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The Rebellions of Edgar Aetheling

Tell me about Edgar Atheling's rebellion in 1069.

In 1069 there was another rebellion against William, led by Edgar Atheling, which started with the murder of Robert Cumin, one of WIlliam's supporters.

Who led the Edgar Atheling rebellion in 1069?

Edgar Atheling, great-nephew of Edward the Confessor, led the rebellion, but he was joined by others.

• ❖ Malcolm III of Scotland, who was married to Edgar's sister, supported him.
• ❖ King Sweyn of Denmark sent a fleet and army, led by his brother Asbjorn, which joined Edgar.

What was important about Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1069?

Edgar's rebellion was important because it led to the Harrying of the North and marked a change in William's strategy in dealing with rebellions.

Why was Robert Cumin killed in Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1069?

One of the rebel's targets was Robert Cumin, a supporter of William's.

• ❖ William chose Cumin to replace Gospatric as earl of northern Northumbria, after Gospatric's betrayal in 1068.
• ❖ Cumin and a large force of his men attacked and looted towns in northern Northumbria in January 1069.
• ❖ The Bishop of Durham warned Cumin that this would cause resentment, but Cumin ignored him.
• ❖ A group of Northumbrians surprised Cumin's men and killed them in the streets of Durham.
• ❖ Cumin hid in the bishop's house, but the rebels set fire to it and killed him when he ran out.

What happened in York during the Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1068 - 1069?

Shortly after the murder of Robert Cumin, there was a similar revolt in York.

• ❖ The uprising began when rebels killed the Norman governor of York and many Norman soldiers.
• ❖ They were joined by Edgar Atheling and his rebels from Scotland.
• ❖ They attacked the Norman Sheriff of York and his soldiers.

How did William react to the uprising in York in Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1068 - 1069?

William took a large army to York very quickly in February, and dealt with the rebellion there.

• ❖ His troops devastated York as they hunted for the rebels.
• ❖ Edgar Atheling escaped back to Scotland.
• ❖ William built a new castle, and put William FitzOsbern in charge of it.
• ❖ He then returned to Winchester for Easter celebrations.

How did the Vikings get involved in Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1068 - 1069?

In September 1069, William's troubles worsened when a Danish force joined Edgar's Anglo-Saxon rebels and looted York.

• ❖ The Viking forces that joined Edgar's rebellion in 1069 increased the pressure on William's rule.
• ❖ King Sweyn of Denmark assembled a large fleet, which shows some confidence in their success.
• ❖ The Danes raided the East Coast, meeting up with Edgar's troops and co-ordinating their attacks.
• ❖ The combined army marched on York.
• ❖ The Norman army accidentally set the city on fire in their attempts to defend it.
• ❖ They then went out to meet the Anglo-Danish rebels, and were slaughtered.
• ❖ Both castles in York were destroyed and the Danish ships sailed home full of English riches.
• ❖ As William travelled the north hunting down the rebels, news of other rebellions came from Shrewsbury and Chester.

Why did the Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1069 fail?

Although William's rule was under pressure, the Normans managed to maintain power, for a number of reasons.

• ❖ The rebels retreated when William led troops to an area.
• ❖ The Anglo-Danish army split up after York, instead of marching south.
• ❖ William was able to stop the Viking attacks by paying the Danes.

Why was William worried by the Danish invaders during Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1068 -1069?

The Danes were a worry for William, for a variety of reasons.

• ❖ They were far more experienced sailors than the Normans.
• ❖ There was a possibility that they would be more welcome in the Danelaw than the Normans were.
• ❖ William believed that they would keep raiding and then retreating until the Norman troops were exhausted.

How did William react to the Viking rebels during Edgar Atheling's rebellion of 1069?

William led troops to the north to put down the Anglo-Danish rebellion, but the rebels fled. He therefore changed his tactics.

• ❖ He paid the Danes a large sum of money to leave.
• ❖ He began a campaign of total destruction in the north of England - the 'Harrying of the North'.

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