This AAR is an alternate history AAR. In this AAR William was not successful at Hastings and the House Cedric continued to rule England. The settings are Normal/Normal. I am using Sarmatia1871’s mod Engla Land (1066) and thank him for doing the heavy lifting. I have added a few characters and a few minor dynastic ties but otherwise the mod remains ‘as-is’. I am also using several graphics mods and cannot remember them all. If you see your work here I thank you for it and regret not giving you credit for it. I am not an expert of this time period nor do I claim to be. I used the internet, information from Crusader Kings, the book “A History of the English-Speaking Peoples” by Winston Churchill, the book “Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon King” by Ian W Walker, a few of my textbooks from college and high school and information from my local Army library as sources. I have yet to play any of this game and hope to do so this week. As I am a soldier in the field at the moment updates may be sporadic at times. I do have a hospital stay and some recovery time in my near future so it appears that a new AAR will occupy my time at home. Criticism and comments are welcome and encouraged.
Harold was the son of Godwin, the Earl of Wessex. His mother was Gytha Thorkelsdottir his father’s second wife. Gytha was a great-grandchild of Harold Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway. Harold was the eldest of four brothers. The next brother was Tostig, who would be Earl of Northumbria until a rebellion in 1065. Harold supported the rebels instead of his brother due to unjust taxes in Northumbria. This divided the family and drove Tostig into an alliance with Harald Hardrada of Norway. Harold had two other brothers named Leofwine and Gyrth both of which fought with him at Hastings and become Earl of Kent and Earl of East Anglia respectively after William’s defeat. Harold had one sister, Edith of Wessex, who was married to Edward the Confessor.
As a result of Edith’s marriage to the King, Harold was made Earl of East Anglia in 1045. Harold joined his father in exile in 1051 but helped him return the next year. After Godwin died in 1053, Harold became the most powerful Earl in England. Harold was victorious against Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, King of Wales in 1063 while fighting for Edward the Confessor. Gruffydd would be killed by his own troops in 1063 after his defeat. His wife Edith would marry Harold in 1066 and they would have twin sons Harold and Ulf. Even though Harold legally married Edith in 1066 for twenty years he was married in the Danish manner to Ealdgyth Swan-neck and had six children with her. The marriage was accepted by the people even though Ealdgyth was considered his mistress by the church. Their children were not treated as illegitimate. His marriage to Edith was a brilliant political move as Edith was the daughter of Alfgar, earl of Mercia. Alfgar’s son, Morcar would become Earl of Northumbria after Tostig’s removal as Earl. This marriage would strengthen the bounds between the Earls and the King.
In 1064 Harold was shipwrecked in Ponthieu en-route to free family members held hostage since Godwin’s exile in 1051. Harold was held hostage by Guy Count of Ponthieu. William, Duke of Normandy arrived and demanded his release which was granted. William and Harold then went into battle against William’s enemy, Conan II, Duke of Brittany. Conan was pursued from Dol de Bretagne, then to Rennes and finally to Dinan where he surrendered. William knighted Harold for his service. According to Norman sources Harold swore an oath to William to support his claim to the English throne.
Edward the Confessor made Harold his successor on his deathbed, January 5, 1066 and the Witan approved his nomination. His coronation took place at Westminster Abbey the following day. England was then invaded by Harald Hardrada allied with Harold’s brother Tostig and William, Duke of Normandy. William thought he was Edward’s successor but this claim was not supported by the Anglo-Saxon Earls. Harold and the Earls attempted to get Edward the Exile, son of Edmund Ironside from Hungary in 1057. Unfortunately they were not successful and the childless Edward made Harold his heir. This act is viewed by the Normans as Harold breaking his oath and justified Williams claim to the throne. Harald’s claim was that because he was King of Norway he was the successor to the English throne through Canute’s line. He promised a third of England to Tostig who was humiliated by his brother in 1065.
Harald’s army landed in Yorkshire on September, 1066 defeating Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Fulford, near York. Harold quickly marched to York and defeated Harald and Tostig five days later at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Both Harald Hardrada and Tostig were killed in the battle. Harold now marched his army 240 miles to meet William three days later near Hastings. Harold arrived in London on October 12th and was persuaded by his brothers to stay in London and rest and refit his army. Harold had lost his archers and many of his Huscarls, his royal troops and bodyguards. The thegns (land-holding aristocrats) and Harold’s brothers’ armies were exhausted from their victory against the Vikings. Harold and his brothers remained in London for two weeks as William pillaged and burning Wessex. This tortured Harold and he desperately wanted to come to his people’s aid but was again stopped by the thegns and his brothers. When Harold finally arrived to fight William on October 27th his army was strengthened and rested. He had received reinforcements from his brother-in-laws Edwin and Morcar. The armies met on Senlac Hill and where evenly matched. William attempted to draw the Saxons down from the high ground atop the hill where Edwin and Morcar’s archers where inflicting heavy losses on William’s men. William first attempted to breach the Saxon’s shield wall with a frontal attack but was not successful and driven back. William then ordered his flank to begin a feigned retreated to draw the Saxon’s off the hill. Harold’s army did not take the bait and remained disciplined. Then the Norman’s discipline failed and the feigned retreat become the real thing and the Norman army broke and headed toward Hastings back to their ships. Unknown to William’s men he had sunk his ships to prevent his troops from deserting. When his men heard of this they began turning on the nobles and fleeing into the countryside. William lost his Briton allies and most of his Flemish troops he was only able to keep command of his Norman troops. They made their stand on the white cliffs outside of Hastings waiting for Norman ships that never arrived to carry them back to Normandy. William inflicted heavy losses on the brave Saxon veterans but would lose a very close battle and be killed to nearly the last man. William was captured by Harold’s men and killed before Harold could see him. Harold was saddened by his friend’s death and had plans to take William as prisoner in his court as a head of state. Normandy passed on to Robert William’s son and was rendered harmless by the loss of so many Norman nobility.
Harold then turned his attention toward stabilizing his country and rewarding his nobles for their service. He gave to his brother Leofwine, Kent and to his brother Gyrth, East Anglia. While the northern Earls are independent Harold has strong ties with them. Harold gave Hereward the exiled warrior Lincolnshire for his service to him in the Battle of Hastings against the Normans. Hereward came from Europe behind William and brought with him a small band of mercenaries and valuable information about Normandy and William’s forces. It was Hereward who knew of William’s decision to sink his ships and informed Harold. Harold also had to worry about the Welsh to the west and the Scots to the north who correctly sensed weakness to the south. Harold had enemies on the continent as well. The Normans, Flemish and Briton nobles had revenge on their minds after so many of their nobles where killed with William at Hastings. Harold may have won two miraculous victories in the space of two months but he faced the greater challenge of uniting the Earls and keeping the nobles and the Witan loyal to him.
Part 1 - Prelude
Harold was the son of Godwin, the Earl of Wessex. His mother was Gytha Thorkelsdottir his father’s second wife. Gytha was a great-grandchild of Harold Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway. Harold was the eldest of four brothers. The next brother was Tostig, who would be Earl of Northumbria until a rebellion in 1065. Harold supported the rebels instead of his brother due to unjust taxes in Northumbria. This divided the family and drove Tostig into an alliance with Harald Hardrada of Norway. Harold had two other brothers named Leofwine and Gyrth both of which fought with him at Hastings and become Earl of Kent and Earl of East Anglia respectively after William’s defeat. Harold had one sister, Edith of Wessex, who was married to Edward the Confessor.
As a result of Edith’s marriage to the King, Harold was made Earl of East Anglia in 1045. Harold joined his father in exile in 1051 but helped him return the next year. After Godwin died in 1053, Harold became the most powerful Earl in England. Harold was victorious against Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, King of Wales in 1063 while fighting for Edward the Confessor. Gruffydd would be killed by his own troops in 1063 after his defeat. His wife Edith would marry Harold in 1066 and they would have twin sons Harold and Ulf. Even though Harold legally married Edith in 1066 for twenty years he was married in the Danish manner to Ealdgyth Swan-neck and had six children with her. The marriage was accepted by the people even though Ealdgyth was considered his mistress by the church. Their children were not treated as illegitimate. His marriage to Edith was a brilliant political move as Edith was the daughter of Alfgar, earl of Mercia. Alfgar’s son, Morcar would become Earl of Northumbria after Tostig’s removal as Earl. This marriage would strengthen the bounds between the Earls and the King.
In 1064 Harold was shipwrecked in Ponthieu en-route to free family members held hostage since Godwin’s exile in 1051. Harold was held hostage by Guy Count of Ponthieu. William, Duke of Normandy arrived and demanded his release which was granted. William and Harold then went into battle against William’s enemy, Conan II, Duke of Brittany. Conan was pursued from Dol de Bretagne, then to Rennes and finally to Dinan where he surrendered. William knighted Harold for his service. According to Norman sources Harold swore an oath to William to support his claim to the English throne.
Edward the Confessor made Harold his successor on his deathbed, January 5, 1066 and the Witan approved his nomination. His coronation took place at Westminster Abbey the following day. England was then invaded by Harald Hardrada allied with Harold’s brother Tostig and William, Duke of Normandy. William thought he was Edward’s successor but this claim was not supported by the Anglo-Saxon Earls. Harold and the Earls attempted to get Edward the Exile, son of Edmund Ironside from Hungary in 1057. Unfortunately they were not successful and the childless Edward made Harold his heir. This act is viewed by the Normans as Harold breaking his oath and justified Williams claim to the throne. Harald’s claim was that because he was King of Norway he was the successor to the English throne through Canute’s line. He promised a third of England to Tostig who was humiliated by his brother in 1065.
Harald’s army landed in Yorkshire on September, 1066 defeating Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Fulford, near York. Harold quickly marched to York and defeated Harald and Tostig five days later at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Both Harald Hardrada and Tostig were killed in the battle. Harold now marched his army 240 miles to meet William three days later near Hastings. Harold arrived in London on October 12th and was persuaded by his brothers to stay in London and rest and refit his army. Harold had lost his archers and many of his Huscarls, his royal troops and bodyguards. The thegns (land-holding aristocrats) and Harold’s brothers’ armies were exhausted from their victory against the Vikings. Harold and his brothers remained in London for two weeks as William pillaged and burning Wessex. This tortured Harold and he desperately wanted to come to his people’s aid but was again stopped by the thegns and his brothers. When Harold finally arrived to fight William on October 27th his army was strengthened and rested. He had received reinforcements from his brother-in-laws Edwin and Morcar. The armies met on Senlac Hill and where evenly matched. William attempted to draw the Saxons down from the high ground atop the hill where Edwin and Morcar’s archers where inflicting heavy losses on William’s men. William first attempted to breach the Saxon’s shield wall with a frontal attack but was not successful and driven back. William then ordered his flank to begin a feigned retreated to draw the Saxon’s off the hill. Harold’s army did not take the bait and remained disciplined. Then the Norman’s discipline failed and the feigned retreat become the real thing and the Norman army broke and headed toward Hastings back to their ships. Unknown to William’s men he had sunk his ships to prevent his troops from deserting. When his men heard of this they began turning on the nobles and fleeing into the countryside. William lost his Briton allies and most of his Flemish troops he was only able to keep command of his Norman troops. They made their stand on the white cliffs outside of Hastings waiting for Norman ships that never arrived to carry them back to Normandy. William inflicted heavy losses on the brave Saxon veterans but would lose a very close battle and be killed to nearly the last man. William was captured by Harold’s men and killed before Harold could see him. Harold was saddened by his friend’s death and had plans to take William as prisoner in his court as a head of state. Normandy passed on to Robert William’s son and was rendered harmless by the loss of so many Norman nobility.
Harold then turned his attention toward stabilizing his country and rewarding his nobles for their service. He gave to his brother Leofwine, Kent and to his brother Gyrth, East Anglia. While the northern Earls are independent Harold has strong ties with them. Harold gave Hereward the exiled warrior Lincolnshire for his service to him in the Battle of Hastings against the Normans. Hereward came from Europe behind William and brought with him a small band of mercenaries and valuable information about Normandy and William’s forces. It was Hereward who knew of William’s decision to sink his ships and informed Harold. Harold also had to worry about the Welsh to the west and the Scots to the north who correctly sensed weakness to the south. Harold had enemies on the continent as well. The Normans, Flemish and Briton nobles had revenge on their minds after so many of their nobles where killed with William at Hastings. Harold may have won two miraculous victories in the space of two months but he faced the greater challenge of uniting the Earls and keeping the nobles and the Witan loyal to him.
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Is this the first time 2 alternate history English AARs are on the first page? I think so.
