William, associated with crowning England's new King in 1066, discusses aggressive behavior and destructive tendencies. The podcast talks about the chaos after his coronation, the knights setting London on fire, William's severe taxes, distribution of titles, and the quiet resentment of the English people.
The burning of London by Norman knights on Christmas Day of 1066 marked the violent beginning of Norman rule in England.
William the Conqueror's weak and unprepared leadership, characterized by violence and avarice among his knights, led to chaos and looting in London, showcasing his lack of understanding of the people and the situation.
Deep dives
Burning of London on Christmas Day
On Christmas Day of 1066, shortly after William the Conqueror was crowned the new king of England, Norman knights set London on fire. The traditional explanation that they did so to save William from supposed attackers in Westminster Abbey is deemed highly implausible. It is more likely that the knights burned the city as a result of panic and confusion caused by the spread of fires they had started. This act of burning and looting marked the violent beginning of Norman rule in England.
Weak and Unprepared Leadership
William the Conqueror's handling of the Christmas riot and subsequent events demonstrated weak and unprepared leadership. He had created a culture of violence and avarice among his knights during the conquest, which ultimately led to chaos and looting in London. William's decision to proceed with his grand coronation despite the ongoing violence and loss of control further showcased his lack of understanding of the people and the situation.
Oppressive Taxes and Resentment
Immediately after his coronation, William imposed severe taxes on the English population, going back on his oaths and promises to the contrary. These heavy tributes, similar to Viking raids, affected all ranks of society and intensified the anger and resentment towards the new Norman rule. The taxes were seen as a blatant seizure of wealth from the English to pay off William's mercenary army, further deepening the divide between conquerors and the conquered.
Mismanagement and Unpopularity
William's initial administrative moves in granting titles and lands to his Norman allies and consolidating power showed a lack of understanding of the situation in England. His appointments often ignored the ambitions and grievances of the English nobles, instead focusing on their perceived loyalty or symbolic connections to the previous English monarchy. This created resentment and set the stage for potential rebellion and conflict in the future.
It was Christmas Day of 1066 and England was crowning it’s new King. In celebration, the King’s men…heavily armed and backed by divine authority, were going from building to building… taking whatever they wanted, doing whatever they felt like to the people inside, and then lighting it all on fire. The first act of Norman […]