A Pope's Lost Letter Could Change How We Understand the Battle of Hastings
A lost papal letter suggests Alexander II backed William for political reasons as rival popes fought for control of the Church in Europe.
9 Articles
9 Articles
One researcher points out that the defeat of King Harold in the Battle of Hastings was influenced by the power struggles in the Vatican.
King Harold may have lost England by backing the wrong pope
A forgotten fragment of a lost papal letter is offering a surprising new explanation for the Norman Conquest. England may have backed the wrong pope during a bitter religious power struggle, giving Pope Alexander II a political reason to support William the Conqueror’s invasion. The discovery suggests Harold’s downfall in 1066 was shaped by intrigue in Rome as well as bloodshed at Hastings.
AGI - A lost letter from Pope Alexander II, of which some excerpts preserved in the Vatican survived, suggests that behind the papal support for the invasion of England by William of Normandy in 1066 there was also the political and religious clash that divided Rome. Tom License, professor of Medieval History and Literature at the University of East Anglia (UEA), who presents the results in the new book "Harold: Warrior King" published by Yale U…
The fate of England and the outcome of the Norman Conquest of 1066 could be determined not only on the battlefield of Hastings, but also more than 1,500 kilometers from it — in Rome. This is evidenced by a new study by Tom Licens, a professor of medieval history and literature at the University of East Anglia, published by Yale University Press in the book Harold: The Warrior King.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
