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The author of TFA and a few others like it is Marc Morris. To get his viewpoint at greater length, see his The Norman Conquest: The Battle of Hastings and the F
by wrp 2y ago
The author of TFA and a few others like it is Marc Morris. To get his viewpoint at greater length, see his The Norman Conquest: The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England (2012).
Since at least the 19th century, there has been sharp controversy among English academics over whether the Norman invasion was a good or bad thing. Morris is strongly on the "good" side. For a view from the other direction, try the short and readable The Norman Conquest: A Very Short Introduction by George Garnett (2009).
- jfengel 2y agoIt's kind of weird to think of historians coming down on "good" and "bad" sides. But even if they do, it's hard to imagine anyone looking at the reign of William and saying "yeah that was awesome". At least from the point of view of the losers. I don't imagine even the slaves enjoyed the Harrying of the North. "Mixed" seems reasonable. "Good" seems a lot to ask.
- PeterCorless 2y agoThe day of William's coronation in London, Christmas Day 1066, the city was on edge. It had surrendered peacefully to William after he had slowly, systematically cut off every road to the city. When the city people cried out in celebration at the new king William's men — being Normans, Bretons, Flemish and other continentals — did not understanding what was said in English. They misinterpreted the crowd as if they had assassinated William. Suddenly they attacked the townspeople and set fire to nearby houses. The cries of alarm and the smell of acrid smoke could be heard and smelled from within the church as William was crowned king. Eventually peace would be restored, but that moment was forever emblematic of the uneasy reign William would have over England.