Anglo Saxon History Home Background Landscape Changing Landscape and Language Sea Levels in AD400(Pevensey) Sea Levels in AD400(The Wash) Sea level changes last 2000 years Andredsweald and Anderida Where are the Roman Roads History of the Romney Marsh The Great Storm 1287AD List of Landscape Documents Local The Haestingas The Cinque Ports 914AD Alfred the Great's fort in Hastings Battle Museum Battle History Society Villagenet Local Gazeteer World War 2 Tank database Simon the Piman(Raspberry Pi) Romans First Invasion 55BC Second Invasion 43AD Roman roads in Britannia Ptolemy Geographica Tribes MAP-Margary Roman Roads MAP-Roman Roads South East MAP-Roman Roads South West MAP-Roman Roads Wales MAP-Roman Roads South Midlands MAP-Roman Roads South Yorkshire MAP-Roman Locations Norfolk MAP-Roman Locations Essex MAP-Wealden Roads/Bloomeries Wealden Bloomeries 1st Century Wealden Bloomeries 2nd Century Wealden Bloomeries 3rd Century Wealden Bloomeries 4th Century MAP-Antonine Itinery I Roman Industry in the Brede Valley Decline in Roman Wealden Ironworking The Gallic Empire 260AD - 274AD Types of Roman Fortification List of Roman Documents Saxon Chronicles 449AD Hengest & Horsa arrive 455AD Hengest & Horsa defeat Wurtgern 457AD Hengest & Horsa take over Kent 460AD Hæstinga Saxons arrive 477AD Cymensora 485AD Suth Saxons Mercredesburnan 491AD Suth Saxons Pevensey 914AD Burghal Hideage Locations - 449AD Ebbsfleet Locations - 455AD Agelesþrep Locations - 485AD Mearcredesburnan Stede Locations - 914AD Eorpeburnan 1066 Battle Documentary Evidence Available Documents 1 Anglo Saxon Chronicles 2 Battle Abbey Chronicles 3 Bayeux Tapestry 4 Carmen Guy d'Amiens 5 Florence of Worcester 6 Henry of Huntingdon 7 Master Wace 8 Orderic Vitalis(Gesta) 9 William of Jumièges(Gesta) 10 William of Malmesbury 11 Quedam Exceptiones Reference to Locations Phases of the Events Phases 1066AD 1 Background 1066AD 2 In Normandy 1066AD 3 Channel Crossing 1066AD 4 The Landing 1066AD 5 Feast after Landing 1066AD 6 Building the Forts 1066AD 7 Raiding the Area 1066AD 8 Warning to Harold 1066AD 9 Stamford Bridge 1066AD 10 Harold returns to London 1066AD 11 William is Alerted 1066AD 12 Exchange of Messages 1066AD 13 Defenses 1066AD 14 Harold Reconnoitres 1066AD 15 Preparations 1066AD 16 The Night Before 1066AD 17 The Battle 1066AD 18 Harold is Killed 1066AD 19 The English Rout 1066AD 20 After the Battle 1066AD 21 The Malfosse Warriors, Weapons & Snippets Saxon - Huscarl Saxon - Fyrd(Fyrð) Senlac Hill The Malfosse The Hoar Apple Tree The Shield Wall Salt Production near Hastings The Battle of Jengland 851AD William's Ship List Norman/Viking Ships and stuff Norman bows and crossbows Harold was NOT killed by an arrow The Time Team view of the Battle 1066AD Landscape Details 1066AD Sailing from Normandy 1066AD Norman Landing 1066AD Possible Fort 1066AD to Pevensey and Hastings 1066AD Manors Wasted 1066AD Manors All 1066AD Warning to Harold 1066AD Harold to Hastings List of 1066AD Documents List of 1066AD Weapons 1086AD Domesday Boundary of Anderida Domesday Hursts Post Domesday Hursts Domesday Manors Wasted UK Norfolk Salt Production Salt Production near Hastings The Wash at 1086 The Humber estuary at 1086 Domesday County details B Bedfordshire Domesday Population Berkshire Domesday Population Buckinghamshire Domesday Population Domesday County details C Cambridgeshire Domesday Population Cheshire Domesday Population Cornwall Domesday Population Domesday County details D Derbyshire Domesday Population Devon Domesday Population Dorset Domesday Population Domesday County details E Essex Domesday Population Domesday County details G Gloucestershire Domesday Population Domesday County details H Hampshire Domesday Population Herefordshire Domesday Population Hertfordshire Domesday Population Huntingdonshire Domesday Population Domesday County details K Kent Domesday Population Domesday County details L Leicestershire Domesday Population Lincolnshire Domesday Population Domesday County details M Middlesex Domesday Population Domesday County details N Norfolk Domesday Population Northamptonshire Domesday Population Nottinghamshire Domesday Population Domesday County details O Oxfordshire Domesday Population Domesday County details R Rutland Domesday Population Domesday County details S Shropshire Domesday Population Somerset Domesday Population Staffordshire Domesday Population Suffolk Domesday Population Surrey Domesday Population Sussex Domesday Population Domesday County details W Warwickshire Domesday Population Wiltshire Domesday Population Worcestershire Domesday Population Domesday County details Y Yorkshire Domesday Population Place names Translate my Location Celtic name snippets Jutish name snippets Roman name snippets Saxon name snippets Viking name snippets Norman name snippets Modern name snippets Villages containing EY/EYE/SEA Villages containing HAM Villages containing TON Villages containing CASTLE Sussex Locations with ING Domesday Sussex with ING Kent Locations with ING Sussex Locations with HURST Loads of Village Translations Res Battle of Hastings 1066AD - The Ship list of William the Conqueror What was the Ship List of William the Conqueror This document was part of the Battle Abbey Archives and was at least in their possession between 1130AD and 1160AD. The document contains a list of important Norman Lords and Ecclesiastic figures who provided ships and knights to William the Conqueror for the invasion of Britain in 1066AD. An excellent analysis of the document was provided by Elizabeth M.C. van Houts in the 'Proceedings of the Battle Conference 1987' in her article titled 'The ship list of William the Conqueror'. This article is a useful document for the corroboration of Master Wace's account of the invasion in his 'The Roman de Rou' What was the Ship List of William the Conqueror What did the list contain William the Conqueror's Ship list - a summary Master Wace Orderic Vitalis The Carmen de Triumpho Normannico Norman Ship details link Williams flagship the Mora What could the name Mora mean: Conclusion The only online copy I can find is Proceedings of the Battle Conference 1987 on google books page 159. This is an image of the first page of the Ship List from the Bodleian Library in Oxford What did the list contain ▲ The ship list of William the Conqueror provides fascinating insights into the maritime preparations for the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Let’s delve into the details: Historical Context: The list appears in the Battle manuscript, written down between 1130 and 1160. It likely originated from the monastery at Fécamp in Normandy shortly after the Norman Conquest of England. The document summarizes agreements made between Duke William of Normandy and a number of his mightiest vassals before the invasion of England and explains who were to supply the necessary ships. Vassals and Ship Contributions: Altogether 14 vassals are listed, and they are to turn up with a total of 776 vessels. While not all ships were necessarily longships, they served various purposes, including cargo transport for supplies and weapons. The army also transported horses and much armor, including a whole timber fortress as a “do-it-yourself kit.” Role of Harbor-Towns: All the vassals had rights in harbor-towns, either along the coast of Normandy or on the rivers. Coastal harbors supplied more ships than inland river harbors. William’s Fleet: At the end of the document, it is noted that William had 1,000 ships at his disposal for the invasion, apart from those that each of the vassals might have been willing to supply in addition to the number mentioned in the list. The vassals were rewarded for their participation in the invasion by being granted fiefs in the conquered areas. William likely drew on his own resources, including numerous harbors under his command, to contribute to the fleet. William the Conqueror's Ship list - a summary ▲ LordShips Knights Ports William fitz Osbern60 Eure, Pacy and Ivry Hugh de Avranches60 Avranches Hugh de Montfort5060 Risle, Montfort Remigus de Fecamp120 St Valery-en-Caux Nicholas Abbot de St Ouen15100 Seine, Rouen Robert comte d'Eu60 Le Treport Fulk d'Aunou40 Risle, Foulbec Gerold the Steward40 Epte, Neufmarche, Honfleur, Gonville William comte d'Evreux80 Itton, Evreux Roger de Montgommery60 Dives, Orne Roger de Beaumont60 Risle, Beaumont-le-Roger, Pont Audemer Odo Bisshop de Bayeux100 Port-en-Bessin Robert comte de Mortain120 Honfleur Walter Giffard30100 Scie, Longueville Duchess Mathilde1 Bethune Totals777280 Duke William controlled the ports of Dieppe, Etretat, Bruneval, Dives/Cabourg, Caen/Quistreham, Barfleur, Cherbourg, Portbail, Vernon, Le Goulet, Les Damps, Elbeuf and Rouen. Master Wace ▲ Master Wace records: 'He got together carpenters smiths and other workmen, so that great stir was seen at all the ports of Normandy, in the collecting of wood and materials, cutting of planks, framing of ships and boats, stretching sails, and rearing masts, with great pains and at great cost. They spent all one summer and autumn in fitting up the fleet and collecting the forces; and there was no knight in the land, no good serjeant, archer, nor peasant of stout heart, and of age for battle, that the duke did not summon to go with him to England : promising rents to the vavassors, and honors to the barons. When the ships were ready, they were moored in the Somme at St. Valeri, and there delivered to the barons. Many were the ships and boats in the river there, which is called the Somme, and separates Ponthieu and Vimou.' 'I shall never put in writing, and would not undertake to set down, what barons, and how many knights, how many vavassors, and how many soldiers the duke had in his company, when he had collected all his navy ; but I heard my father say I remember it well, although I was but a lad that there were seven hundred ships, less four, when they sailed from St. Valeri ; and that there were besides these ships, boats and skiffs for the purpose of carrying the arms and harness. I have found it written (but I know not whether it be true) that there were in all three thousand vessels bearing sails and masts. Any one will know that there must have been a great many men to have furnished out so many vessels.' It would seem that Master Wace's total of 696 is not far from the 777 from the ship list, but the ship list may have been written as the ships left Normandy, so that if a storm swept the fleet into 'St Valerie' then possibly 70 ships were lost between Dives and St Valerie. Orderic Vitalis ▲ Orderic Vitalis records: 'While however the attention of the English was diverted by the invasion of Yorkshire, and by (rod's permission they neglected, as I have already mentioned, to guard the coast, the Norman fleet, which for a whole month had been waiting for a south wind in the mouth of the river Dive and the neighbouring harbours, took advantage of a favourable breeze from the west to gain the roads of St. Valeri.' 'At last when by God's grace it suddenly came round to the quarter which was the object of so many prayers, the duke, full of ardour, lost no time in embarking the troops, and giving the signal for hastening the departure of the fleet. The Norman expedition, therefore, crossed the sea on the night of the third of the calends of October [29th September], which the Catholic church observes as the feast of St. Michael the archangel, and, meeting with no resistance, and landing safely on the coast of England, took possession of Pevensey and Hastings, the defence of which was entrusted to a chosen body of soldiers, to cover a retreat and guard the fleet.' Orderic doesn't mention any storm or any count of vessels. The Carmen de Triumpho Normannico ▲ The Carmen records: 'But for a long time your leading fleet across the Channel is barred by storms and constant rain From antiquity the port of Vimeu has been renown Above is the fortress of St Valery For fifteen days you occupied these regions It remains wet And the sky is covered with cloud and rain And the sun shone forth brighter than usual When Michaelmas was celebrated around the world While sailors take up their oars and knights their arms Surely ten times ten times ten and 5 thousand more men' Fairly limited details relating to the ships, but the number of men is about 6000 which would take about 100 longboats to carry at 60 men per ship. This would leave 600 ships to carry the horses at possibly 10 per ship giving a total of 6000 horses at 2 per knight would give 3000 cavalry . Norman Ship details link ▲ Williams flagship the Mora ▲ This is an extract from the Bayeux Tapestry showing William in the Mora, the ship was provided by Mathilde, WIlliam's wife. The word Mora is mentioned only in the Ship List which was written in medieval Latin around 1067 and was translated by the historian Elisabeth van Houts. The original "Matildis postea regina eiusdem ducis uxor ad cecis fecit effcis effcis nauem que uocabatur mora in qua ipse dux uecus est" Which can translate into: Later on Matilda, the dukes wife, built a ship at Cici, which was called the mora, in which the duke himself lived. Ship details from Wikipedia: 'Mora was a ship of Drakkar/Snekkja design and clinker construction built at Barfleur in Normandy, a gift of Matilda of Flanders to her husband William the Conqueror in the summer of 1066. She was a larger ship and carried ten knights with their entourages and equipment. The ship was captained by Stephen Fitz Airard, meaning the son of Airard, who remained her captain until William's death in 1087. Stephen received lands in Hampshire, Berkshire, and Warwickshire as reward for his services in the English campaign of 1066. Orderic Vitalis describes the ship: "it had for its figurehead the image of a child, gilt, pointing with its right hand towards England, and having in its mouth a trumpet of ivory. Mora carried multicoloured sails and at the top of the mainmast was the papal banner, consecrated and sent to William from Rome. The banner was described as "a square white banner charged with a gold cross within a blue border." ' What could the name Mora mean: ▲ A lot of discussion as to the meaning of the name Mora has been proposed which you can read on the French Wikipedia Mora page (be careful of the Wiki translator it doesn't work on this page), but there is a further possibility. The Normans were Viking settlers in Northern France, whose language was similar to the Saxon language, Vikings and Saxons could mostly talk to each other. With this in mind there is a possibility that the name Mora is derived from Moraþ(pronounced Morath in Saxon) which translates as 'A drink formed by boiling down and sweetening wine (with mulberries), a decoction of wine and herbs', so the ship could have been named after Williams favourite drink, but we will never know. Conclusion ▲ The ship list gives us about 777 ships and Master Wace 696 so we shall assume 700 ships as a nice round number for the following calculations. The Carmen records the number of men at about 6000 which would take about 100 longboats to carry at 60 men per ship. This would leave 600 ships to carry the horses at possibly 10 per ship giving a total of 6000 horses at 2 per knight would give 3000 cavalry . In summary, William the Conqueror's ship list reveals the intricate organization of a maritime power during the Middle Ages and the critical role played by harbor-towns and their Lords in William’s preparations for the invasion of England. Copyright saxonhistory.co.uk 2013 - 2024Contact SimonAuthor Simon M - Last updated - 2024-09-28 15:39:57All pages on our site (Sitemap)