brown university crisis simulation
ENGLAND 1066
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Letter from the Committee directors
Dear Delegates,
To begin, let us cordially welcome you to BUCS 2017! Our names are Anton Manzano and Jose Soria. Anton is
a senior from the Philippines double concentrating in Economics and Anthropology, and Jose is a sophomore
from Spain planning to concentrate in International Relations. Zahra Ashgar and Jourdan Smithwick, our Crisis Collaborators, are freshmen and have contributed greatly to the write-up of this guide. We are more than
thrilled to be your committee directors for the England 1066 Crisis Committee and are very excited to work
with you for the duration of the conference.
The England 1066 committee focuses on the power vacuum that took place after the death of King Edward the
Confessor in 1066. He was heirless, and as such, there was nobody to immediately take the throne. Numerous
contenders would eventually try their luck at conquering England, leading to a period of war and bloodshed.
We are very pleased that you all chose to partake in this committee, and all of us are looking forward to engaging with you in the conference. Most of all, we are more than eager to hear your ideas and debates during
the many committee sessions that we will have. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate
to reach out to us. We would be more than happy to be of any help to you all.
All the best,
Anton Manzano and Jose Soria
2
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
3
Rules of Committee
4
Background Information
History of England
The Godwinsons
William the Bastard
Economic and Social Situation of England
Divide Between Godric and Leofric
Questions to Consider
4
4
5
7
8
8
9
Positions9
Works Cited
13
3
Rules of Committee
Background Information
Debate will be conducted in a continual moderated
caucus. The chair will set the speaking time at the
beginning; however, a delegate may modify the
speaking time at any point throughout the committee sessions. Nonetheless, other forms of debates
including unmoderated caucuses will be entertained
by the chair through a motion between speakers.
Delegates must raise their placards to speak and
only one delegate may speak at a time. Decorum is
necessary to produce wholesome debate. A delegate may pass notes amongst themselves and to the
Chair or Director for specific questions. If a delegate
would like to introduce a finished directive, press
release, communiqué or send notes to crisis or utilize
their portfolio power, the delegate must address that
to the Chair. As a reminder, no pre-written directives,
press releases, or communiqués will be accepted.
In January of 1066, King Edward the Confessor, the
last king of the House of Wessex, died without an
heir to the throne. Such a phenomenon left the
monarchy in a volatile position, with many nobles
eyeing the available position of power. The closest
direct relative, Edgar Aetheling, was in his early teens
when the King Edward died. As such, it was decided that the English court could not be placed into
inexperienced hands.2 Before his death, King Edward
had reportedly promised the throne to William of
Normandy, but on his deathbed he, also reportedly,
chose the powerful noble Harold Godwinson as his
successor. In light of these events, William of Normandy disputed Harold Godwinson’s claim to the
throne almost immediately after he was crowned,
intent on taking it for himself.3
To understand the conflicts of the era we will analyze the backstories of these two contenders to the
throne, as well as English history leading up to 1066
as it pertains to this dispute.
Although much of this crisis historically involved
military conflict, we urge delegates to focus on resolving the political, religious, economic, and social
tensions that are presented in this guide. Additionally, the chairs will look favorably upon actions that
combine the ideas and abilities of multiple members
of the committee. Unilateral action can be effective
when used appropriately, but this approach may not
always be productive if you lack the support of other
members of the committee. We hope to promote
realistic collaboration and compromise while also
being true to the opinions and views of these historical figures.
History of England
Despite being separated by the sea from the European continent, the British Isles, in particular the island
of Great Britain, have been inhabited since time
immemorial. England, one of the countries that lies
on this island and which is now part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has
an extensive ancient history. For the purpose of
this guide we will start with the arrival of different
groups of people that settled in the region after
the fall of the Roman Empire in the island in 410
AD. These different tribes came from the German
lands of Angeln and Saxony, and thus are commonly
known as Anglo-Saxons.4
Position papers are required. Please write well-researched, well-written, and thought out papers.
This will particularly help you in consolidating your
research and getting to know not only the topic
but also your individual characters. Please write 2
double-spaced pages on the topic as well as your
role. Cite your sources using Chicago-style citations
and be sure to have works cited page, which is not
included in the length requirement. Each delegate
must present a position paper in order to receive an
award. Please email a completed position paper with
a works cited to [email protected].
The Anglo-Saxons effectively wiped out most of the
Roman legacy left on the island after the period of
2
Nelson, Jessica, “The death of Edward the Confessor
and the conflicting claims to the English Crown,” History of
Government: UK, 5 January 2016.
3
“1066: WIlliam the Conqueror Invades England,” This
Day in History. n.d.
4
“The Anglo-Saxons,” BBC History, n.d.
4
Roman Britannia.5 At the same time, these tribes
proved to be masters in a new land, displacing
the Celtic groups populating the region and other
foreign tribes, such as the Frisians and Jutes.6 From
this invasion, seven different Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
were formed. The most important kingdoms were
Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia and Sussex. These
realms soon had to vy with a new threat after the
dawn of the Viking Age.7
kingdom of Angle Land. His descendants continued to build defense settlements and treaties with
other regions in order to protect themselves from
the threat of invasion by the Danish. However, the
situation of apparent peace took a turn for the worse
with the succession of Aethelred the Unready. After
his coronation, the Viking hordes led by King Sweyn
Forkbeard of Denmark came from the other side of
the North Sea and conquered England.12
The different Viking tribes, the majority of which,
according to the legend, were led by the sons of the
Viking hero Ragnar Lothbrock,8 committed several
raids on the Anglo-Saxon settlements in the island.
This series of raids began in 793 with the raid of the
monastery of Lindisfarne. This attack was followed
by several more throughout the next decades.9 Such
raids evolved into permanent Viking settlements
throughout the region. This led to the conquest of
parts of the Anglo-Saxon settlements in the island,
until only the Kingdom of Wessex remained.10
The Godwinsons
When Harold Godwinson was born in 1020, the
Danes had just invaded and established their control over the English government under Canute the
Great.13 Harold’s mother was from a powerful Danish
noble family with close ties to the king, and thus
Harold’s father, Godwin (Earl of Wessex and Kent)
became an invaluable ally to Canute’s government.14
Canute’s two sons took the throne after Canute’s
death, but both died considerably quickly. As a
result, and through Godwin’s intervention, Edward
the Confessor was reinstated as king.15 Edward the
Confessor was Aethelred’s son, and his coronation
marked the return of Anglo-Saxon rule and the
house of Wessex, as opposed to the Anglo-Danish
rule. Though Godwin was an ally of the Anglo-Danish
line, he helped orchestrate the Edward’s coronation
under the stipulation that Edward would appoint
Harold as the earl of East Anglia and Wessex.16 King
Edward also bestowed earldoms to Harold’s brothers
with Swegen controlling Hereford, Gloucestershire,
Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Somerset, and Tostig in
Northumbria.17 Furthermore, Edward married Edith,
one of Godwin’s daughters.18 Both actions clearly illustrated the influence that Godwin had over
Edward’s throne, and Edward himself was unhappy
After the attack of the Vikings in 870, Alfred of Wessex became King following the death of his brother
Aethelred. Alfred was a determined ruler who became the head of the Anglo-Saxon resistance against
the Viking invasion. Thus, King Alfred the Great was
able to unify all the different Anglo-Saxon tribes and
push back the different Viking invaders. Although
he was not able to completely expel them from the
region, he was able to establish peace and negotiate
a partition treaty with the Viking hordes. This treaty divided the region between Anglo-Saxons and
Vikings, giving the Vikings a portion of land located
in Northern and Eastern England, which became
known as the “Danelaw.”11
Following the peace treaty between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings, Alfred the Great established the
12
Johnson, Ben, “Invaders,” Historic UK: The History and
Heritage Accommodation Guide, n.d.
13
“The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Eleventh Century,” Yale
Law School: Lillian Goldman Law Library: The Avalon Project:
Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy, n.d.
14
“Harold II King of England” Encyclopaedia Britannica,
2007.
15
“The Godwins,” Ossett History Education, 2010.
16
“Harold II King of England” Encyclopaedia Britannica,
2007.
17
“The Godwins,” Ossett History Education, 2010.
18
Ibid.
5
6
7
Ibid.
Ibid.
“Anglo-Saxons: A Brief History,” Historical Association:
The Voice for History, 20 November 2015.
8
“Ragnar Lothbrok,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 October 2015.
9
Levick, Ben and Nicholson, Andrew, “A Brief History of
Anglo-Saxon England,” Regia Anglorum, 31 March 2003.
10
Ibid.
11
“Alfred ‘The Great’ (r. 871-899),” The Royal Family of the
UK, n.d.
5
with this prospect, especially as all these concessions
eventually gave Harold power comparable to the
King himself.19
The first map illustrates the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms,
while the second map shows the Earls of each.
However, King Edward was also a Norman by blood
(through his maternal side), and sought refuge in
Normandy during the Danish conquest of England.20
As such, while he was still alive, Edward displayed
an affinity with the Normans and appointed many
of them as his advisors and ministers in his court in
England.21 This action in particular led to a conflict
of interest between Godwin and the King. Tensions
escalated quickly between the two when Godwin
disobeyed the the King’s orders to punish the Men
of Dover for insulting one of the Norman lords.22
Godwin, along with his children and supporters,
had started to speculate that the King was displaying favoritism towards the Normans because of the
King’s command and his constant instatement of
Normans into his court.23 He had also become aware
of the increasing Norman presence and influence in
the political realm of England.24 In 1051, a rebellion
ensued, but was quickly dispersed by King Edward
and the many nobles that supported him. Godwin’s
family was ordered into exile, and the queen was
20
19
2007.
Middleton, John, “World Monarchies and Dynasties,”
Routledge: 259-260, 2005.
21
“Edward the Confessor,” BBC History, n.d.
22
Campbell, Miles, “A Pre-Conquest Norman Occupation
of England?” Speculum 46(1): 21. January 1971.
23
Ibid, 22.
24
Ibid.
“Harold II King of England” Encyclopaedia Britannica,
6
sent to the Abbey of Wherwell, thus ending the
influence that Godwin had over the throne.25 It was
at this time when King Edward allegedly visited King
William of Normandy and appointed him as his successor.26 A year later, however, Godwin and his family
quickly regained what was taken away from them,
after he marched to London with an army gathered
in Kent and demanded King Edward to restore all the
titles and land that were taken away from him. King
Edward, seeing that he was completely unprepared
to dispel Godwin’s army, had no other choice but to
give in and grant what Godwin had provisioned.27
public felt about Harold’s ascension, but his claim
was to the throne was substantiated given the two
events described above.
William the Bastard
William was born to an unmarried French woman
and the Duke of Normandy. He inherited the Duchy
of Normandy at a young age. However, William was
seen by many others in Normandy as the illegitimate
heir of the duchy. As he was seen as illegitimate,
from an early age he had to tackle anarchy and
dissent within his realm, one of his most famous
victories was against his most famous rival, Geoffrey
Martel, count of Anjou.34 During his reign, William
had to assert his power squashing several rebellions
within his realm, earning the reputation of a ruthless
leader.
However, after Godwin’s death in around April 1052,
Harold inherited all of his father’s titles.28 Moreover,
Harold’s younger brothers had once again secured
earldom positions across the country, making King
Edward heavily reliant on the family once more.
Harold began to become more politically engaged
with different groups around the country, specifically
with the Mercians, Northumbrians, and the Welsh.29
Harold rose to power because of his political influence. The height of his power was reached when
King Edward, who was heirless, was dying. It was
purported that King Edward appointed the second
most powerful man in England to the throne at his
deathbed, which was undoubtedly Harold.30
William’s claim to the English throne stems from an
old promise made by his friend and distant cousin,
Edward the Confessor, King of England.35 After the
Vikings overthrew his father, King Æthelred, Edward
the Confessor had sought refuge in Normandy,
before returning to England to claim the throne.36
During this time, both William and Edward developed a friendship and Edward became accustomed
to Norman traditions. It is believed that after claiming his throne back in England, an heirless Edward
wrote to William promising him the crown when he
died.37
Furthermore, adding to the validity of Harold’s claim
to the throne, the Witan, a council of noblemen hailing from different parts of England, concluded that
the heir to the late king would be Harold.31 Other
choices included King Harald Hadrada of Norway,
King William of Normandy, and Edgar Aetheling.32
The newly-crowned King Harold was chosen on the
grounds that he was of Anglo-Saxon lineage, and the
council favored such aspect.33 It is unclear how the
This claim was later strengthened after King Edward’s right-hand man, Harold Godwinson shipwrecked on the coast of Normandy and was
captured.38 William, trying to gain the support of
another powerful English noble ordered to release
him. After participating in a military campaign with
Harold, it is believed by many historians that before
returning to England, Harold swore to support William as King of England after Edward’s death.39
25
Cavendish, Richard, “The Rebellion of Earl Godwin,”
History Today Newsletter, 51(9), September 2001.
26
“The Godwins,” Ossett History Education, 2010.
27
Brown, Reginald Allen, “Proceedings of the Battle Conference, 1988, Volume 11,” The Boydell Press, 1988: 181.
28
“Edward The Confessor,” BBC History, n.d.
29
Ibid.
30
Ibid.
31
Simkin, John, “King Harold of Wessex,” Spartacus Educational, September 1997.
32
Ibid.
33
Ibid.
34
“William the Conqueror Biography,” Medieval Life and
Times, 2003.
35
“Claim to the English Throne,” Battle 1066, n.d.
36
Ibid.
37
Ibid.
38
Bartlett, Robert, “How did William the Bastard become
William the Conqueror?” BBC History, 2010.
39
Ibid.
7
Economic and Social Situation of England
ment of religious practices, such as granting religious festivals as holidays.43
Anglo-Saxon society prior to the Norman invasion
was strongly feudal. This meant that the strongest
ties in that society were those that existed between
kin and lord. There was only a vague concept of
nationalism or loyalty to a cause.40 In other words,
lordship was the fundamental pillar of the existing
political structure, as it played a middle role between
the peasantry and royalty.
In contrast to Aethelred’s reign, which was marked
by the conflict and tensions with Danish settlers
(including several pogroms), the reign of Edward the
Confessor was peaceful and flourishing. The altercations with the Scots, the Welsh and other groups of
people diminished during his reign and the internal
administration was able to function properly.44
The king stood atop the social hierarchy, and below
him were the different earls and lords, grouped in a
diversified group of noblemen, known as thane or
thegn. These men had been given lands in the past
for their services to the Crown. Thus, they were able
to collect their own taxes, but they were also required to service and revere the king. When a thegn
died, he was required to pay a succession duty to
the king in order to be able to perpetuate his lineage
and transfer his estate and title to his kin.41
In fact, the increase in coinage, issued by King Edward the Confessor seemed to be part of his work
towards a picture of economic growth. This healthy
economic situation, alongside a peaceful society,
allowed the reign of Edward the Confessor to be
deemed as a prosperous one.45
Divide Between Godwin and Leofric
To be able to participate in committee session, it
is also very important to understand the divide
between Leofric, who was the Earl of Mercia at the
same time when Godwin was the Earl of Wessex.46
On one hand, Leofric was a strong ally of Harold
Harefoot, the King of England from 1035 to 1040.
On the other hand, Godwin was the husband of
Gytha, the sister-in-law of Canute (King of England
before Harold Harefoot). Harold’s rule was apparently inspired against the policies of his predecessor,
thus pitting Leofric and Godwin against each other.47 Furthermore, Godwin was a staunch ally of the
Church, and it believed that Harold’s claim to the
throne was dubious. Harold reported that he was the
son of Canute and believed he had the right claim
to the throne (given the fact this his brother, Harthnacut, was in Denmark and could not make it back
to England). The church did not believe such statement, thus contributing to the existing rivalry.48 This
was also manifest when Godwin attempted to rebel
against King Edward; Leofric backed the King and
Among the non-noble classes, most commonly
known as the cearls, we encounter heterogenous
groups of people of great detailed complexity. Although the term cearl commonly referred to a peasant farmer who aspired to become a thegn, either
through the purchase of land or through a gift from
an earl. Below the cearls, other groups of peasants
are imminent, such as the gebur and the sokeman,
the villanus, the bordar or the cotter. On the lowest
level of the pyramid stood he thew or slave, who belonged to a lord and thus, could be bought or sold as
a commodity. In Anglo-Saxon England, slavery was a
legal punishment for the inability to pay fines.42
The Anglo-Saxon kings were also prolific legislators
themselves, although they initially brought with
them a legal system which was very similar to the
system that was being used in continental Germany, they still managed and continued to create a set
of new laws for each of their territories. Laws were
issued for a set of different needs, from scheduling
compensations for bodily injuries to the enforce-
43
44
45
46
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Barlow, Frank, “Edward the Confessor,” Yale University
Press. 1997.
47
Ibid.
48
Ibid.
40
“Anglo-Saxon Life - kinship and lordship,” Britain Express, n.d.
41
McLynn, Frank, “1066: The Year of the Three Battles,”
Pimlico, 1999, Chapter 1.
42
Ibid.
8
contributed to his victory against Godwin’s army.49
Positions
Questions to Consider:
Harold Godwinson, King of England
1) How will the committee go about debating
on who should take the throne? What facts
or points (e.g., familial, political, geopolitical,
economic, etc.) should be considered in the
debate?
Also known as King Harold II, Harold Godwinson
took the throne of England after King Edward
passed. His father was exiled from England in 1051
and the family found refuge in Normandy. Harold
and the rest of his family invaded England in 1052
and forced Edward the Confessor to restore his family to its original position of power. When the now-deceased King Edward promised the throne to Duke
William of Normandy, Harold had sworn his loyalty
to William. However, on his deathbed, the childless
Edward promised Harold to be his heir instead, thus
making William a threat to his reign.50
2) How will both sides convince the nobles and
earls to take their sides? How can each go
about securing the throne while satisfying
the interests of other leaders/noblemen who
have important positions in the court?
3) How will committee prepare militaristically
for any potential conflict the disputed succession may bring?
Portfolio Powers: As the current King of England, Harold has control of vast Army and Navy assets as well
as an array of advisors. He can use these resources
to strategize and maintain surveillance on those he
sees as threats to his reign. Despite that power, Harold is also heavily dependent on the Earl’s below him
as well as the rest of the Royal bureaucracy.
4) How will each side garner the support of the
influential Catholic Church (or the Vatican itself )? What role can the Church play in deciding which party takes the throne?
5) How can the committee reach out to other
territories/kingdoms to also gather support
in securing the throne? What other regions
may also have a stake in the effects of this
political conflict?
Edith the Fair, Wife of Harold
Edith the Fair is the sister of Edwin Earl of Mercia and
wife of King Harold II. The two were never formally
married but are bound by “common-law,” meaning
that all children they have are considered legitimate
heirs to the throne. She and her husband have a
strong relationship and are close confidants.51 She
is strongly committed to keeping Harold alive and
in power. With significant status in both families,
she is an influential figure and owns a considerable
amount of land in the Wessex region of England.52
6) More importantly, how can both groups
reach out the the greater English population,
who, historically, are rather indifferent to the
political scene in England? Rather, how can
each find support from this group who are
not politically active/do not normally have a
say in English politics?
Portfolio Powers: Not only does Edith have a considerable amount of funds at her disposal, she also has
the ear of the King and influence across families. This
allows her to be very powerful in royal decision-making. She is able to execute her own plans without the
knowledge of her husband using personal funds.
50
“Harold II, King of England,” Encyclopedia Britannica,
49
15 February 2007.
51
Yarde, Lisa, “Lovers: Harold Godwinsson and Edith
Swan-neck,” Unusual Historicals, 20 February 2015.
52
“Edith Swanneschals: The House of Godwinson,” English Monarchs, n.d.
Ibid.
9
Morcar, Earl of Northumbria
After being exiled with the rest of his family as a
child, he returned when his father retook his power
and influence in England and became Earl of East
Anglia, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire. This gives
him a fair amount of land and wealth to work with.
He also has military experience and has offered to
lead attacks in Harold’s name in the past.55
Morcar was born to the Earl of Mercia, a very powerful figure in Anglo-Saxon England. When King
Harold ascended the throne, Morcar took the sister
of the King as his wife, putting himself in a position
of power. Morcar was appointed Earl of Northumbria
by regional nobles when they began to view the
previous Earl as a tyrannical leader. His allegiance lies
with Harold not only due to family ties, but because
Harold sided with him in this conflict.53
Portfolio Powers: As advisor to and brother of the
King, Gryth holds a fair amount of influence in court.
The King trusts him, especially because he offers to
fight for him so often. Although he does not have
much military power, this influence is an important
bargaining chip at this point, and he also has a large
amount of power over resources associated with his
Earldom.
Portfolio Powers: As a military commander, Morcar
has many troops under his influence that he can use
to defend his King. Though he does not influence all
decisions the King makes, they are strong allies. He
can work through his wife to convince the King of
actions he deems necessary.
Leofwine Godwinson, Earl of Essex and Middlesex
Leofwine Godwinson is the younger brother of King
Harold and the Earl of Essex and Middlesex. After
being exiled with the rest of his family as a child, he
returned when his father retook his power and influence in England. After the death of his father, he was
given both his Earldoms. He is a firm supporter of his
brother, the King, and has control of a large amount
of land, including land outside of his earldom. He
is also head of the Military, which is allied with his
brother.54
Portfolio Powers: As head of the Military, Leofwine
Godwinson has full command of the armed forces.
Although they are loyal to his brother in theory, they
generally take their orders directly from him, giving
him a large amount of power in helping his brother keep his power over the Kingdom. He also has a
large amount of power over resources associated
with his Earldom.
Gryth Godwinson, Earl of East Anglia, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire
One of the younger brothers of King Harold II, Gryth
Godwinson functions as a key advisor to the King.
53
“Morcar, Earl of Northumbria: The English Resistance,”
English Monarchs, n.d.
54
“Leofwine Godwinson,” Spartacus Educational, September 1997.
Edith of Wessex, Wife of Former King Edward the
Confessor
Edith of Wessex is the sister of King Harold and the
wife of King Edward the Confessor. However, her
marriage to King Edward is not consummated and
they do not have any children, thus currently leaving
them heirless. She has close relationships with her
brothers Tostig and Harold.56 She is also believed to
have masterminded the 1064 assassination of Northumbrian lord Gospatric in the interest of both her
brothers.57 She is the richest woman in England at
the time of Edward’s death.58
Portfolio Powers: Edith has a large amount of material
assets that can be used for committee and her own
interests. Given that she also has very close relations
with King Harold, she acts as his personal confidante,
and can sway his opinions as well as influence committee decisions.
Edgar The Aetheling
Only a young teenager, Edgar is the last surviving
member of the Royal House of Wessex and current
Prince of the Anglo-Saxons. He has lived most of his
life outside of England but returned after the rule of
55
“Gyrth Godwinson,” Spartacus Educational, September
1997.
56
“The House of Godwinson: Edith of Wessex,” English
Monarchs, 2004.
57
Ibid.
58
Ibid.
10
his great-uncle Edward the Confessor ended.59
Portfolio Powers: As the last remaining Wessex heir,
Edgar is widely seen as a symbol of enduring legitimacy. He can garner support from other Earls in
Wessex and the people of England generally respect
the legacy of his family.
Ealdred, Archbishop of York
Made Archbishop of York in 1061, Ealdred is influential not only amongst fellow religious leaders but
common people as well. Thus, he plays an important
role in secular politics. He is also believed to have
crowned Harold as King of England in 1066.60
Portfolio Powers: As an important religious leader,
Ealdred has diplomatic relations with other bishops throughout continental Europe. He also plays a
decisive role in the workings of general Anglo-Saxon
society.
Waltheof, Earl of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire
Waltheof inherits the earldoms of Northamptonshire
and Huntingdonshire at an early age. As the youngest amongst his brothers, he was educated to follow
a religious life and was believed to be a charitable
and pious man. Given the fact that he descends from
the earls of Northumbria, Waltheof also has claim on
said lands.
Portfolio Powers: As an earl, Waltheof has a strong
military and political power over his lands and thus
plays an important role in internal politics of the
area.
Osulf II of Bamburgh
Osulf is the Earl of Bamburgh’s son and the grandson
of the Earl of Northumbria. His family ruled Bamburgh until 1041 when Northumbria was united
under one ruler. When Morcar became the Earl of
Northumbria after Tostig, he gave Osulf the area
north of the river Tyne.61
59
60
61
“Edgar the Aetheling”, English Monarchs, n.d.
“Ealdred”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.
“Osulf II of Bamburgh,” Revolvy, n.d.
Portfolio Powers: Osulf has a number of allies who
support him in court, and also controls an area of
land which affords him power. In addition, many
people continue to respect his family’s legacy, and
thus he generally commands respect as well.
Edwin, Earl of Mercia
Upon his father’s death, Edwin replaces him and is
instated as Earl of Mercia.62 Together with his brothers, Edwin commands his men to break into Tostig’s
residence in York and kills Tostig’s soldiers who are
stationed there in October 1065.63 Edwin also facilitates the banishment of Tostig, and his brother,
Morcar, is appointed as the new earl of Northumbria
the same month.64
Portfolio Powers: Like Morcar, Edwin has a large army
that he can use at his will. He also has Morcar’s support for any of his endeavors, and two work together
for any military conquests and expeditions.
Harold Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury
A controversial political and religious figure, Harold
Stigand began as the adviser to Queen Emma and
Bishop of Elmham, before Queen Emma was disgraced.65 He was then chosen to succeed Robert as
the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1052, after negotiating peace agreements between King Edward and
Earl Godwine.66 His appointment was not recognized
by Rome until 1058, and even then it remained controversial both within England and in the eyes of the
Pope.67
Portfolio Powers: An accomplished negotiator, Stigand is respected in court for his abilities as a mediator between parties in conflict. He also holds some
influence over other bishops in England, though
much of the religious community is split over whether or not they support him.
62
“Eadwine, Earl of Mercia,” Spartacus Educational, September 1997.
63
Ibid.
64
Ibid.
65
“Stigand (Died 1072),” Britannia Biographies, n.d.
66
“Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury,” Encyclopedia
Britannica, February 2011.
67
Ibid.
11
Beorn Lowthwaite, Military Commander of Harold Godwinson*
Beorn was appointed as the Military Commander to
King Harold shortly after the latter was appointed as
King. He served Harold’s father, Godwin, in numerous military expeditions and and became one of his
father’s most trusted men. He too, helped in Godwin’s invasion after the family’s expulsion by King
Edward in 1051.
Portfolio Powers: An esteemed military man, Beorn
Lowthwaite is responsible of commanding and
overseeing Harold’s army. He can send troops to
earldoms when necessary, and is also in charge of
training and equipping the soldiers he leads.
Æthelwine, Captain of the Houscarls*
The Housecarls were in effect an elite class of troops
that formed the backbone of the Anglo-Saxon army.68 Their discipline and superior equipment, mainly consisting of chain mail and long Danish axes,
made them a formidable force on the battlefield.
Unlike the bulk of Harold’s army, housecarls received
direct payment and were seen as a similar to mercenary forces, however in peacetime they would assist
in tax levying and other administrative works.
Portfolio Powers: Æthelwine, as the Housecarl’s captain, has great influence over this powerful and loyal
force. He is also well tested in combat from numerous campaigns assisting various European powers.
Geoff Hlaford, Head of the Witan Council*
Wihtræd, Mayor of the City of London*
Geoff Hlaford was the Presider of the Witan Council
whose influence was, in part, responsible for putting
Harold as the successor to William. Geoff, along with
the other council members, served as the advisors
to William when he was still king, and even to the
Kings before him. Because of Geoff’s intelligence and
outstanding advice, he was appointed as the head of
the Witan council during William’s rule.
By 1066, London was a city with over a millennium
of history, from Roman foundation to Viking destruction. At the time of Edward’s death, London had
established itself as a bustling center of trade and
politics.69 Its importance was well understood by
England’s leaders: Edward’s choice of location for his
famous Westminster Abbey was no mistake. London’s tall walls and strong fortification also enabled
it, and its town leadership, a considerable amount of
independence from the west of the medieval kingdom.70
Portfolio Powers: Geoff is in charge of primarily advising King Harold in ruling over the English kingdom.
He also leads the council of Witan, who contain some
of the most politically influential men in the kingPortfolio Powers: Wihtræd represents the independom.
dent and well organized London elite. He has access
to the city’s great wealth, and it’s professional/merEdmund Godwinson, son of Harold Godwinson*
cantile power. While not a military force in its own
Edmund Godwinson is the second eldest son of King right, London’s fortification makes it easily defensible.
Harold. Together with his older brother, Godwin,
Edmund was a soldier in training who was being
groomed in leading the kingdom after his father. He
was also one of his father’s most trusted individuals
in the latter’s court, and his father would seek counsel from him from time to time. He, too, is currently
enlisted in Beorn’s army.
Portfolio Powers: Can aid in military strategy with
Beorn Lowthwaite, and can help in influencing Harold’s decisions concerning military expeditions.
*Denotes fictional characters and/or description.
68
Mercedes Rochelle, “Just who are the Housecarls?” Historical Britain, 18 July 2015. Accessed 2 February 2017. < http://
mercedesrochelle.com/wordpress/?p=934>.
69
“Cities Guide: London,” The Economist, N.d. Accessed 2 February 2017. < https://web.archive.org/
web/20071116191955/http://www.economist.com/cities/findstory.cfm?folder=Facts-History&city_id=LDN>.
70Ibid.
12
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