There are many ways this committee could end that aren t necessarily historically accurate.

Transcription

1 Battle of Hastings Letter from the Director HELLO, DELEGATES. I feel lucky to be directing the committee that has the bravest and best delegates, the ad hoc. Signing up for this committee shows that you aren t afraid to take on challenges and plan as you go. The ability to think on your feet is incredibly important, but I advise all delegates to use the little preparation time they have wisely. There are many ways this committee could end that aren t necessarily historically accurate. If you attended RTC last year you probably knew me as the USG of Conference Services, but this year, my final year as an undergraduate, I wanted to take on a committee role. Outside of RTC I am the Assistant Director of Involvement of FSU s World Affairs Program, President of Students Demand Action FSU, and the Recruitment Chair for the Migrant and Refugee Education Alliance. I enjoy writing, reading, and studying (I really do it s so relaxing). My favorite study buddy is my 11 year old German Shepherd, Hoss, who will nap anywhere and everywhere. I can t stand silent places, which is why in my loft I ll always be blasting R&B, moody pop music, or old episodes of a comedy show (Brooklyn 99 or Parks & Rec preferred.) I look forward to working with you and securing the English throne for my fellow Vikings. Bon chance. Alexandra Erickson 1

2 Introduction William, the Duke of Normandy, was promised the English throne by the heirless king, his cousin Edward the Confessor. King Edward died in early 1066 and in an alleged deathbed confession left his throne to his brother-in-law, Harold Godwineson. As Harold was an Anglo-Saxon and William was a Norman (Christian descendants of Vikings who settled in Northern France but retained much of the Viking culture), Harold had the support of the English. Better an English aristocrat than a savage cousin to the late king, the English countrymen thought. The Battle of Hastings was the clash between Willam s army and Harold s army in the struggle for the throne. The committee will meet to advise William how he should proceed in his effort to take the throne. Each position will have its own powers and challenges, but everyone shares the goal of earning William the crown of England. After all, if William becomes king, those loyal to him will prosper. Betrayers will be beheaded and replaced without hesitation. The Duke of Normandy has no patience for traitors. Best summarized by the History network, the weeks leading up to the battle went as follows: On September 28, 1066, William landed in England at Pevensey, on Britain s southeast coast, with approximately 7,000 troops and cavalry. Seizing Pevensey, he then marched to Hastings, where he paused to organize his forces. On October 13, Harold arrived near Hastings with his army, and the next day William led his forces out to give battle. 2

3 Committee will begin around two weeks before the Battle of Hastings when Duke William sets sail for England to claim the throne that was promised to him. This committee will be structured as follows: Session 1: September 27th-September 29th, 1066 Session 2: September 30th-October 7th, 1066 Session 3: October 8th-October 13th, 1066 Session 4: October 14th, 1066 Session 5: October 15th-October 31st, 1066 All historical events from September 27th on can be changed and shaped by the committee, so do not consult history books and expect crisis updates to match. I encourage all delegates to attempt to shape history as drastically as possible. Timeline of the Conflict The historical background of this committee begins years before the death of King Edward the Confessor. In fact, it begins three decades prior in This was the year that France (the home of Duke William of Normandy) and England (the home of King Harold of England) made a pact against the Vikings in the North to help one another protect their lands from invasion. This was the year that the Normans first asserted that they had a right to the English throne, but the English let it slide so they would have an ally against the brutish Vikings. It was a tense alliance but it was an alliance nonetheless was the year that Duke William claims that he met with Harold Godwineson to agree that William should ascend to the throne upon King Edward s death. William asserts that Harold promised not to contest William s claim. They both 3

4 claimed to want a smooth transition between kings upon the death of King Edward, and William thought this transition would happen until he was betrayed by Harold. Unfortunately there was no documentation of this meeting. Sometime between January 6th and July 1066 William learned that not only had his cousin King Edward died, but that the aristocrat Harold had claimed Edward s throne for himself. William felt betrayed and upset, but he wasn t just going to concede. In July 1066 he prepared his fleet for an invasion of England. Things were tense in the months following, but it was mostly spent preparing to fight. William would let Harold sit on this throne. For now. In September 1066 the Vikings decided to take advantage of the strife between the English and French, so they tried their luck at snatching the throne. And they had a secret weapon the English exile Tostig Godwineson, Harold s own brother. There were a series of battles between Harold and the Vikings from Norway from the 20th-25th of September. The Vikings invaded, taking York. They began strong by winning a battle in Gate Fulford. The English struck back and won at the Stamford Bridge, slaughtering around 270 ships worth of Vikings. Harold killed both his brother Tostig and the King of Norway. In the end, the Vikings agreed to back down and limped back home. Harold barely had any time to celebrate his victory before Duke William and the Normans invaded. Unfortunately for Harold, his troops were still at Stamford Bridge in York when they got the news. They were many miles north of where William and his men landed, and so there was no one to stop the invasion. They most they could hope was to kill William before he got to London to take the throne. Knowing that the English 4

5 had just fought a series of battles and that their energy and supplies were depleted, William was confident he and his men could win. Committee begins shortly after Harold s victory over the Vikings. What happens next is up to the committee you, William s advisors

6 The Three English Kings of 1066 King Edward the Confessor King Edward the Confessor was born in 1003 to King Ethelred the Unready of England and Emma of Normandy. When Edward was 10 years old the family was briefly exiled to Normandy after an invasion by the Danish but were able to return and regain the throne of England. Edward s father died in 1016 and the Danes once again took the throne. Edward spent the beginning of his adult life in exile, returning at age 38 to claim the throne. His half brother Hardecanute allowed him into his court in London and Edward was able to become king in Edward was popular during his reign, but he made an unpopular decision in building a strong relationship with the Normans. His father was from Normandy, and he invited Normans into court as honored guests. One of these Norman visits to England was likely when Edward promised the throne to his cousin, Duke William of Normandy. Edward was known as a very pious man. In fact, the title of Confessor came from his loyalty to God the title is a term used in Christianity for those who live by the word of God and die peacefully. His swift rise to power after so long in exile is partially due to the support of the church, which vastly preferred him, a religious Anglo-Saxon, to the Scandinavian heathens who sat on the throne before him. After his death he became the only English king to be made a saint in the Catholic canon. The piety of Edward is no indicator of his objectivity, though. He favored the English aristocracy in many of his appointments, including those to church positions. The most important aristocrat of Edward s reign was Earl Godwineson of Wessex who 6

7 had basically controlled the entire political world of England in Edward s absence. Earl did not give up his power when Edward arrived back in England, either. Edward s reign was basically Earl Godwineson s reign too. Edward was the face and voice of the English crown, but Earl was the strategist. This set the stage for his son, Harold Godwineson to step forward and take the crown after Edward s death from natural causes in January of e-8516;jsessionid=c6a3861f02fdc49782c5b3c f King Harold Godwineson King Harold Godwineson was born in His mother was Gytha, a Danish noblewoman who became the most powerful landowner in England. His father was Godwine, earl of Wessex and Kent, who was such a powerful political strategist that he was basically King himself. Godwine passed on this influence to his on Harold after his death. Harold obtained the earldom of his father, as well as the earldoms of his three brothers. His power held steady until the mid-1060 s and because of this he expected to earn the throne of England. These plans were disrupted when King Edward died and his cousin, Duke William of Normandy claimed the throne as his own. Duke William of Normandy William of Normandy, the rightful king of England, was born a bastard in He was the illegitimate son Duke Robert I of Normandy and an unmarried 7

8 Frenchwoman, Herleva. When William was eight years old his father took a pilgrimage to Jerusalem but never made it back home he fell ill and died before he could return. The nobles of Duke Robert I pledged allegiance to William before Robert s departure, but that didn t mean he would be immune to attempts against him. Shortly after William s inheritance of the duchy, a rebel snuck into his quarters and cut the throat of his steward. This is just one instance of the violence that William faced from an early age. At the beginning of committee on September 27th, 1066, William had not been crowned king of England but that didn t stop him from fighting for the crown. This childhood hardening of his will allowed him to crush rebellions in his later life. To seal his rule and strengthen his power, he married the wealthy Matilda of Flanders, the daughter of a Count and the Princess of France. Their marriage was an unusually healthy relationship for the time, as neither of them were unfaithful. When he would leave Normandy, Matilda would be trusted as the Regent. William, in addition to being a fierce warrior, was also an accomplished diplomat. During a rebellion attempt William reached out to the King of France and was able to earn his support; this showed the other French aristocrats that William was not to be challenged. This knack for diplomacy allowed him to form a relationship with King Edward the Confessor of England, his cousin. Perhaps King Edward realized what an able ruler William was and that s what prompted him to promise William the throne

9 Positions *Indicates a non-canonical figure. These positions are the creation of the crisis director. 1. Matilda de Flanders, wife of William, Duchess of Normandy, and trusted advisor Matilda is the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders and the niece/ granddaughter of French kings. She is also directly related to both King Alfred of England and Charlemagne. Being of high birth, she is taught from childhood to know political strategy. Duke William trusts her to act as regent of Normandy when he is away and to provide advice when asked. She is very wealthy and very intelligent. 2. William of Jumièges, personal historian of William the Conqueror A man of mysterious origin, this writer and historian is Norman by birth and became a monk in his adulthood. During the time of the Duke of Normandy s claim to the English throne, William of Jumieges is documenting everything he can. He is not wealthy in money, but rather in connections. 3. Robert de Beaumont, political advisor and Commander of Infantry (right wing) Often considered one of the wisest men of his age, Robert de Beaumont is a well educated political strategist and trusted advisor to the Duke. Though he has never been in battle as of the start of committee, William trusts him to command the right wing of the infantry at the upcoming battle against Harold. 4. Eustace II, Comte de Boulogne One of an elite group of those close to William, Duke of Normandy, Eustace II is trusted by the Duke in the time leading up to the Norman invasion. Being the Count of Boulogne, Eustace II has at least 50 knights loyal to him who are going to fight in the upcoming battle against Harold. He and William grew up together and share many childhood memories. 5. Edith of England, Ambassador to Normandy-diplomat and patron of the arts The sister of Harold Godwinson and the wife of the late King Edward the Confessor, Edith was a well-connected, well-bred aristocrat of English descent. Though she is related to Harold Godwinson, she and Duke William have no bad blood. They became close friends when the Duke visited England and so she was invited to be an ambassador to Normandy. Though the other advisors may not trust her, William insists that she is not to be ostracized just because of her lineage being a bastard, he understands what that s like. 6. William, Comte de Évreux William de Evreux is a young count from the north of France so young that he is not yet of age. Duke William of Normandy trusts his advice, though, since the duke believes that the count has a fresh take on politics that isn t jaded by time 9

10 or bias. The duke sees potential in the count. William is both wealthy and charming, and uses these advantages in clever ways. 7. Raoul II de Tosny, Seigneur (Lord) de Conches-en-Ouch Raoul II de Tosny is a Norman nobleman of the House of Tosny. He is a prominent figure in in Normandy, England and Wales, where he has many connections. His wealth is most abundant in property. He is said to host lavish gatherings at his castle where one can find many notable figures from all over Europe. 8. William de Poitiers, Norman priest and chaplain of Duke William of Normandy William of Poitiers is a Norman and personal chaplain of Duke William of Normandy. He had trained as a soldier before becoming a man of God. He is one of the duke s most trusted advisors and has some of the most exclusive access to the duke himself. 9. Sichelgaita of Salerno, Duchess of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily A great commander of troops, master of negotiation, and diplomat. Not a formal member of William s army, but a trusted and skilled advisor. She is known for her excellent diplomatic speeches which she uses to command any room she enters. 10. Robert the Resourceful, Duke of Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily Not a formal member of William s army, but a trusted and skilled advisor, Robert is a Norman adventurer recognized for the conquest of Southern Italy and SicilyHe is often referred to as "the Resourceful", "the Cunning", "the Wily", "the Fox", or "the Weasel. 11. Magnus, Norman ambassador to England* Magnus was born to a blacksmith and a handmaiden in southern Normandy, though he was able to rise above his station using military savvy and a silver tongue to become the ambassador to England. He has returned from service especially for this committee meeting, as the duke values Magnus s advice. 12. Harald the Brave, Master of Cavalry* Widely regarded as the greatest horse rider in Normandy, Harald the Brave was appointed to his position at the age of 18 after receiving great acclaim on the jousting circuit. He has quite a trove of gold as a result of his competition earnings. 13. Dardot, Personal Hüsman (bodyguard/valet) of William the Conqueror* Dardot is a master of hand-to-hand combat and gives the duke weekly fighting lessons. He comes from a farming family but moved into the castle of the duke 10

11 and has a permanent position in court. Though he holds no land or title he does have frequent meetings with the duke, which has earned him a bit of respect among nobles. 13. Dardot, Personal Hüsman (bodyguard/valet) of William the Conqueror* Dardot is a master of hand-to-hand combat and gives the duke weekly fighting lessons. He comes from a farming family but moved into the castle of the duke and has a permanent position in court. Though he holds no land or title he does have frequent meetings with the duke, which has earned him a bit of respect among nobles. 14. Victor, Master Archer* Victor is an expert in archery, and is even the personal archery tutor to all of the duke s sons. Because of his rapport with the duke and his skill in archery, he was appointed to the Master Archer for the Norman military. He commands around a thousand apprentice archers and has accrued a modest cache of gold. 15. Edelmir, Chief of Infantry* (left wing) Edelmir is great at horse-riding, hand-to-hand combat, archery, and swordfighting. Though he is not a master of any field, he is a veritable jack of all trades. He is a well-educated young man from a family of wealthy merchants. He knows the duke personally as they share a love of fine mead. 16. Modi, Master of Ships* 3,000 ships Modi is the caricature of a Viking. His family has retained tradition from their Danish ancestors, including an intense knowledge of sailing. Modi is a genius of navigation and geography, and is known to go on months-long trips with no warning or return date. He has traveled to distant lands and has therefore picked up an ear for languages and has earned a small fortune selling Norman goods to locals abroad. 17. Julot, Master of Spies* Julot a mysterious man of unknown origin was appointed to his position after the duke noticed that everyone in court knew Julot but somehow knew nothing about him. He has unknown wealth, but is familiar with any European royal who can be named. He has a network of vagrants who spy for him and is a master of disguise. 11