KS_outline_period2_Tostig

//**Tostig is Guilty for the loss at the Battle of Hastings!**//


1.Introduction
 * We are Ryne M.,Alec S., John V.,Zyrus J. and Grace P. of Northumbria and we are condemning Tostig for the loss of England's independence.
 * We are prosecuting Tostig Godwinson for invading England and starting a civil war which weakened England's defenses against other invading countries.
 * Since most of Harold's men were killed and injured, England was not as strong as they could have been when France invaded England and the battle of Hastings began.

2. The second reason why Tostig is to blame for England's loss of independence is that Tostig burned and raided cities on England's coast.
 * Tostig raided and burned the cities on the English coast and killed many of Harold's soldiers that were stationed there. Also some of the men were captured and forced to be Tostig's soldiers. Most of the men did not try to flea when Tostig attacked, they stayed and tried to fight back.(p. 176)
 * (p. 176) "All that summer, Tostig raided the coast of England, from the isle of Wright to the Humber". Later Hakon said, "I have little doubt we can muster a fyrd from the men of our country. But how long can we provision them? How long can the villagers be away from their fields? The crops cannot be untended this summer. The sheep cannot be left without their Shepard's."(p. 179-180) This was said because the farmers were fighting and not tending their crops thatwould feed England in the winter.
 * He stole many supplies from England that Harold could have used to feed his soldiers, like mead, bread, and other foods.
 * Tostig invaded England knowing that the civil war would make England more vulnerable to other countries. The country that invaded was Normandy, they invaded and took over England because Harold's soldiers were tired from the battle with Tostig, and many of them were dead.
 * Tostig also declined the peace treaty offered by King Harold. The treaty included 1/3 of England for Tostig and for Harald Hardrada of Norway to split into two equal parts. (p. 193-194).

3. Tostig is guilty for the downfall of England and it's loss of independence. The third reason why Tostig is to blame for England's loss of independence is that he attacked England, his own country, out of rage against his brother who forced him into exile.


 * Tostig sailed for Norway (p.147). Here he convinced King Harald Hardrada (The King of Norway) to make a bid for the English Crown. Harald Hardrada gathered his forces from Norway to invade England.
 * (p. 195-198) In 1066, they were attacked by England. Tostig lost his life in the battle. This battle was called the Battle of Stanford Bridge. By invading England, Tostig made the English army weaker and unprepared for the invasion of the Normans that was coming up.

4. More reasons why Tostig is the cause for the loss of the Battle of Hastings: he starved the Northumbrian people.
 * (p.142) Tostig placed large food taxes on the Northumbrian people. (p.104) "to ease taxes would win you many friends."
 * Many of Harold's Northumbrian soldiers starved from Tostig's high food taxes and did not have the strength to fight at the battle of Hastings
 * Many of Harold's men died and were injured during the battle of Stanford Bridge.

5. Our final statement of why Tostig is guilty.


 * Now it is clear that Tostig is guilty for the downfall of England and his family should be punished for his wrong doing!