Transcript 4. How William Became King

Britain 1066–1500
How William
Became King
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Learning objectives
Learning objectives
What problems did William face directly
after his victory at Hastings?
How did he overcome these problems in
the short term?
What challenges did he still have to meet?
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The Battle of Hastings: a recap
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After the battle
William may have won the
Battle of Hastings, but that
did not mean he became
king by automatic right.
William needed to
consolidate his victory.
He had defeated the
main English army, but
England was still full of
powerful nobles ready to
oppose him. He had to
show the English that he
was here to stay.
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What problems did William face?
The English lords
do not support
William and cannot
be trusted.
Much of northern England
supports invasion by the
Scandinavians.
Money is required, but
there is no record
of the wealth of
the country.
Some of Harold’s
troops did not come to
Hastings and are still in
London.
At Dover there is a strong
castle full of English soldiers.
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Prioritising
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So what did William do?
William knew that his first
priority was to deal with any
military or political opposition
in the immediate vicinity.
The capital of England,
Winchester, had already
surrendered. So William
marched his army on London,
taking a circular route which
passed through a wide swathe
of southern England, and
mopping up pockets of Saxon
resistance as he went.
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Marching on London
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Accounts of the route
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Saxon surrender
A Saxon delegation comprising the
earls Edwin and Morcar and the
leading men of London surrendered
to William at Berkhamsted.
Why do you think the Saxons
surrendered to William without any
opposition?
Why do you think William marched his army through
so much of southern England before heading towards
London? Was he simply destructive, or might he have
been trying to intimidate the soldiers in London into
giving up without a fight?
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Taking the throne
On Christmas Day, 1066, William was
crowned King of England at
Westminster Abbey. His followers
cheered so loudly that nearby soldiers
thought there was a riot and burned
down local houses.
William kept his place throughout the
chaos, but witnesses said his hands
tightened on the arms of the throne
until the knuckles whitened. It was said
to have been the only time in his life
that he showed signs of fear.
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Challenges to come
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