Tag Archives: 1066 Saxon Times Resource Book

Duke William’s ‘Grand Invasion of England’

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Travel News

THERE are likely to be severe delays on all roads in the southeast, for the next three months, as Duke William continues his invasion of England. The official advice is to postpone your travel arrangements unless it is absolutely necessary as all travel is likely to prove dangerous to your well-being.

Hastings.

The news from Duke William’s advisers is that he expected the homage of the English Witan but this submission has not arrived, and that piques – one in the Norman eye for William.

William of Poitiers, his chronicler, was heard to say “When he found that they would not come to him, he decided to use all the force that was left in Hastings and that which would come to him from over sea, to ravage all the country that he overran.”

First Division The Main Army

The First Division will form the main Norman Army and march first north to Senlac Hill and then will follow the ancient trackways and Roman roads east towards Dover before moving on to Canterbury.

It is a circuitous route as it must avoid the Appledore Estuary, that great inland sea that stretches almost all the way to Tenterden. The objective is to secure Dover and start the building of a Castle before moving off towards Canterbury.

I have it on good authority that it is the Duke’s intention to negotiate the surrender of Canterbury, safeguarding the Cathedral where he intends to pray for redemption and the blessing of the remainder of the campaign.

Second Division

The Second Division will leave Hastings and march west to the great harbour at Portchester, at the head of Fareham Creek. Their orders are to seize the Royal Mints at Steyning, Arundel

and Chichester, survey and list sites for fortification that will secure Duke William’s control of Wessex that was once the stronghold of Harold Godwinson.

Barons such as William de Warenne also see it as an opportunity for personal gain, identifying lands that that they will petition the Duke for once he becomes King. With the prospect of rich pickings further west they begin to look and strut like Norman invaders and are eager to leave the confines of Hastings.

Once at Fareham Creek, they are to rendezvous with reinforcements sailing from France and Normandy. After a period of assimilation, the enlarged Division is to move north towards Winchester, making camp at Alresford and wait for further instruction from the Duke William himself.

It is stressed very forcibly, that they must not make any move on Winchester itself.

For the stories behind the headlines and the latest news on Duke William’s ‘Invasion of England’ read The Saxon Times.

The 1066 Saxon Times Resource book is a compendium of all the leading stories of 1066 available as a downloadable and photocopiable classroom resources, including quizzes to test your knowledge, and is available from The Saxon Times and TES.

 

The Saxon Times

TES

1066, A Tumultuous Year

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Get the stories behind 1066

Books

Be informed on the news that matters

The Saxon Times brings you all you need to know about everything 1066.

More than a newspaper it’s a comment on all the tumultuous events as they happen with latest news, breaking news and current news from around 1066.

Get all the big headlines, analysis and opinion on the stories that matter.

Now available as ‘The 1066 Saxon Times Resource Book’ with 67 downloadable classroom resources covering the whole year from the Consecration of West Minster Abbey to New Year’s Eve 1066 when Duke William can be found hiding in a nunnery in Barking!

The 1066 Saxon Times Resource book is available as a downloadable and photocopiable classroom resource, including quizzes to test your knowledge,

and is available from The Saxon Times and TES.

The Saxon Times                                      TES

www.1066haroldsway.co.uk

Saxons Count Cost Of Joining Europe

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Issue 40

Norman Lies

God came in peace and Bishop Odo’s reliance on the Pope’s Blessing is hypocritical at the very least.

It is really all to do with power, the power of the Church and the power of Duke William. Both see the opportunity for riches and wealth. I’ve already heard the nobles carving up lands for themselves and looting and murder are all part of their game. No doubt they hope to buy their forgiveness, in the eyes of the Lord, by making large donations to the Church.

There is no such thing as Norman goodwill.

All Are Dead

After the terrible events of the Battle of Senlac Hill, when the ‘flower of English nobility and youth lay dead’, the Norman Army spent yesterday scouring the battle field.

If any Saxon was still alive it was a miracle, but they would not be long for this world. The murderous Normans made sure that no Saxon should ‘suffer’ a lingering death.

 

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:

www.1066thesaxontimes.com

Final Battle Edition

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Issue 39

Exclusive Eye Witness Reports

The Battle

They were like dogs after a hare- – Once they got the scent.

There was no stopping them.

Down the hill they ran, Faster And faster.

They thought that they had won. They thought that they were proper soldiers

But they just didn’t listen.

We could see what would happen From the top of the hill.

We knew what would happen At the bottom.

They gave William the upper hand As we fell back to defend the King.

 

Runners told us the Second Army was close But the King was hit, his brothers too

And the word was given. Fall Back, Fall Back, To the Andreasweald, To the Malfosse.

 

The Malfosse

It’s late. It’s dusk. The Second Army’s here. At last.

We join the line they’ve formed At Malfosse, at Malfosse we whisper.

It’s darker now And on the Normans come

The sound of horses and cries in French, Louder, Louder. Closer, Closer

 

They are the dogs now after the hare, They have the scent of blood.

We are stronger now and we stand defiant. We urge the Normans on For we can win here

For we can win, or we have Malfosse!

 

And win we did. In the name of Harold and Saxon England.

Horses and Normans piled high in the ditch. The ditch that was Malfosse.

And then we disappeared, Into the night, Into the Andreasweald.

Remember Malfosse, A victory, but a hollow one,

For we have lost our King. For we have lost our country

May God Speed And Save Us All From Norman Rule.

 

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:

www.1066thesaxontimes.com

God and Right are on Our Side

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Issue 38

Battle Orders

William’s orders for his forces suggest that he has planned to open the battle with volleys of arrows from his archers in the front rank to weaken the Saxon army.

The infantry will then engage in close combat to create openings in the Saxon lines which could be exploited by a cavalry charge.

The Saxon lines would be broken and the cavalry would be free to pursue the fleeing soldiers.

It was a tried a tested plan that had worked in France.

It will exploit the lack of English archers and cavalry, but at Senlac they will be fighting up hill and if the English line holds firm on the ridge the outcome cannot not be forecast.

Any doubt in Norman minds are assuaged by exhortations from Duke William and Bishop Odo that God and Right are on their side and that Norman discipline will prevail.

 

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:

www.1066thesaxontimes.com

Celebrate Tonight For Tomorrow We Fight

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Issue 37

The Army began to arrive at the campsite from early this morning.

The vanguard crossed the Appledore Estuary at Sedlescombe and are in good shape. The bulk of the army came by Vine Hall, following the old trackways. It took longer but it avoided the estuary.

It is the English custom to pass the night, drinking and singing, and without sleep. They say that it takes the mind of the fyrdmen away from thoughts of the morrow.

Axes are being sharpened, leather bottles filled.

There is much talk of past campaigns and victories to motivate and energise the forces, especially those who are inexperienced.

Many went up to the ridge at Senlac. Across the valley was the Norman camp. It did not seem as big as our camp and gave many of the troops a lift, especially those first-timers.

The Norman camp seemed quiet and on the breeze, could be heard chanting, chanting like you would hear in church.

There were a few laughs amongst the Anglo-Saxon ranks “if they’re confessing their sins already they must think that they’re going to die.

Tomorrow, we’ll help them on their way” said one wag which raised more laughter.

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:

www.1066thesaxontimes.com

William to be crowned King by Christmas

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Issue 36

Normans Are Ready

William, Duke of Normandy and his Council of War are delighted by the intelligence received from their spies.

There is a belief that in Harold’s haste, some of the army may have been left behind to recover from the long march from York and will follow on later.

By contrast, William’s army seem well rested in their long established safe haven, at Hastings, and are ready for a fight. They had been dreading a long, drawn-out campaign and believe a swift engagement will be to their advantage.

The Norman army is getting ready to move from the security of Hastings and Hastings Castle to a new camp on Telham Hill, seven miles to the north.

My informants tell me of Duke William’s intention to meet Harold’s army close to the crossroads at Senlac Hill.

Sources close to the Duke admit that these strategic crossroads hold the key to the invasion.

Win here and William could be crowned King by Christmas.

Comment

I fear for England and our Saxon Rights and our Rule of Law. We must not submit to Norman dictatorship.

It will not be benevolent. We will be forced from our lands. Our lives will be controlled by fear and uncertainty. Taxation will destroy our way of life.

French will become our language. It is not the future that we want for our sons

Trust me.

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:

www.1066thesaxontimes.com

THIS LAND IS OUR LAND – THIS LAND OF WESSEX

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Issue 34

King Harold spoke to his assembled men late today.

“Duke William has an army of around 10,000 but we fought against such odds and won at Stamford Bridge.

We have tasted victory and victory will be ours once again.

I call upon my loyal fyrdmen to take up arms once more. Be ready to leave in five days and reinforcements will join us on the march to ‘the old hoar apple tree’ on Caldbec Hill, near the ridge at Senlac and Hastings

The second army will follow us the next day.

We men of Wessex know it well.

It is our land, our land to defend, defend the ridge at Senlac and we will win the war.”

The speech was met with a tremendous shout and a beating of shields. The horses shied but were soon calmed as the men drifted back to camp. The day that will decide the future of England will soon be upon us all.

This paper will have reporters traveling with the army to keep all our readers up to date with the army’s progress.

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:

www.1066thesaxontimes.com

Hastings Falls Without A Fight

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Issue 32

The Saxon Times were ‘privileged’ to have an audience with Duke William who said “ I am here in Hastings as a friend of the people. I come in peace. Do not be afraid for I will reward those that support me but be warned that if I do encounter opposition it will be dealt with severely, without conscience for I have God and right on my side.” His final words, before we were dismissed, commanded that a motte and bailey castle should be built on West Hill.

Hastings is an ideal stronghold, easily fortified with two commanding hills dominating the town and harbour.

To consolidate his position, Duke William has sent several troops of mounted soldiers to terrorise the country and look for signs of the English army.

The key is to gain control of the ridge at Senlac. He would then be able to march east and west along the ancient trackways or north using the old Roman road. If the ridge falls to William he can move to conquer England.

King Harold is 300 miles away in York and the Senlac ridge is undefended and is only seven miles from Hastings.

The Duke now has time to consolidate his position in Hastings. With control of the ridge Duke William can then advance to dominate the rest of the country – it is a masterful plan as befits the Duke. Nothing will be allowed to get in his way.

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:    www.1066thesaxontimes.com

The Noble Quest For The Throne Of England

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The following is reprinted from an article in the Norman newspaper ‘Le Monde Du Normandie’ published 29th September 1066.

The Noble Quest For The Throne Of England

Issue 31

William of Jumièges and William of Poitiers, Duke William’s chroniclers, were with The Great Duke on his landing on English soil at the start of ‘The Noble Adventure to Claim the Throne of England’.

Beachhead secured and is spread across the wide Pevensey Bay from west to east towards Bexhill.

The Norman cavalry, foot soldiers and archers disembark and take their first steps on English soil.

Next are the carpenters who have been ordered to assemble a castle on the site of the old Roman fort from panels already constructed in Normandy and brought over with the invasion. Even the boats are being taken apart as part of the castle construction.

If they are defeated by King Harold there is no chance of them returning home but any such talk is quickly quashed by Duke William with promises of untold wealth.

But with King Harold in York, it has given the Duke free reign in Wessex to build a strong base rumoured to be at Hastings.

This issue of The Saxon Times is included in the 1066 Saxon Times Resource book:  www.1066thesaxontimes.com