© Boardworks Ltd 20071 of 12 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Britain 1066–1500

1 of 12

How William Became King

Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation

Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page

Accompanying worksheet

Flash activity. These activities are not editable.

Web addresses Sound

© Boardworks Ltd 20072 of 12

Learning objectivesL

earn

ing

ob

ject

ives

What problems did William face directly after his victory at Hastings?

How did he overcome these problems in the short term?

What challenges did he still have to meet?

© Boardworks Ltd 20073 of 12

The Battle of Hastings: a recap

© Boardworks Ltd 20074 of 12

William may have won the Battle of Hastings, but that did not mean he became king by automatic right.

William needed to consolidate his victory. He had defeated the main English army, but England was still full of powerful nobles ready to oppose him. He had to show the English that he was here to stay.

After the battle

© Boardworks Ltd 20075 of 12

The English lords do not support

William and cannot be trusted.

Money is required, but there is no record of the wealth of the country.

Much of northern England supports invasion by the

Scandinavians.

Some of Harold’s troops did not come to Hastings and are still in

London.

At Dover there is a strong castle full of English soldiers.

What problems did William face?

© Boardworks Ltd 20076 of 12

Prioritising

© Boardworks Ltd 20077 of 12

So what did William do?

William knew that his first priority was to deal with any military or political opposition in the immediate vicinity.

The capital of England, Winchester, had already surrendered. So William marched his army on London, taking a circular route which passed through a wide swathe of southern England, and mopping up pockets of Saxon resistance as he went.

© Boardworks Ltd 20078 of 12

Marching on London

© Boardworks Ltd 20079 of 12

Accounts of the route

© Boardworks Ltd 200710 of 12

Saxon surrender

A Saxon delegation comprising the earls Edwin and Morcar and the leading men of London surrendered to William at Berkhamsted.

Why do you think the Saxons surrendered to William without any opposition?

Why do you think William marched his army through so much of southern England before heading towards London? Was he simply destructive, or might he have

been trying to intimidate the soldiers in London into giving up without a fight?

© Boardworks Ltd 200711 of 12

On Christmas Day, 1066, William was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. His followers cheered so loudly that nearby soldiers thought there was a riot and burned down local houses.

William kept his place throughout the chaos, but witnesses said his hands tightened on the arms of the throne until the knuckles whitened. It was said to have been the only time in his life that he showed signs of fear.

Taking the throne

© Boardworks Ltd 200712 of 12

Challenges to come