Anglo-Saxon resistance, 1068 (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
Anglo-Saxon resistance, 1068
The outbreak of revolt
At first, William tried to work with the Anglo-Saxon nobility and include them in governing England. However, this cooperative approach quickly broke down. In 1068, two of the most powerful Anglo-Saxon earls, Edwin and Morcar, left William's court and escaped north to lead a major revolt against Norman rule.
This marked the first serious organised challenge to William's authority since his victory at Hastings, showing that initial cooperation between Norman and Anglo-Saxon elites was fragile and short-lived.
The rebellion quickly gained support from other important Anglo-Saxon nobles, including Earl Waltheof, Gospatric, and Edgar the Aethling (who had a strong claim to the English throne). This represented the first serious organised challenge to William's authority since his victory at Hastings.
Causes of the revolt
The 1068 revolt was not a sudden outbreak of violence, but rather the result of multiple grievances that had built up among the Anglo-Saxon nobility. These causes worked together to create widespread resentment against Norman rule.
Edwin's resentment
Personal Betrayal and Political Consequences
Edwin became deeply unhappy because William had broken an important promise. The Norman king had agreed that Edwin could marry his daughter, but William went back on his word. This personal betrayal also reduced the size of Edwin's earldom, diminishing his power and status significantly.
Morcar's resentment
Morcar faced similar treatment to his brother Edwin. His earldom was reduced in size when William gave parts of it away to Tostig's old thegn, Copsi, and to Maerleswein, who had previously served as one of Harold's stewards. This represented a direct attack on Morcar's traditional authority and wealth.
Violence and bad government
Reports reached the Anglo-Saxon nobles that Norman officials, particularly Odo of Bayeux and William FitzOsbern, had seized land unlawfully throughout the country. Even worse, they had allowed their soldiers to inflict violence on Anglo-Saxon women without any punishment. This breakdown of justice and order deeply offended the Anglo-Saxon sense of proper governance.
The loss of lands
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 1067 records a crucial complaint: "When William returned from Normandy he gave away every man's land." Odo and William FitzOsbern's land seizures were repeated all over the country, with William's followers seeking to expand their grants by every means possible. This systematic land redistribution threatened the entire Anglo-Saxon aristocracy.
Heavy taxation
William had imposed a severe new tax called geld in December 1066. When he returned to Normandy in early 1067, he took with him a vast amount of English treasure. It became clear to Anglo-Saxon earls that William planned to take money from England to make Normandy and the Normans richer, reversing the traditional flow of wealth.
Castle building
The construction of castles represented a powerful symbol of Norman domination. Housing Norman garrisons, these fortifications were cleared to build castles, and local people were forced to provide resources for the castle garrison. The castles served as visible reminders of conquest and foreign control over traditional English communities.
The development of resistance
The revolt was not limited to Edwin and Morcar's actions. There were other rebellions happening simultaneously across England, including Eadric the Wild's rebellion against the Marcher earldoms and uprisings in Exeter. Some Anglo-Saxons even fought against these revolts, which meant that William could rely on some Anglo-Saxon troops to help suppress the resistance.
The Collapse at Warwick
As soon as William took control of Warwick, Edwin and Morcar came down with their men and submitted to him. The rest of the revolt collapsed relatively quickly, showing that the Normans were already too strong to resist effectively through conventional rebellion.
Outcomes of the revolt
Initial submission and pardoning
William's response to the revolt showed both his political cunning and his growing confidence. When Edwin and Morcar submitted at Warwick, he decided to pardon them rather than execute them. They returned to being William's 'guests' at his court until 1071, when they managed to escape again. This showed that William understood the value of keeping potential rebel leaders under close supervision.
Military response and castle building
Norman Control Strategy
The revolt convinced William that he needed to put a Norman in charge of northern England. The person he chose, Robert Cumin, became a trigger for the next rebellion in the north, showing how William's solutions often created new problems.
William responded to the revolt by taking his forces north into Mercia, Edwin's earldom, and Northumbria, which was governed by Morcar, Gospatric and Waltheof. He destroyed houses to make space for new castles he built along the way in Warwick and Nottingham, demonstrating his determination to control the region through military force.
Creation of new resistance centres
The revolt's aftermath was significant because Edgar the Aethling and other rebels escaped to Scotland, where they received protection and support from Malcolm III. This created a new centre of resistance to Norman control at the Scottish court, setting up the conditions for Edgar to attack northern England again in the future.
Timeline of events
- December 1066: William imposes heavy geld tax
- Early 1067: William returns to Normandy, taking English treasure
- 1067: Systematic land redistribution continues under Odo and FitzOsbern
- 1068: Edwin and Morcar flee court and lead revolt
- 1068: William suppresses revolt, rebels submit at Warwick
- 1068: William builds new castles at Warwick and Nottingham
- 1068: Robert Cumin appointed to control the north
- 1071: Edwin and Morcar escape from William's court again
Key Points to Remember:
- The 1068 revolt was led by Earls Edwin and Morcar, supported by other Anglo-Saxon nobles including Edgar the Aethling
- Six main causes drove the rebellion: broken promises, land seizures, violence, heavy taxation, castle building, and reduced earldoms
- The revolt collapsed when the leaders submitted to William at Warwick, but this created new problems as rebels escaped to Scotland
- William's response combined pardoning rebel leaders with increased military control and castle building across the Midlands and North
- This revolt demonstrated that organised Anglo-Saxon resistance was still possible but also showed William's growing strength and political skill in dealing with challenges to his rule