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Mother: GYTHA Thorgilsson av SVERIGE |
"King Edward of England (called "The Confessor" because of his
construction of Westminster Abbey) died on January 5, 1066,
after a reign of 23 years. Leaving no heirs, Edward's passing
ignited a three-way rivalry for the crown that culminated in the
Battle of Hastings and the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon rule
of England.
The leading pretender was Harold Godwinson, the second most
powerful man in England and an advisor to Edward. Harold and
Edward became brothers-in-law when the king married Harold's
sister. Harold's powerful position, his relationship to Edward
and his esteem among his peers made him a logical successor to
the throne. His claim was strengthened when the dying Edward
supposedly uttered "Into Harold's hands I commit my Kingdom."
With this kingly endorsement, the Witan (the council of royal
advisors) unanimously selected Harold as King. His coronation
took place the same day as Edward's burial. With the placing of
the crown on his head, Harold's troubles began.
Across the English Channel, William, Duke of Normandy, also laid
claim to the English throne. William justified his claim through
his blood relationship with Edward (they were distant cousins)
and by stating that some years earlier, Edward had designated
him as his successor. To compound the issue, William asserted
that the message in which Edward anointed him as the next King
of England had been carried to him in 1064 by none other than
Harold himself. In addition, (according to William) Harold had
sworn on the relics of a martyred saint that he would support
William's right to the throne. From William's perspective, when
Harold donned the Crown he not only defied the wishes of Edward
but had violated a sacred oath. He immediately prepared to
invade England and destroy the upstart Harold. Harold's
violation of his sacred oath enabled William to secure the
support of the Pope who promptly excommunicated Harold,
consigning him and his supporters to an eternity in Hell.
The third rival for the throne was Harald Hardrada, King of
Norway. His justification was even more tenuous than William's.
Hardrada ruled Norway jointly with his nephew Mangus until 1047
when Mangus conveniently died. Earlier (1042), Mangus had cut a
deal with Harthacut the Danish ruler of England. Since neither
ruler had a male heir, both promised their kingdom to the other
in the event of his death. Harthacut died but Mangus was unable
to follow up on his claim to the English throne because he was
too busy battling for the rule of Denmark. Edward became the
Anglo-Saxon ruler of England. Now with Mangus and Edward dead,
Hardrada asserted that he, as Mangus's heir, was the rightful
ruler of England. When he heard of Harold's coronation, Hardrada
immediately prepared to invade England and crush the upstart.
Hardrada of Norway struck first. In mid September, Hardrada's
invasion force landed on the Northern English coast, sacked a
few coastal villages and headed towards the city of York.
Hardrada was joined in his effort by Tostig, King Harold's
nere-do-well brother. The Viking army overwhelmed an English
force blocking the York road and captured the city. In London,
news of the invasion sent King Harold hurriedly north at the
head of his army picking up reinforcements along the way. The
speed of Harold's forced march allowed him to surprise
Hardrada's army on September 25, as it camped at Stamford Bridge
outside York. A fierce battle followed. Hand to hand combat
ebbed and flowed across the bridge. Finally the Norsemen's line
broke and the real slaughter began. Hardrada fell and then the
King's brother, Tostig. What remained of the Viking army fled to
their ships. So devastating was the Viking defeat that only 24
of the invasion force's original 240 ships made the trip back
home. Resting after his victory, Harold received word of
William's landing near Hastings.
Construction of the Norman invasion fleet had been completed in
July and all was ready for the Channel crossing. Unfortunately,
William's ships could not penetrate an uncooperative north wind
and for six weeks he languished on the Norman shore. Finally, on
September 27, after parading the relics of St. Valery at the
water's edge, the winds shifted to the south and the fleet set
sail. The Normans made landfall on the English coast near
Pevensey and marched to Hastings.
Harold rushed his army south and planted his battle standards
atop a knoll some five miles from Hastings. During the early
morning of the next day, October 14, Harold's army watched as a
long column of Norman warriors marched to the base of the hill
and formed a battle line. Separated by a few hundred yards, the
lines of the two armies traded taunts and insults. At a signal,
the Norman archers took their position at the front of the line.
The English at the top of the hill responded by raising their
shields above their heads forming a shield-wall to protect them
from the rain of arrows. The battle was joined.
The English fought defensively while the Normans infantry and
cavalry repeatedly charged their shield-wall. As the combat
slogged on for the better part of the day, the battle's outcome
was in question. Finally, as evening approached, the English
line gave way and the Normans rushed their enemy with a
vengeance. King Harold fell as did the majority of the Saxon
aristocracy. William's victory was complete. On Christmas day
1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey."
From: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bayeux.htm
The Tapestry describes Harold's return to England after swearing
his oath to William and his report to King Edward. The story
then advances forward two years to 1066 and the death of Edward.
References: Bernstein, David, The Mystery of the Bayeux Tapestry
(1987); Howarth, David, 1066 the Year of the Conquest (1978);
Ingram, James (translator), The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (1823);
Wood, Michael, In Search of the Dark Ages (1987).
How To Cite This Article: "Invasion of England, 1066,"
EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (1997).
_AETHELMAER "The Great"_________+
| (0950 - 1017)
_WULFNOTH of Wessex___________|
| (0970 - ....) |
| |_AETHELTHRITH___________________
| (0950 - ....)
_GODWINE Earl of Kent and Wessex_|
| (0992 - 1053) m 1019 |
| | ________________________________
| | |
| |______________________________|
| |
| |________________________________
|
|
|--HAROLD II Godwinson of Wessex and England
| (1022 - 1066)
| _STYRBJORN SVERIGE _____________+
| | (0940 - ....)
| _THORKILS Sprakalegg SVERIGE _|
| | (0970 - ....) |
| | |_THYRA Haraldsdottir of Danmark_+
| | (0950 - ....)
|_GYTHA Thorgilsson av SVERIGE ___|
(1000 - 1069) m 1019 |
| ________________________________
| |
|______________________________|
|
|________________________________
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Mother: Hester "Hettie" HENTON |
Frances Knott (Wife) b. 4 AUG 1800 in Marion County, KY
Marriage: 5 JAN 1826
Children:
Mary Jane Briscoe b. 18 MAR 1827 in Hardin County, KY
Hester Ann Briscoe b. 4 NOV 1828 in Hardin County, KY
Elizabeth Shackleford Briscoe b. 29 NOV 1830 in Hardin County,
KY
Martha Briscoe b. 13 FEB 1833 in Lewis County, MO
Francis Lloyd Briscoe b. 31 JAN 1843 in Lewis County, MO
_Philip BRISCOE ___________+
| (1719 - ....)
_Walter BRISCOE Sr._________|
| (1742 - 1785) m 1762 |
| |_Nancy FOSTER _____________
| (1716 - ....)
_Walter BRISCOE Jr.______|
| (1771 - 1855) m 1792 |
| | _Matthew COMPTON II________+
| | | (1709 - 1770) m 1733
| |_Elizabeth COMPTON _________|
| (1742 - 1797) m 1762 |
| |_Rachel HOWARD ____________+
| (1714 - 1787) m 1733
|
|--Stephen BRISCOE
| (1800 - 1897)
| _John HENTON ______________+
| | (1732 - 1791) m 1749
| _David HENTON ______________|
| | (1755 - 1779) m 1773 |
| | |_Esther EVANS _____________
| | (1723 - ....) m 1749
|_Hester "Hettie" HENTON _|
(1775 - 1858) m 1792 |
| _Jacob Jansen van METER ___+
| | (1723 - 1798) m 1741
|_Mary M. (Polly) van METER _|
(1757 - 1832) m 1773 |
|_Letitia STROUDE (STRODE) _+
(1725 - 1800) m 1741
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Mother: Anne CLAYTON |
_____________________________________
|
_Nicholas DAVIES ____|
| (1690 - 1793) |
| |_____________________________________
|
_Henry Landon DAVIES of "Pebbleton"_|
| (1745 - 1795) m 1767 |
| | _Henry WHITING II____________________+
| | | (1680 - ....) m 1700
| |_Catherine WHITING __|
| (1700 - ....) |
| |_Anne BEVERLEY ______________________+
| (1687 - 1744) m 1700
|
|--Tamerlane Whiting DAVIES
| (1786 - ....)
| _John CLAYTON "the Immigrant"________+
| | (.... - 1773) m 1723
| _John CLAYTON _______|
| | (1725 - 1826) |
| | |_Elizabeth WHITING __________________+
| | (1700 - 1771) m 1723
|_Anne CLAYTON ______________________|
(1750 - 1786) m 1767 |
| _Henry "Harry" WILLIS of Willis Hill_+
| | (1690 - 1740) m 1726
|_Elizabeth WILLIS ___|
(1729 - 1752) |
|_Mildred LEWIS ______________________+
(1691 - 1733) m 1726
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|
Father: George HODGES Mother: Sallie HARTLEY |
_George HODGES ______+
| (1769 - 1851) m 1796
_Robert George Washington HODGES _|
| (1808 - 1861) m 1830 |
| |_Sarah CHERRY _______+
| (1780 - ....) m 1796
_George HODGES ______|
| (1831 - 1915) |
| | _William HALE Sr.____
| | | (1764 - 1840) m 1791
| |_Elvira Waite HALE _______________|
| (1810 - ....) m 1830 |
| |_Sarah QUARLES ______+
| (1774 - 1852) m 1791
|
|--John Dolson HODGES
| (1875 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
| __________________________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Sallie HARTLEY _____|
(1855 - 1921) |
| _____________________
| |
|__________________________________|
|
|_____________________
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|
_Thomas LOCKETT I____
| (1645 - 1686) m 1667
_Thomas LOCKETT II___|
| (1673 - 1745) |
| |_Margaret OSBORNE ___+
| (1649 - 1708) m 1667
_Gideon LOCKETT _____|
| (1730 - 1808) |
| | _Thomas OSBORNE III__+
| | | (1641 - 1692)
| |_Martha OSBORNE _____|
| (1670 - ....) |
| |_Martha GOODE _______
| (1645 - ....)
|
|--Winifrred "Winney" LOCKETT
| (1787 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
|_____________________
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|
__
|
__|
| |
| |__
|
_(RESEARCH QUERY) REEVES _|
| |
| | __
| | |
| |__|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--Charles REEVES
| (1780 - ....)
| __
| |
| __|
| | |
| | |__
| |
|__________________________|
|
| __
| |
|__|
|
|__
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Mother: Mary Susannah GILLANDEAU |
_Joseph SINGLETARY __+
| (1692 - 1737)
_Benjamin SINGLETARY Sr._|
| (1725 - 1807) m 1760 |
| |_____________________
|
_Thomas SINGLETARY ________|
| (1768 - 1819) m 1785 |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Elizabeth JINKS ________|
| (1740 - ....) m 1760 |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--James Benjamin SINGLETARY Sr.
| (1819 - 1878)
| _____________________
| |
| _________________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary Susannah GILLANDEAU _|
(1770 - ....) m 1785 |
| _____________________
| |
|_________________________|
|
|_____________________
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