Battle of Southwark
Duchy of Normandy: 500 cavalry
History & Significance
The Burning of Southwark was a battle fought in Southwark during the Norman Conquest of England in October 1066.
The Norman soldiers of William, Duke of Normandy fought with Anglo-Saxon soldiers in Southwark for control of London Bridge, crossing the River Thames to the English capital London. The Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons in the battle but withdrew from Southwark due to strong local resistance, setting fire to the town during their retreat to spread terror. Southwark was destroyed and William marched westwards and cut off Anglo-Saxon supply routes to London, which led to the city submitting to his rule.
William, Duke of Normandy, had launched his invasion of the Kingdom of England in late September 1066, declaring his claim to the English throne following the death of the childless Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor, the son of his great-aunt Emma of Normandy. Edward's death in January 1066 saw his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson proclaimed king by the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot, but still resulted in a violent succession crisis contested by his brother Tostig Godwinson, the King of Norway Harald Hardrada, and Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia's sons Morcar and Ēadwine. Harold had defeated his other opponents by 25 September, leaving William's invasion on 28 September his only remaining threat.
On 14 October, William defeated an English force at the Battle of Hastings and killed Harold, then moved to secure the English capital at London, where Edgar Ætheling had been proclaimed king by the Witenagemot. Expecting little resistance, William sent a small force of cavalry to the strategic town of Southwark to secure the southern end of London Bridge, which provided a crossing of the River Thames and direct access to London. At the time, Southwark was a partially-fortified suburb town of London and formed part of the personal estate of Godwinson's family.
Some of London's population supported William but many resisted the Norman invaders, with the local Anglo-Saxon forces led by Ansgar (or Esegar) the "Staller" (Royal standard bearer) and sheriff of Middlesex. Ansgar had been wounded whilst leading a contingent of Londoners for Harold at the Battle of Hastings, but had returned to the city with a number of other Anglo-Saxon leaders to organise a defence against William. Although Ansgar's wounds were so severe that he was not capable of walking and had to be carried in a litter, he seems to have mustered a force by that season's third raising of the fyrd, and his troops were described as "numerous and formidable". William made an offer to Ansgar that he could retain his estates and position as sheriff and join William's council if he recognised him as king. Ansgar refused to accept the terms and led a number of London citizenry against the Norman force at Southwark: Edwin, Earl of Mercia, Morcar, Earl of Northumbria and Ealdred, Archbishop of York may possibly have been amongst the defenders. The 500 Norman knights defeated the Anglo-Saxon force and reached London Bridge but, shocked at the fierce defence put up by the defenders, they were unable to hold the structure and soon withdrew. The town of Southwark was set ablaze by the Normans as they withdrew to spread terror amongst the inhabitants of London across the river. Almost the entire town was destroyed, including the Southwark mint, which did not recover its former levels of production until the late 1080s.
The ground they fought on
The site of Battle of Southwark lies on Thames Group, bedrock that formed in the Eocene. The rock here is clay, silt, sand and gravel.
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