KS_outline_period1_Edward

Hello. We are the people of the land of Wessex. King Edward is defiantly the man to blame for the fall of England in 1066. King Edward did not care for the welfare of England and did not prepare for any attacks from other countries. Any other man would have done a much better job in leading England.

1.**One reason King Edward** **Is to blame for the fall of England is because he exhibited poor leadership overall.** o He did not care much for his troops, leaving many people without the will to be a part of the army. o He did not spend money on England’s defense; instead, he spent his money on Westminster Abbey. o He was willing to just sit back and let others attack England (William ,Tostig, Gryffin, Harald Hardrada) All of this leads to a large disadvantage for the English at The Battle of Hastings. King Edward should have made sure the army was getting plenty of rest and that they had enough food. He should have spent the money used on Westminster Abbey to pay troops, build fortresses, ships and make sure all the peasants were well fed. If he had done this, the English would definitely have a better chance at better organization of the army, and the English would //surely// defeat Duke William at The Battle of Hastings. 2. **Another reason is that** **Edward did not try to prevent Gryffin from attacking and weakening England** · 3. **King Edward** **is responsible for the fall of England because he weakened the country by not anticipating and setting up proper defenses for the Battle of Stamford Bridge.** o Edward was sympathetic towards Earl Tostig § Edward didn’t try to exile or threaten Earl Tostig, and on the contrary allowed him to continue virtually torturing the Northumbrians. § Not exiling Earl Tostig was making him feel that it was O.K. to do as he wanted with Northumbria. This made him even more angry than he would’ve otherwise been when his brother, who technically had no more power, was forced to propose and lead it for the sake of England, therefore making him want revenge. o During his life time, Edward didn’t care for the armies, therefore the armies were weaker. § As stated on page 77 of the King’s Shadow, it is stated and proven that King Edward was using his age as an excuse to be lazy regarding leading the armies. § Edward didn’t take any precautions towards watching Norwegian and other northern areas' invasions. 4. King Edward is at fault for the lost of England in the Battle of Hastings for not doing enough before he died.   
 * Gryffin was longing for silver and Edward just ignored him.
 * Edward  should have compromised with Gryffin or at least talked to him or prepared his troops and just be ready for Gryffin's attack
 * This made E <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">arl Harold attack Gryffin with his troops and opened england up for more attacks from other countries, because Harold was busy with Gryffin.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">This also caused Gryfifn to burn and destroy the land of Carmarthen and other places on his way
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">P. 71 "Gryffin was born amoung the sea Welsh, but he covets the silver mines in the hills, which are not part of the holdings granted to him by King Edward. He is marching to Carmarthen, burning all in his path on his way north to the mines."
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Did not focus of attacking Normans
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">P.98, says that he is half Norman
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Might be taking their side a little bit
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">successor
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">did not appoint successors
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">pg.52 Edward considered naming William as his successor.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'">No children, cannot inherit king of England