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thewilliam theredforum2002
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The Conqueror's genorosity
Here’s a little story that demonstrates the Conqueror’s generosity.
(a)Bulstrode, near Chalfont St Peter in South East England, is the site of an old Anglo-Saxon fortification, which in 1066 was held by Thane Shobbington and his family.
(b) Shobbington was an interesting character. He was an Anglo-Saxon who fought at Gate Fulford for Edwin and Morcar but, unlike them, joined the Usurper at Stamford Bridge but then, again like them, did not fight at Senlac.
(c) He was believed to be one of the remnants of the Angle-Saxon-Dane leadership who submitted to the Conqueror at Berkhamstead in late 1066 and embraced, at least conditionally, The Norman Revolution.
(d) In 1067, before he temporarily returned to Normandy, the Conqueror assigned Bolestrode , as it became known in the 12th Century, to Roger D’Ivry for his bravery at Varaville, where he protected the Conqueror’s right flank and at Senlac. The actual enforcement of his order was entrusted to Odo de Bayeux and William Fitzosbern who were D’Ivry’s and Angleland’s overlords in the Conqueror’s absence.
(e) D’Ivry led a detachment of infantry and cavalry to defeat any resistance to his takeover. Shobbington, resentful of a ‘betrayal of faith’ by the Conqueror, which in reality was more to do with the latter being justly concerned about the Counter-Revolutionary activity of Morcar and Edwin with whom Shobbington had fought than any ‘betrayal’ per se, organised his family and sundry locals to firmly oppose D’Ivry from within the fort.
(f) Shobbington had no cavalry so he struck on the idea of mounting some of his supporters on bulls quartered within the fort perimeter.When he ordered a sortie, the bull ‘cavalry’ ran havoc among D’Ivry’s disoriented forces and retreat quickly turned into defeat.
(g) On his return to Angleland, the Conqueror summoned Shobbington and his family to his Christmas Court at Gloucester to answer for his actions against Roger. Shobbington and his family journeyed there on bulls.
(h) When the Conqueror saw that what he had been told was true, he was amazed at the originality used to repel Roger and allowed Shobbington to keep his fort on condition that he changed his name to Bolestrode (Bulstrode) that is : astride a bull. Bolestrode land was later valued at 320 marks, so clearly it prospered in the aftermath.
(i) These events of 1067 show the Conqueror was willing to reward opposition as long as it employed innovative methods. Truly a generous and noble deed. It is unknown whether the Conqueror used bull cavalry in his later battles.
CT, Chairperson (personal capacity)
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2/10/2007, 2:46 pm
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mousteriana
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
WRTF:
William was willing to buy people off, when he could. If he thought they were of use to him, that is. When they ceased to be of use, especially if they happened to be English, he went after them. Look what happened to Edwin and Morcar. . . among others.
Anne G
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2/10/2007, 9:10 pm
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Housecarl 1066
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
He had to buy off the Danish fleet in 1069/70, and storm Hereward's Ely base only through the treachery of some of the monks there...
How many other rebellions had he bought off, even within his own family?
--- 
http://anglosaxonengland.darkbb.com
Historian Simon Schama on William;- "maybe not just the 'bastard'...but lucky bastard!" |
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2/10/2007, 9:16 pm
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mousteriana
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
Housecarl:
Yeah. He did buy off the Danes. . .I'm just coming to that part in my Great Medieval Science Fiction Masterpiece. Oh, and depending on what version of Hereward you read, he bought him off, too! Or maybe he didn't. . . Or. . . .
Anne G
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2/10/2007, 10:10 pm
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thewilliam theredforum2002
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
CT, that is one of the finest postings that I have read on this Chatboard.The fact that the Conqueror was willing for Roger D'Ivry to be "dispossessed" like that is something that only the predictably churlish of mind would fail to appreciate.And Shobbington/Bolestrode sounds a smarter strategist than the Usurper at Senlac who had no surprises whatsoever unless you think stupidity is surprising (infantry advancing on cavalry)I bet if the Usurper was watching events that day at Bolestrode from the afterlife, he must have thought why didn't I think of that? Doh! as they say stateside.
Bill H (personal capacity)
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2/17/2007, 1:23 pm
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mousteriana
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
WRTF:
I just got through trying to look up this "Bulstrode" in my copy of Domesday. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any such place listed. And that story you posted about how this Shobbington(if there actually was such a person), sounds like one of those convenient myths to me. I don't know what you guys have been reading, but the more you post, the less it sounds like primary sources.
Anne G
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2/18/2007, 1:10 am
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Athelstan937
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
Well,well ,well !What a load of bull!
The William the Rancid Fables are truly on form here are they not!
Where on earth did you source this material?
I would be delighted to know.
As for William being generous.He was nothing but a viking renegade with a mercenary army who cared for nobody but himself.Revolution no way!
Glad to see that leopards do not change their spots!
Athelstan 937-escaped from Normandy!
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2/23/2007, 9:25 pm
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thewilliam theredforum2002
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
As Bill pointed out the churlish of mind are so predictable. Bulstrode isnt in Domesday because as the posting states it only became Bolestrode in the 12th Century. The events took place in 1067 and that time lapse to 1086 would allow for disappeared owners and place names. Roger owned Chalfont St Peter in Domesday so its quite reasonable to conclude that the fortification eventually became his and maybe absorbed into Chalfont St Peter.
Hugo, Vice-Chairperson (personal capacity)
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2/23/2007, 10:08 pm
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mousteriana
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
WRTF:
Strange. If a "Shobbington" existed in 1086, how come it isn't mentioned in Domesday? Believe me, I looked. I use Domesday a lot for reference(though for other people and places in my Great Medieval Science Fiction Masterpiece), so when someone comes up with a story like this, I check. I still say it sounds like a convenient myth. Lots of families have convenient myths like this. OTOH, if you can present me with some factual sources, I might begin to believe you.
Anne G
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2/23/2007, 10:47 pm
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Athelstan937
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Re: The Conqueror's genorosity
Red Fables Forum.
Your response is pure conjecture.Quote authetic relaible sources and then we can debate the issue!
Athelstan937-back with a two headed axe!
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2/23/2007, 11:44 pm
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