The Monarchs of England

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The Monarchs of England
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Edward the Confessor

• The Penultimate Anglo-Saxon King of England
• Construction of Westminster (consecrated Dec. 25,
  1065)
• On his deathbed, he named Harold his successor
  instead of his grandson or William of Normandy
  who claimed it had been promised to him
• Canonized in 1161

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Harold II

• Harold acted as an emissary from Edward the
  Confessor to the court of William of Normandy in
  1064, during which time he allegedly swore an
  oath of fealty to William, relinquishing any
  personal claim to the throne. This oath, which
  may have been given lightly, or possibly under
  duress, would figure directly in William's own
  claim, two years later.
• In September 1066, Norman forces landed in SE
  England
• Battle of Hastings
• Bayeux Tapestry

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Bayeux Tapestry
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The Modern-Era Monarchs
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William I

• Oct. 14, 1066 won the Battle of Hastings
• Crowned Christmas Day, 1066
• Took land from Anglo-Saxon nobles and gave to
  Normans
• Church reorganized with Williams supporters in
  power
• Institution of Canon Courts
• Extended powers of the Sheriff in each shire
• Died in battle in 1087 when his horse fell on him

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William I (cont.)When he died...

• his eldest son Robert received the duchy of
  Normandy
• William Rufus acquired England
• his youngest son Henry inherited 5000 pounds of
  silver.
• Immediate beginning of conflict as many nobles
  held land and titles on both sides of the English
  Channel and put brother against brother

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William II (William Rufus)

• Worked to undermine his brother Robert
• Robert finally sold him Normandy to finance his
  journey on the First Crusade
• Very greedy, William II would leave clerical
  positions vacant then keep the money
• Considered blasphemous and crass by the clerics
  (who were the majority of written historians)
• Killed when shot through the eye by an arrow
  while hunting (unsure if a stray shot or
  intentional murder)

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Henry I

• Longest reign of Norman kings (35 years)
• Some say he was responsible for the death of his
  brother William II
• With older brother (and Williams heir) Robert in
  the Holy Land, Henry moved quickly to take the
  throne and appease the barons
• When Robert returned to Normandy, he was captured
  by Henrys forces and lived the rest of his life
  (28 years) a prisoner

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Henry I (cont.)

• Established The Exchequer to account for money
  owed the crown
• Because he spent almost half his time on the
  continent, he began to establish a bureaucracy to
  rule in his absence
• Henry forced his barons to swear an oath of
  allegiance to his daughter (and only heir)
  Matilda in 1127 after he arranged her marriage to
  the sixteen-year-old Geoffrey of Anjou
• Henry died 8 years later at war with his
  son-in-law and with rebellion by his barons
  brewing

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Stephen

• Nephew of Henry I
• Moved to claim the throne over Matilda
• Mild-mannered nature led to erosion of power
• Gave up large tracts of land to the Scots to end
  disputes
• Gave in to many demands by the church
• And then Matilda stepped in...

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Stephen

• Matilda (Maud) and her husband (Geoffrey of
  Anjou) invaded and joined rebellion against
  Stephen
• 1153 Treaty of Wallingford resolved the dispute
• Stephen would rule unopposed but on his death,
  the throne would go to Matildas heirs

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Stephens death brought an end to the Norman
dynasty. As per the Treaty of Wallingford, the
crown passed to Matildas son, Henry.

• This was the beginning of the new royal house
• The Plantagenets
• (sometimes called the Angevins)