“Did not Rollo my ancestor, the founder of our nation, with your progenitors, conquer at Paris the king of the Franks in the heart of his dominions; nor could he obtain any respite until he humbly offered possession of the country which from you is called Normandy, with the hand of his daughter? Did not your fathers take prisoner the king of the French, and detain him at Rouen till he restored Normandy to your Duke Richard, then a boy; with this stipulation, that in every conference between the King of France and the Duke of Normandy, the duke should have his sword by his side, while the king should not be allowed so much as a dagger? This concession your fathers compelled the great king to submit to, as binding for ever.”
- William the Conqueror, King of England and Duke of Normandy, speaking to his army before the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066
- William the Conqueror, King of England and Duke of Normandy, speaking to his army before the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066
A Knight’s Path
A scene from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings, fought on 14 October 1066.
Today is the 958th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. On 14 October 1066, the Norman army of William of Normandy fought the Saxon army of Harold Godwinson for control of the Kingdom of England and possession of the English crown. The Norman army won the battle decisively, killing Harold Godwinson, as well as his two brothers Gyrth and Leofwine, in combat.
The Battle of Hastings resulted in the Norman conquest of England. William, Duke of Normandy, became King of England, and earned the epithet “the Conqueror”. All subsequent English, and later British, monarchs descend from William the Conqueror.
Because William the Conqueror married Matilda of Flanders, the great great great great great granddaughter of King Alfred the Great of England, and fathered all his legitimate children with her, all the legitimate descendants of William the Conqueror are also descendants of Alfred the Great. Furthermore, there is no evidence that William the Conqueror had any illegitimate children, which means all of his known descendants are also descendants of Alfred the Great.
The Battle of Hastings resulted in the Norman conquest of England. William, Duke of Normandy, became King of England, and earned the epithet “the Conqueror”. All subsequent English, and later British, monarchs descend from William the Conqueror.
Because William the Conqueror married Matilda of Flanders, the great great great great great granddaughter of King Alfred the Great of England, and fathered all his legitimate children with her, all the legitimate descendants of William the Conqueror are also descendants of Alfred the Great. Furthermore, there is no evidence that William the Conqueror had any illegitimate children, which means all of his known descendants are also descendants of Alfred the Great.
A map depicting the order of battle for the Battle of Hastings, fought on 14 October 1066 between the Norman army of William of Normandy and the Saxon army of Harold Godwinson.
Labelled A in white are the Saxon lines, which formed a defensive position. The Saxon army consisted almost entirely of infantry, aided by a few archers. Labelled B are the Saxon standards.
Labelled C, D, and E in black is the Norman army, divided into three battle groups. The left wing (C) consisted of warriors from Brittany, Anjou, Poitou, and Maine, and was led by the Breton nobleman Alan the Red, who later became Lord of Richmond. The centre (D) consisted of Normans and was led by Duke William of Normandy himself, who later became King of England. The right wing (E) consisted of French and Flemish forces and was led by the Norman nobleman William FitzOsbern, Lord of Breteuil, who later became Earl of Hereford, and by Count Eustace II of Boulogne. The Norman army consisted of a mix of infantry, cavalry, and archers.
Labelled A in white are the Saxon lines, which formed a defensive position. The Saxon army consisted almost entirely of infantry, aided by a few archers. Labelled B are the Saxon standards.
Labelled C, D, and E in black is the Norman army, divided into three battle groups. The left wing (C) consisted of warriors from Brittany, Anjou, Poitou, and Maine, and was led by the Breton nobleman Alan the Red, who later became Lord of Richmond. The centre (D) consisted of Normans and was led by Duke William of Normandy himself, who later became King of England. The right wing (E) consisted of French and Flemish forces and was led by the Norman nobleman William FitzOsbern, Lord of Breteuil, who later became Earl of Hereford, and by Count Eustace II of Boulogne. The Norman army consisted of a mix of infantry, cavalry, and archers.
William I “the Conqueror”, King of England and Duke of Normandy. Son of Robert I “the Magnificent”, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva de Falaise. Conquered the Kingdom of England in 1066. Ancestor of all subsequent English, and later British, monarchs.
Pictured: A statue of King William the Conqueror of England in Falaise, Normandy.
Pictured: A statue of King William the Conqueror of England in Falaise, Normandy.
Matilda of Flanders, Queen of England and Duchess of Normandy. Wife of William I “the Conqueror”, King of England and Duke of Normandy. Daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, and his wife Princess Adela of France. Ancestor of all English, and later British, monarchs following King William I “the Conqueror” of England.
Matilda of Flanders is also the great great great great great granddaughter of King Alfred the Great of England. Matilda’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s father is Alfred the Great.
Pictured: A statue of Matilda of Flanders, Queen of England and Duchess of Normandy. Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Matilda of Flanders is also the great great great great great granddaughter of King Alfred the Great of England. Matilda’s father’s father’s father’s father’s father’s mother’s father is Alfred the Great.
Pictured: A statue of Matilda of Flanders, Queen of England and Duchess of Normandy. Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, Île-de-France, France.
The British Class System
Upper Class: Anglo-Normans
Middle Class: Anglo-Saxons
Lower Class: Anglo-Celts
Upper Class: Anglo-Normans
Middle Class: Anglo-Saxons
Lower Class: Anglo-Celts
A Knight’s Path
The British Class System Upper Class: Anglo-Normans Middle Class: Anglo-Saxons Lower Class: Anglo-Celts
In reality, British people have a mix of Norman, Saxon, and Celtic blood, but the proportion does vary based on class heritage, as well as by region. The ancestral heritage is also incomplete without including the non-Norman Scandinavian and the more distant Ancient Roman ancestral heritage of the British people, assuming the term Saxon also includes the other Germanic tribes that migrated to Britain such as the Angles (namesake of England), Jutes, and Frisians.
Forwarded from A Knight’s Path
"We the aristocrats, we are the good, the beautiful, the happy!"
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Friedrich Nietzsche