The history of the Norman conquest of England, its causes and its results,…
"The history of the Norman conquest of England, its causes and its results,…." by Edward A. Freeman is a historical account written in the late 19th century. It presents a comprehensive, source-based narrative of how Norman power rose and reshaped England, examining causes, principal actors, conflicts, and lasting effects. This volume focuses on the reign of Eadward the Confessor and the early years of William of Normandy, charting the political contest between
English and Norman interests before open war in 1066. Readers can expect close chronology, institutional context, and sharply drawn portraits of Godwine, Harold, and Eadward that set the stage for the Conquest. The opening of this history outlines a five-volume plan: this volume covers the political struggle under Eadward the Confessor (1042–1051), a later one treats the campaigns of 1066, another William’s rule in England, and a final volume the long-term results. After acknowledgments, the narrative begins with Eadward’s popular election following Harthacnut’s death, the unusual delay of his coronation (explained by his absence and hesitancy), and an embassy—led by Godwine and Bishop Lyfing—that persuades him to accept the crown. A Witenagemot at Gillingham faces resistance from partisans of Swend Estrithson, but Eadward is eventually crowned at Winchester amid embassies from Germany, France, and Norway; English magnates offer gifts, notably Godwine’s splendid warship. The author then sketches Eadward’s character: revered as a saint yet ill-suited to rule, conscientious but passive, prone to bursts of anger, fond of hunting, and inclined toward foreign favourites—early signs of the Norman influence that grows under his reign. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
The history of the Norman conquest of England, its causes and its results, Volume 2 (of 6)
Original Publication
Oxford: Clarendon, 1867, copyright 1879.
Credits
Richard Tonsing, MWS, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
