Why did William take the long route around London?

Why did William take the long route around London?

London was protected by the River Thames, the only access point being a fortified bridge which would have been easily defended by a small force. Deciding not to risk a river crossing, William torched the suburb of Southwark instead, although there may have been a minor skirmish between the two sides.

Why was London important to William?

But London was both powerful and wealthy and William needed its income from taxes. It was necessary for him to guard himself against uprising but also gain the allegiance of the town’s population.

Why is William the Conqueror the first English king?

At the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, William, duke of Normandy, defeated the forces of Harold II, king of England, and then was himself crowned king as William I, leading to profound political, administrative, and social changes in the British Isles as result of the Norman Conquest.

How did Harold the Conqueror get his claim?

Harold was surprised by this move, expecting William to attack first, so he marched north and killed both his brother and the Norwegian King. One week after the victory, he received word that William had crossed the channel. He met William at Senlac hill and died in battle. William got the claim.

Why did Robert the Conqueror leave William as his heir?

As Robert had no legal heir, he made his nobles acknowledge William as his heir and to swear fealty to the boy. Shortly after, Robert went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from which he would never return, leaving Normandy to be squabbled over by the remaining Norman gentry.

What was King William’s only claim to the throne?

William’s only claim to the throne of England came after he won the Battle of Hastings and King Harold had been killed. So, his only claim was by that of conquest.

Who was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1066?

On Christmas Day 1066, Westminster Abbey saw its third royal ceremony within a year: the coronation of King William I. [The other two were the burial of Edward the Confessor and the coronation of King Harold.]