Women of 1066

There are a number of women who play an important part in the King Harold story.   For example, when I’m giving talks about it, I have to differentiate between several called Edith, or Old English variants of that name:  Edith Swan-Neck –  Harold’s hand-fasted wife;  Edith of Wessex  –  his sister who was married to King Edward the Confessor;   Edith of Mercia, who Harold married in the Christian tradition when he became King.   Then there are two called Gytha:  Gytha Thorkelsdottir  –  Harold’s mother, and young Gytha who was his daughter.  Similarly there were two called Gunhild;  one was Harold’s sister and the other his second daughter.

 

 

 

 

For all these women, their lives were dramatically changed by what happened in 1066, the year of three Kings.   Of course, they were affected by grief at the death of King Edward and then of King Harold and his brothers in battle.   But their lives were also turned upside down as some had to flee the country, lost their homes and their wealth and had to make a new life.

Women throughout the country found their lives changed too as William the Conqueror brought Norman laws to England which affected land ownership, marriage and widowhood.  In many ways English women were worse off after the Conquest.

Today the brilliant “History…..The Interesting Bits” website run by Sharon Bennett Connolly has published an article by LP O’Bryan called “Through Their Stories: The Women of 1066”.   It’s well worth a read. Here’s the link   

Guest Post: Through Their Stories: The Women of 1066 by L.P. O’Bryan