A lost letter from Pope Alexander II has shed new light on the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The letter, which was preserved in the Vatican archives, suggests that the Pope may have backed William the Conqueror's invasion of England because the English had sided with Alexander's rival, the antipope Honorius II.
According to Professor Tom Licence, who discovered the letter, the Pope described England as being led astray by an "evil head" and branded the English as "followers of Satan" in the letter. This language, Licence said, implies that the English were leaning towards supporting Honorius II, a rival papal faction.
The Battle of Hastings, one of the most consequential battles in English history, has traditionally been viewed as a fight over who had the rightful claim to the English throne: King Harold II or William of Normandy. However, Licence's research suggests that the events of 1066 may have been closely tied to a bitter power struggle between Pope Alexander II and his rival, Honorius II.
Licence's discovery changes the understanding of Alexander's role in the events of 1066. "He wanted regime change in England," Licence said. The findings are detailed in Licence's new book, "Harold: Warrior King".
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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