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

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

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 the 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 at 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 the 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