, the other King was weak and didn't have many followers.
- The English military was weak - lots of English fyrds had died in the Battle of Hastings.
- London was in a vulnerable position with William just outside and most of England's best troops dead.
- On his march to Berkhamstead, William had captured the town of Winchester. The royal treasury was in Winchester, so William had effectively taken all of the royal family's money.
All in all, it seemed unlikely that the earls or Edgar would easily stop William.

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

1.1Anglo-Saxon Society

1.1.1The Monarchy & Government

1.1.2Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

1.1.3The Legal System

1.1.4Local Government

1.1.5The Economy & Social Structure

1.1.6Towns

1.1.7The Church

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.9Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon Society

1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis

1.2.1The House of Godwin

1.2.2Harold Godwinson's Succession

1.2.3The Rebellion Against Tostig

1.2.4Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Edward the Confessor

1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne

1.3.1William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada & Edgar

1.3.2The Witan & the Reign of Harold Godwinson

1.3.3The Battles of Gate Fulford & Stamford Bridge

1.3.4Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

1.4The Norman Invasion

1.4.1The Battle of Hastings

1.4.2Reasons for William's Victory

1.4.3End of Topic Test - Rival Claimants for the Throne

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

2.1Establishing Control

2.1.1The Submission of the Earls

2.1.2Getting Control of England

2.1.3Reasons for Building Castles

2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance

2.2.1The Revolts against William

2.2.2End of Topic Test - William I in Power

2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087

2.3.1Harrying of the North, 1069-70

2.3.2Changes in Land Ownership 1066-1087

2.3.3William I Maintains Royal Power

2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075

2.4.1The Revolt - 1075

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Legacy of Resistance

2.4.3Grade 9 - Legacy of Resistance

3Norman England, 1066-88

3.1The Feudal System & the Church

3.1.1The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

3.1.2The Nature of Feudalism & Forfeiture

3.1.3The Role of the Church in England

3.1.4The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

3.1.5End of Topic Test - The Feudal System

3.2Norman Government

3.2.1Norman Government - Regents

3.2.2The Sheriff & the Forest

3.2.3The Domesday Book

3.3The Norman Aristocracy

3.3.1Aristocratic Culture & Language

3.3.2Bishop Odo

3.4William I & His Sons

3.4.1William I

3.4.2William's Death & the Succession

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Norman Government

3.4.4Grade 9 - Norman Government

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