Kings & Queens of England 2/8: The Normans Kill Each Other
Summary
TLDRIn 1066, England witnessed a tumultuous year with four kings vying for the throne, marking the end of the first ruling dynasty and the rise of the Normans. The script delves into the power struggles, betrayals, and battles that shaped the English monarchy, including the infamous Battle of Hastings. It also explores the cultural impact of the Norman conquest, such as the French influence on English food names, and the legacy of William the Conqueror, who established a new ruling class and introduced the Doomsday Book for tax collection. The narrative continues through the reigns of William II and Henry I, highlighting their internal conflicts and the eventual emergence of the Plantagenet dynasty.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ 1066 is a pivotal year in English history, marking the end of the first ruling dynasty and the beginning of Norman rule in England.
- 👑 Four kings claimed the English throne in a single year: Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, Harald Hardrada, and William the Conqueror.
- 🌠 Halley's Comet was seen as an omen during the year, coinciding with significant political upheaval.
- 🗡️ Harold Godwinson became king after Edward the Confessor's death, but faced challenges from within his family and from William of Normandy.
- 🛡️ The Battle of Hastings in October 1066 was a decisive conflict where William of Normandy defeated King Harold II.
- 👶 Edgar the Ætheling was elected king by the council but was never crowned due to his youth and lack of military support.
- 🏰 William the Conqueror introduced Norman nobles and culture to England, leading to the French influence on English food names.
- 🛤️ The 'Harrying of the North' was a brutal campaign by William to suppress rebellion, causing long-lasting devastation.
- 📜 The Domesday Book was commissioned by William to inventory lands and properties, streamlining tax collection and increasing royal wealth.
- 🦁 William II, known as William Rufus, was an unpopular king who faced accusations of murder and was eventually killed in a hunting accident.
- 🤝 Henry I, after the death of his brother William, secured his rule by demanding loyalty from the barons and promoting capable individuals to key positions.
Q & A
Why is 1066 considered the most significant year in English history?
-1066 is considered the most significant year in English history because it witnessed four kings, the end of England's first ruling dynasty, the rise of another, and a change in the English way of life.
What event marked the beginning of the year 1066 in England?
-The year 1066 began with the death of King Edward the Confessor, who died without any children, which opened the field for a power struggle over the English throne.
Who was Harold Godwinson and why was he significant in 1066?
-Harold Godwinson was a powerful Earl, son of Edward's top adviser, and brother to the queen. He was proclaimed king by the English nobility after King Edward's death, and he had to face invasions from multiple fronts, including William of Normandy.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Hastings?
-The Battle of Hastings resulted in the defeat and death of King Harold, most likely by an arrow striking him in the eye, paving the way for William of Normandy to claim the English throne.
Who was Edgar the Ætheling and what happened to him after the Battle of Hastings?
-Edgar the Ætheling was the last surviving male of the Royal House of Wessex. He was elected king by the council in turmoil after Harold's death but was never crowned and eventually submitted to William of Normandy, living the rest of his life in exile.
What was the significance of the Tower of London built by William the Conqueror?
-The Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror, served as an imposing fortress and symbol of Norman power, helping to establish their rule and control over England.
Why do many English words for food have a French name when served but an Anglo-Saxon name when referred to in the field?
-This linguistic distinction arose because the Normans, who spoke French, became the new ruling class of England, influencing the language of the nobility and the names of food items when served, while the common people, who spoke Anglo-Saxon, used their own terms for the animals in the field.
What was the 'Harrying of the North' and why did William the Conqueror carry it out?
-The 'Harrying of the North' was a brutal campaign of terror and destruction carried out by William the Conqueror in response to resistance to his rule in northern England. It involved the destruction of villages, farmland, and the killing of people and animals, leading to famine and a long period of recovery for the region.
How did William II, also known as William Rufus, die?
-William II, also known as William Rufus, died in a hunting accident when he was shot by an arrow. His death was suspicious, and some believe it may have been an act of murder.
What was the significance of the 'Doomsday Book' created by William the Conqueror?
-The 'Doomsday Book' was a comprehensive inventory of all the lands and properties in William the Conqueror's kingdom. It was a massive achievement for the time and greatly facilitated tax collection, enriching the crown.
Why was Matilda, the Empress, unable to maintain her rule as the first queen of England in her own right?
-Matilda, the Empress, was unable to maintain her rule due to her imperious attitude, which was intolerable to the English. They rejected her refusal to swear a coronation oath to treat her subjects fairly and eventually ousted her, reinstating Stephen as king.
Outlines
👑 The Turbulent Year of 1066: Four Kings and a Conquest
In 1066, England witnessed a historic upheaval with the reigns of four kings. The year began with the death of King Edward the Confessor, sparking a succession crisis. Harold Godwinson, a powerful earl and the brother of Edward's top adviser, was proclaimed king by the English nobility, despite an oath to support William of Normandy's claim. William, who had a strong ally in Matilda of Flanders, prepared for invasion after being denied the throne. Harold also faced invasions from his brother Tostig and Harald Hardrada, the king of Norway, but managed to defeat them. However, William's forces proved formidable, and the Battle of Hastings in October resulted in Harold's death. The aftermath saw the young Edgar the Ætheling being elected king, but he was quickly deposed by William, who established the Norman rule in England. William's reign introduced significant changes, including the construction of castles, the imposition of Norman nobility, and the creation of the Domesday Book, which inventoried all lands and properties for tax purposes.
🛡️ The Struggles of Succession and the Norman Legacy
William the Conqueror's death led to further succession struggles among his sons. William Rufus and Henry were given England and Normandy respectively, while Robert received a monetary compensation. The brothers' discontent resulted in plots and conflicts, with Robert eventually going on a Crusade. William Rufus, unpopular for his heavy taxation and homosexuality, was killed in a hunting accident under suspicious circumstances. Henry, who claimed to possess holy powers, raced to secure the crown jewels after his brother's death and was named king. He established a strong central government, promoted capable individuals, and had his barons swear loyalty to his son, William, as successor. However, a tragic accident led to the death of the crown prince and other young men of the court, causing Henry great distress. Despite attempts to secure his daughter Matilda's claim to the throne, the barons were reluctant to accept a female ruler. This set the stage for further conflict between Matilda and Stephen of Blois, a grandson of William the Conqueror, leading to a division of England and a period of civil war.
🦁 The Lionheart and the Rise of the Plantagenet Dynasty
The script hints at the story of Richard the Lionheart, a legendary figure in English history, and the rise of the Plantagenet dynasty. It poses intriguing questions about English customs and the dramatic tales of power struggles, including the possibility of a wife raising an army to have her husband murdered. The narrative promises to delve into the complexities of medieval politics, the personalities of rulers, and the pivotal moments that shaped the destiny of the English monarchy.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡1066
💡Norman Conquest
💡Edward the Confessor
💡Harold Godwinson
💡William the Conqueror
💡Battle of Hastings
💡House of Wessex
💡Doomsday Book
💡Harrowing of the North
💡Matilda of Flanders
💡Cultural Melding
Highlights
1066 is considered the most significant year in English History, witnessing four kings and a change in the English way of life.
King Edward the Confessor died without an heir, leading to a power struggle for the English throne.
Halley's Comet appeared, and people believed it was an omen of significant events to come.
Harold Godwinson, a powerful Earl, was proclaimed King after King Edward's death.
William of Normandy prepared for invasion, claiming the English throne as his right.
The Battle of Hastings in October 1066 resulted in the death of King Harald and the rise of William the Conqueror.
Edgar the Ætheling was elected king but never crowned due to his youth and lack of military support.
William I, also known as William the Conqueror, introduced Norman rule and culture to England.
The construction of castles and the establishment of a new ruling class changed England's social structure.
The 'Harrying of the North' was a brutal campaign to suppress rebellion and assert Norman dominance.
William I's creation of the Domesday Book was a comprehensive inventory of lands and properties in England.
William II's unpopular reign was marked by heavy taxation and suspicions of murder.
Henry I's claim to the throne was secured after his brother William II's suspicious death.
Matilda, the first queen of England in her own right, faced opposition due to her imperious attitude.
The Anarchy was a period of civil war in England between the supporters of Matilda and Stephen.
Stephen of Blois was recognized as king by the barons, but his reign was contested by Matilda.
The rise of the House of Plantagenet marked a new era of English monarchy.
The transcript explores the complex successions and power struggles of the Norman kings of England.
The influence of French and Anglo-Saxon cultures on English language and customs is discussed.
Transcripts
how did England have four Kings in one
year why do we call cows beef once
they're on the table and where's the
best place to murder your brother and
take his
crown the kings and queens of
England the Normans kill each
other 1066 is considered the most
significant year in English History it
witnessed Four Kings the end of
England's first ruling Dynasty the rise
of another and a change in the English
way of life in January King Edward the
Confessor died with no children opening
the field for the most powerful claimant
to take the throne Haley's Comet blazed
through the sky and the people believed
it was an omen but of what Harold
godwinson Harold was a powerful Earl son
of Edward's top adviser and brother to
the queen as a young man he was
Shipwrecked in northern France and was
aided by William Duke of Normandy in
exchange for an oath that Harold would
support Williams claim to the English
Throne when the time came on his
deathbed King Edward awoke from aoma
just long enough to point to Harold as
his successor and the English nobility
proclaimed him King outraged at this
betrayal William of Normandy immediately
began to prepare for Invasion Harold
also had to deal with invasions from his
own brother tostig and Harold hrada king
of Norway he defeated both but William
proved to be a strong opponent in
October William's Army arrived in
England and the deadly Skirmish became
known as the Battle of Hastings Harald
was killed on the field most likely by
an arrow striking him in the eye Edgar
etheling in turmoil after Harold's
Battlefield death and facing Norman
Invasion the council elected 13-year-old
Edgar the last surviving male of the
Royal House of wessix to be king he was
never crowned being too young to lead an
army and with no older relatives to
fight for him Edgar stood little chance
of resisting William of Normandy one by
one Nobles abandoned Edgar and pledged
loyalty to William whose Conquest now
seemed inevitable by December Edgar had
no choice but to submit to William now
deposed Edgar was held as William's
prisoner for some time but eventually
escaped to Exile Edgar attained the
great age of 73 fueled by his Lust For
Revenge he spent the rest of his life in
futile attempts to regain his lost
Crown the house of
Normandy William I William the Conqueror
sometimes called William the bastard was
a descendant of Rolo the Viking Warrior
who held Paris hostage in 9911 and was
given northern France as a ransom the
area became known as Normandy because it
was ruled by
Northman William was the illegitimate
son of Robert the by his mistress and he
inherited the dukedom at the age of
seven Norman Nobles struggled to control
the child Duke but as he matured William
proved himself to be a powerful and
ruthless leader he acquired a strong
Ally by marrying Matilda of Flanders his
claim to the English Throne was through
his great great aunt Emma of Normandy he
was crowned King of England on Christmas
day in 1066 William brought with him
Norman Nobles who built castles and
flaunted their wealth becoming the new
ruling class of England this is why many
English words for food have a French
name when they're on the table but an
Anglo-Saxon name when they're in the
field such as beef and cow pork and pig
mutton and sheep William built an
imposing fortress on the river Tims the
Tower of London York and the north of
England resisted Norman rule so William
staged a campaign of Terror and
brutality he sent his army North to
destroy Villages burn farmland and kill
every person and animal they came across
famine ensued forcing many Northerners
to resort to cannibalism it would take
decades for the area to recover and the
harrowing of the north was a strong
warning to others not to rebel against
their new Norman overlords William also
knew religion was a great way to
suppress his uneducated and
superstitious subjects so he had
impressive Cathedrals built around the
country his strong leadership did create
some stability though he built castles
along the wild Welsh border and made a
truce with the King of Scotland Malcolm
III Norman Nobles married into powerful
Anglo-Saxon families allowing the
melding of cultures William ordered the
creation of the Doomsday Book which
inventoried all of the lands and
properties in his kingdom a massive
achievement for the time which made tax
collection much easier and enriched the
crown Williams spent the last years of
his life in Normandy indulging his
massive appe sight while riding he hit
his large stomach on the Pummel of his
saddle an injury that within a few days
proved fatal at his funeral his stomach
burst open and the priest had to rush
the funeral rights to escape the stench
despite his undignified end William is
considered one of the most important
Kings of
England William II William the first
will gave his two kingdoms to his two
eldest Sons the first William Ruf aka
the red was given England while the
second Henry was given Normandy their
younger brother Robert got only 5,000 lb
none of the brothers were satisfied and
all three plotted and fought in an
attempt to have it all eventually the
brothers got tired of the fry Robert
went on Crusade and William and Henry
made a tentative piece William was not
popular among his people he taxed them
heavily and lacked the strength of his
father and he was a a homosexual who
never married a great sin in the
religious Middle Ages while out hunting
with his brother Henry William was shot
by an arrow and killed nothing is
certain but murder was obviously
suspected William's body was left in the
woods until a group of peasants brought
it to Winchester in a wheelbarrow once
there the king's body was refused a
Christian
burial Henry the after his brother's
death Henry raced to the castle where
with sword drawn he demanded access to
the crown jewels the council quickly
named him King his brother Robert was
supposed to be next in line for the
crown of England but when he tried to
press his claim Henry had him imprisoned
for the rest of his life Henry claimed
to have holy powers and began a
tradition of touching for the king's
evil laying hands on victims of
tuberculosis to cure them that continued
until the 1700s he promoted capable
people to positions in his strong
central government knowing that a maid
man would be more loyal than an
aristocrat he and his Queen Matilda of
Scotland had two children a daughter
also called Matilda who is married to
the Holy Roman Emperor and a son William
after so many conflicted successions
King Henry took no chances and had all
his Barons swear loyalty to William as
his successor at 17 the Crown Prince and
other young men of the Court had a
rockus party on board the white ship the
passengers and crew were all drunk and
the ship crashed on the Rocks everyone
on board drowned their cries could be
heard on land all night but no one could
save them in the dark it is said that
King Henry never smiled again he tried
to make Noble swear loyalty to his
daughter Matilda but they were reluctant
as they didn't believe a woman could
rule Henry was plagued by Nightmares of
the royal crisis that would follow his
death which came at the age of 58 after
he ate a toxic lamb prey
Fish House of bla Steven with Matilda
far away in auu her cousin Steven of
blua sailed to England to claim the
throne he was a grandson of William the
conquer by one of his daughters Adela
Steven was supposed to have been on the
white ship when it sank but he had a
bout of upset stomach that kept him
ashore he had the support of the Barons
who recognized that he was was weak and
would do nothing to stop them doing as
they pleased Matilda gathered support to
press her claim and England was divided
between the two Steven confiscated lands
from the Nobles and emptied the treasury
in an attempt to bolster support and
keep hold of the crown in 1141 Matilda's
Army captured Steven and Matilda was
crowned
queen the house of Normandy Matilda the
empress Matilda was the first queen of
England in her own right she had spent
most of her life in Germany at the court
of her late husband the Holy Roman
Emperor where she was very popular there
the emperor's every word was law so when
the Barett of England demanded that she
swear a coronation oath to treat her
subjects fairly she refused her
imperious attitude was intolerable to
the English so they tossed her out and
had Steven back as their King Matilda
remained in England for several years
plotting to regain her throne and pass
the torch onto her son Henry who
continued to war with Steven when
Steven's own son Eustace died suddenly
Steven had had enough he made Henry his
adopted son and Heir and died shortly
thereafter making way for a new Dynasty
that would dominate England in the
Middle Ages the house of
plantagenet check out the next video to
find
out how did England have four Kings in
one year why do we call cows beef once
on the table and where's the best place
to murder your brother and take his
crown check out the next video to find
out why do English people hold up two
fingers at someone who pissed them off
Richard the lionart hero king or
complete fool and if you make your wife
mad enough will she raise an army and
have you murdered
[Music]
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