The Norman “Apocalypse”

Nearly a thousand years ago, a ferocious and brutal invasion changed the course of British history. It led to years of barbarous subjugation and colonization that some have likened to an “apocalypse.” William, Duke of Normandy, believed he had a right to the English throne, and in trying to secure that throne he caused “the opening of a massive fault-line in the continuity of our history,” writes historian Simon Schama (A History of Britain: At the Edge of the World?: 3000 BC–AD 1603, 2003, p. 63).

Schama also states, “English history in particular seems the work of a temperate community, seldom shaken by convulsions. But there are moments when history is unsubtle; when change arrives in a violent rush, decisive, bloody, and traumatic; as a truck-load of trouble, wiping out everything that gives a culture its bearings—custom, language, law, loyalty. 1066 was one of those moments” (p. 66).

If we look at the background of the Battle of Hastings, can we recognise just how significant this fault line was—and just who, ultimately, was responsible for it?

A Disputed Kingdom

Approaching the end of the first millennium AD, Britain’s peoples were an admixture of various bloodlines—the inevitable result of foreign invasions. To the ancient Celtic stock had been added Anglo-Saxon blood and culture. Danish Vikings dwelt in a large region of eastern England known as the Danelaw. Norwegian Vikings were in the Orkneys, Shetlands, Hebrides, and in northwest England. The Anglo-Saxons were in central and southern England, while the Celts were in southwest England, Wales, and Scotland.

By the time we come to the imminent death of Edward the Confessor with no heir in place, there are several contenders for the English throne, including Harald Hardrada, King of Norway; William, Duke of Normandy; and Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex.

Edward died on January 5, 1066, and Harold Godwinson—as “the man on the spot”—was rapidly crowned as his successor. However, William of Normandy believed that the new King Harold had previously promised the English throne to him by oath, so after Harold’s coronation he wasted no time in assembling an invasion fleet of more than 400 ships and convinced the feudal barons in his Normandy territories to support his attempt to gain the throne. He cleverly sought a blessing from Pope Alexander II, head of the Roman church, who approved of William’s effort, possibly seeing Harold as ruler over a country of barbarians and quasi-pagans. The fleet was ready to sail by August 10.

Weather Helps Craft History

On the other side of the English Channel, King Harold had amassed 3,000 trained soldiers, along with 10,000 part-time troops known as fyrd who were obliged to serve the king for 40 days each year. However, the southerly wind that would let William traverse the Channel never came, so on September 8 Harold dismissed the fyrd. Four days later, William set sail from Normandy, but a sudden gale pushed the fleet eastward, preventing their crossing.

Events soon took another twist. Harold’s banished brother Tostig invaded England with an ally, Harald Hardrada, also known as Harald III—the King of Norway. On September 19, a fleet of 300 ships and 10,000 men in northeast England defeated the locals near York. So, the English king headed north in response, mustering his forces en route, marching 190 miles over the course of five days. On September 25, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, King Harold successfully defeated his brother and Hardrada.

But only days later, Harold got word that William had sailed from France, landing on the south coast at Pevensey. As there was no organised English army waiting to oppose them, the king marched back south again. He could have stopped in or near London and perhaps maintained the advantage, suppressing William’s advances northward from the coast—but he did not.

The Battle of Hastings took place on Saturday, October 14, 1066, between evenly matched Norman and Anglo-Saxon forces, lasting most of the day. At a key point in the battle, the Normans appeared to retreat, allowing the Saxon “shield wall” to be broken when they pursued them, opening weak points in the Saxon defensive line. Harold’s brothers were both killed, along with Harold himself, who may have been fatally struck by an arrow in his eye.

Britain Permanently Changed

William the Conqueror, as he became known, was crowned in Westminster Abbey on December 25, 1066. The Anglo-Saxon ruling class was replaced by French-speaking Norman conquerors, a change that left a lasting impact on Britain. In 1085, William commissioned a complete inventory of the kingdom, shire by shire. This inventory—the infamous Domesday Book—provided information to help him coerce, fine, and confiscate as he pleased. Such knowledge was truly powerful. Norman rule meant that all the land belonged to William, who controlled it and gave it as gifts to whom he chose. The ruling classes were required to pay homage to William with an oath of allegiance and loyalty. William died shortly afterward whilst fighting the French on the continent, but the English nation was changed forever.

Regular readers of Tomorrow’s World will remember that the birthright promises of national greatness were given to the descendants of Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:1–2; Genesis 49:22–26). His younger son, Ephraim, was to become a great company of nations (Genesis 35:10–11; 48:17–19), and the modern nation of Britain fulfills this promise. Britain—corresponding to the ancient Israelite tribe of Ephraim—came to greatness as a national power, together with her empire nations, starting in about 1800.

Of crucial importance is that these promises were not given to other modern nations such as Denmark, Norway, or France, which are descended from other tribes of ancient Israel. The historical events of the Battle of Hastings would prove an essential step in reconfiguring the nation, its culture, and its laws in preparation for its eventual prophetic role, centuries later, as a unified power in world affairs. You can glean more details about Britain’s place in biblical prophecy by requesting our free booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy from the Regional Office nearest you, listed on page 4 of this magazine. You can also read or listen to it here at TomorrowsWorld.org.

Critical to the outcome of the Battle of Hastings was the timing of events. If we recognize that God controls history (Daniel 4:17), we can appreciate His hand in the timing as He directed the outcome through elements beyond human control. God, as the creator of Planet Earth, controls its weather, for example (Isaiah 29:6; 2 Chronicles 6:26–27). And the weather played a key part in delaying King William’s invasion fleet until Harold’s forces had been exhausted by the rapid march north to Stamford Bridge and then south again to fight William. The outcome would have been vastly different if William had arrived in England two months earlier. Another of our free booklets, Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters?, explains in more detail how and why God uses natural weather events for His great purpose.

The Norman “apocalypse” resulting from the Battle of Hastings was an important moment directing history toward God’s purpose, the fulfilment of prophecy, and His national promises to Abraham. Truly, “the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses” (Daniel 5:21).