Edgar Aethling & the Rebellions in the North, 1069 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Why did Edgar Aethling Threaten William's Rule of England? - Timeline & Summary

Edgar Aethling was one of the claimants for the English throne in 1066. Edgar was King Edward's great-nephew. This meant he was a closer blood relative to the king than William. Edgar did not fight in the battles of 1066 as he was only a teenager. After the Battle of Hastings, Edgar made a weak attempt to stand up against William. He soon submitted to William at Berkhamsted.

By 1069, Edgar had grown and wanted to claim the English throne. He had gained the support of Anglo-Saxon earls and Malcolm III of Scotland. His supporters were from the Danelaw and the borderlands of Scotland. These areas were unruly and defiant to William. Edgar also based himself in the North, far away from William's forces. His growing support base made Edgar a threat to Norman rule in England.

What Caused Rebellions in the North in 1069?

• William removed Gospatric from his position in Northumbria

  • William replaced Gospatric with one of his supporters named Robert Cumin

• In January 1069, Cumin marched an army to the North

  • He attacked towns and villages on his way northwards

• Cumin arrived in Durham at the end of January

  • Bishops warned Cumin to not attack the residents of Durham

  • Cumin allowed his troops to attack people and property in Durham

• Northumbrians captured Cumin's troops and murdered them in the streets

  • The rebels set fire to the house that Cumin had taken refuge in and killed Cumin

• Cumin's murder encouraged other rebels to fight against Norman rule

Edgar Aethling and the Uprising in York

William's Reactions to the Uprising in York

• Similar to Edwin and Morcar's rebellion, William sent a large army to York

  • This showed William's ability to raise and deploy an armed force quickly against rebels

• William ordered FitzOsbern to construct a castle in York

  • William continued to use castles in areas of disobedience

  • Castles were a symbol of Norman power 

• Despite the uprising, William left the North to travel to Winchester for Easter

  • Leaving FitzOsbern in charge of the North showed the trust William had in him

  • William's attendance of public ceremonies was important 

    • Events such as the Easter service at Winchester allowed him to present his power as king

Why did King Sweyn Invade England in 1069?

• King Sweyn of Denmark decided to invade England in the summer of 1069

• Sweyn raised a large invasion force

  • His fleet arrived on the East Coast of England in September 1069

The Anglo-Danish Attack on York, 21st September 1069

• In mid-September, during their raids on the East Coast, the Danes met Edgar's troops. This meeting was significant because:

  • Danes had support in the Danelaw

    • This increased the support for this rebellion

  • Edgar Aethling became a powerful threat

    • A union between Edgar and Sweyn gave Anglo-Saxons a strong cause to rally behind

• An Anglo-Danish force marched to York

  • They arrived on 21st September 1069

What happened in York on 21st September 1069?

• The Normans set York on fire

  • Historians believe the Normans accidentally set the city on fire in an attempt to move citizens away from the approaching army

• As the fire damaged the fortifications, the Normans started an open fight with the Anglo-Danish troops

• The Normans lost the battle

  • Around 3,000 Norman soldiers died in the conflict

  • The Danes looted the city

  • The army destroyed the Norman castle in York 

Events after the Anglo-Danish victory at York

• The Danes sailed down the Humber to Lincolnshire

  • Marshland surrounded Lincolnshire

    • William would struggle to attack the Danes on land in this terrain

    • The Danes were much better sailors so William did not attempt an attack by sea

• The Anglo-Saxons scattered across England

  • William received reports of rebellions in Devon and the Marcher earldoms of Shrewsbury and Chester

  • William tried to track down the rebels

    • As soon as his army arrived, the rebels fled

Movement of Anglo-Danish rebels

How did William Resolve the Northern Rebellions?

• William was more afraid of the Danish aspect of the rebellion

  • Sweyn could gain the support of the Danelaw

    • A large proportion of the population was Anglo-Danish

• As a result, William resolved the rebellion by:

  • Paying Sweyn a large sum of money to leave England with his troops

    • Anglo-Saxon leaders had paid Viking invaders to leave in the past

  • Enacting revenge on the North through the Harrying of the North in the winter of 1079-1080

    • The Harrying of the North stopped future uprisings from the North as, if the Danes returned, there were no crops or people to support their raiding campaigns