Players in William's entourage:
Fulk IV of Anjou - Supplied 40 ships
Hugh d'Avranches - Supplied 60 ships
Bishop Odo de Bayeux - William's half brother and Bishop of Bayeux was thought responsible for the commissioning of the Bayeux Tapestry and possibly the inclusion of epic deeds that he was not responsible for, but took the credit. ( more will be said about Odo when the tapestry is analysed in more detail ). Supplied 100 ships
Roger de Beaumont - Accepted as being involved in the battle. He was one of the only accounts of bravery that have been chronicled. He was made Earl of Leicester for his loyalty. Supplied 80 ships
Eustace II Count of Boulogne - Son of Count Guy of Ponthieu, who himself was famous for capturing William on the beach following his mission in 1064. Eustace was thought to have been responsible for the Papal banner, but was injured in the battle. He was also thought to have been one of those inflicting the final death blows to Harold II.
Robert d' Eu - Supplied 60 ships
Count William d'Evereux - Second cousin of William and half brother of Ralf de Tosny. Accepted as being involved in the conflict. Supplied 80 ships
Robert fitzErneis - Killed in the battle.
William FitzOsbern - Inspiration to William in his plans. His support for the invasion in the early stages was rewarded with the title of the Earl of Hereford after the battle. Supplied 60 ships
Gerold the Seneschal - Supplied 40 ships
Walter Gifford - Another who was present and involved in the slaying of King Harold II.
Hugh de Grandsmesnil - A politician of some note in Normandy before the battle and was recorded as taking part in the battle.
Hugh de Montfort - Another name who was possibly involved in the death of Harold II. Supplied 50 ships
Roger d' Montgomery Supplied 60 ships
Count Robert de Mortain - Brother of Odo and stepbrother of William. A confidant in the initial stages of William's plan to invade England. Supplied 120 ships
Nicholas, Abbot of St Ouen - Supplied one ship
Aimery IV de Thouars - Another who was possible trusted by William with his initial ideas of an invasion.
Ralph III de Toeni - Half brother of Count William d'Evereux and involved in battle and was rewarded, as most were, with large estates in England afterwards.
William de Warrenne - Distant cousin of William, who was later made the Earl of Surrey for his loyalty and deeds in the battle.
Taileffer - He was a minstrel and psychiatric case brought over by William. He was said to have advanced in front of the Norman formation and encouraged them on. His solo suicidal attack on the English line instigated the start of the battle. He was the first casualty of the conflict.
Turstin - He was the son of the famous Rollo. He was allegedly given the honour of carrying the Norman banner. Fate unknown.
Robert de Vitot - Killed in the battle. His attendance is chronicled by Ordericus the monk, who gained an endowment of land for the monastery of St Evroul. It is not certain if he died immediately or returned to Normandy before this grant was awarded.
1066 May Tosnig brother to Harold Godwinson, invaded Isle of Wright and with the help of Malcolm III of Scotland, raided the north counties.Ally to Harald Hardrada.
1066 Sept 20 Battle of Fulford, Hardrada and Tosnig were victorius over Harold Godwinson.
1066 Sept 25 Battle of Stamford Bridge - During a white flag meeting of leaders, Harold offered Tosnig Northumbria for peace, Tosnig asked what Harold would give Harald, to which Harold supposedly replied, "The only thing I am prepared to give him is seven feet of English soil, or as much more as he may be taller than other men." The battle commenced and Harold was the winner, Harald and Tosnig were killed. Harold allowed Harald's son, Olaf to return home with the remaining 24 ships out of hundreds, he had left.
1066 Sept 12 William moved his newly constructed fleet, after a month of adverse weather, to St Valery sur Somme at the port of the river Somme under the control of Guy I of Ponthieu
1066 Oct 11 William set sail after another month of bad weather, he was on his ship, the Mora, and headed for the English coast. He landed at Pevensey Bay Sept 28 (?). One of the two ships lost contained Williams soothsayer/astrologer, of which William stated, "He could not have been very good if he could not have foretold his own demise." William took most the fleet to Hastings for easier unloading.
1066 Oct 13 Harold arrived at Caldbec Hill from London sans Edward and Morcar who opted out of the battle.
1066 Oct 14 William took the initiative and started the battle on Senlac Hill, ending with the death of Harold, his brothers Gyrth and Leofwin. Harold's wife, Ealdgyth, (Edith Swan neck, his first wife) was called to identify Harold's body as his face was badly mutilated.
William went to Dover where he built a castle, but passed through Old Romney where he learned his two lost boats had landed but the crews were all slaughtered by the locals. William destroyed the village.
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