Harold and his Saxons see off the Norsemen at major battle

Following the death of Edward the Confessor in 1066 the English crown was claimed by the dead king’s right-hand man, who had charge of the royal bodyguard. His claim that Edward named him as successor was approved by the Witan (a sort of Privy Council as it was called in latter days) who unanimously votedContinue reading “Harold and his Saxons see off the Norsemen at major battle”

Sacred relics and broken oaths with three claimants to English throne

It took 600 years to really establish the Saxons as lords and masters of the land now called England. They had driven the original inhabitants into the West and then pushed back the various Nordic invaders into small enclaves. Edward the Confessor had ruled for a good time but in 1066 he popped his clogsContinue reading “Sacred relics and broken oaths with three claimants to English throne”