Timeline of Significant Events

AD 1054-1071

 

 

 

1054      (February) The Battle of Mortemer in which Norman forces route an invading force of French and Britons, finally consolidating Duke William’s power 19 years after his accession in 1035.

1056  Robert, the Duke’s half-brother, becomes count of Mortain.

1057  (August) King Henry of France, in league with Count Geoffrey of Anjou, invades Normandy and is turned back at the Battle of Varaville

1060  (August) Death of King Henry of France, succeeded by Philip I

(November) Death of Count Geoffrey of Anjou

1061     (October) Alexander becomes Pope

1062     (March) Death of Herbert, Count of Maine

1063     Invasion and conquest of Maine by Duke William

1064     Harold Godwinson visits Normandy

Duke William invades Brittany

1066  (spring) Duke William begins gathering forces for the invasion of England and building of invasion fleet, to which William FitzOsbern is said to have pledged 60 ships.

(September) Duke William’s fleet assembles in the Dives, and is moved to St. Valery-sur-Somme

(September) Harold Hardraada invades northern England; he defeats the northern earls at the Battle of Fulford Gate but is himself defeated by King Harold a few days later at Stamford Bridge.

(September) The Norman invasion force lands at Pevensey three days later, and the next day occupies Hastings.

(October) Duke William ravages the countryside on the Hastings peninsula, forcing Harold into an engagement.  At the Battle of Hastings, Harold is killed and the Normans win an all but final victory over the English

(December) Duke William marches to London and is crowned King in Westminster on Christmas Day.

1067  (spring) Duke William returns to Normandy, leaving Bishop Odo and William FitzOsbern as regents in his absence

(autumn) William FitzOsbern is made Earl of Hereford

1069     (spring) York rebels and is retaken by Duke William; FitzOsbern is set to watch over the city. 

(summer) Invasion of York by Sweyn Estrithson, King of Denmark, leading to another rising, with the rebels eventually retaking York

(autumn) Duke William retakes York.

1070     (winter-spring) The Harrying of the North, wherein Duke William (with FitzOsbern playing a prominent role) lays waste to   

         large areas in northern England, to punish them for their insurrection and to prevent future uprisings.

1071 (February) The Battle of Cassel, where William FitzOsbern is killed. 

 

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