William’s preparations

Question 1

How did William prepare to get across the Channel? (2)

Answer 1

• Keeping the men and the fleet in good condition was vital for William. He kept his men well fed but also insisted on total discipline. Punishments were brutal for those who stepped out of line.
• He stationed his fleet in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme on the mouth of the River Somme, moving it from further south and thereby cutting the distance in England down to just 33km (20 miles)

Question 2

What were William’s military preparations for building an army? (2)

Answer 2

• As well as loyal Normans, William recruited men from across western Europe. Many were willing to fight beneath the Papal Banner in a Holy War, others were simply mercenaries, attracted by the promise of riches and land
• A force of around 8000 was eventually assembled

Question 3

What were William’s military preparations for building a fleet and preparing to invade? (3)

Answer 3

• William spent a fortune building a large fleet in order to sail across the Channel
• Flat-bottomed boats were built to make it easier to transport horses
• New weapons were made and ‘flat-pack’ castles were prepared, ready to be put up as soon as the Normans secured land in England

Question 4

How did William use the support of God to prepare for the invasion?

Answer 4

William was able to secure the support of the Pope for his invasion of England by persuading the Pope that as king he would be able to reform the English Catholic Church. Marching behind the Papal Banner helped him gain wider support for his invasion as people believed God was on his side

Question 5

How did the situation in France help William prepare to invade? (2)

Answer 5

• Although William’s dukedom only covered the area of Normandy, he had conquered the neighbouring area of Maine in 1063.
• In 1066, the king of France was just 14 years old and did not present a serious threat to William’s independence. This along with a civil war in Anjou meant that William was one of the most powerful men in north-western Europe. With no real threat nearby, the duke could look across the English Channel

Question 6

How long was William’s invasion delayed by and why?

Answer 6

6 weeks, the wind was blowing in the wrong direction

Question 7

Why did the 6 weeks delay work to William’s advantage when invading?

Answer 7

When he arrived at Pevensey on 28 September 1066, the English coast was completely undefended. Having waited for weeks, Harold Godwinson had been forced to send his men home. Most were farmers, and it was harvest time so they were needed back in the fields