Draft:Battle of Stafford (1069)

The English Revolts of 1069
Part of Norman Conquest
Stafford Castle, built following the battle, rebuilt in the 19th century
Location Stafford, England Result Norman Victory
Belligerents
Norman Royal Forces	Anglo-Welsh Rebels
Commanders and leaders
King William I Brian of Brittany	Eadric The Wild
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown; presumed to be heavy

The Battle of Stafford was a battle fought in 1069, contested between the newly coronated King William I and an Anglo-Welsh rebel army led by Eadric the Wild. The rebellion was defeated, much of Eadric's land was seized, and Stafford and its surrounding areas were devastated.

Following this battle, and after numerous additional rebellions in the same year, William I commenced The Harrying of the North with the intent of permanently crushing northern insurgency. This action would result in widespread famine and destruction across much of the Midlands and North of England.

Background and Prelude

Following the Norman Invasion of England in 1066, large swathes of land controlled by English noblemen had been confiscated and redistributed among the incoming Norman elites. This dispossession of wealth, land, and titles caused outrage amongst the English nobility, culminating in numerous rebellion and revolts, which in-turn led to further dispossession.

Among those dispossessed of land was Thegn Eadric. Prior to the conquest Eadric had been one of the wealthiest men in Shropshire, possessing up to 100 hides in Shropeshire and Herefordshire. Following the English defeat at The Battle of Hasting, Eadric submitted to the incoming Normans, however despite this submission, almost half of his land was confiscated, passing into the hands of incoming Norman Lord, Ralph de Mortimer.

In retaliation Eadric would raise his own force, and upon forming alliances with Welsh Princes: Bleddyn and Rhiwallon, would pillage Herefordshire. Eadric and his forces would then unsuccessfully besiege Shrewsbury Castle, razing the surrounding town before Norman relief could arrive.

This armed campaign against the Norman conquerors quickly gained momentum, and Eadric's army swelled in size as disgruntled peasants from surrounding counties and Wales joined his army. The King himself would personally intervene, travelling from Lindsey to Stafford, while Brian of Brittany would travel north from Exeter to unite with William.

Battle

Very little is known about the battle itself; it's unsure if Eadric was actually present for the fighting or if he withdrew beforehand. As no location has been identified as a battle field, and contemporary sources mentioning the battle are scarce, it's difficult to estimate the size of either army or the losses they suffered. What is certain is that the Normans defeated the rebels, while Eadric would retreat into Shropshire.

Aftermath

Following the destruction of his forces, Eadric would surrender in 1070. There are conflicting theories concerning the fate of Eadric following the failed rebellion. Due to scant contemporary recordkeeping, as well as an abundance of Eadrics in pre-conquest England, confidently tracing the correct Eadric through to contemporary sources following the revolt is incredibly difficult.

Some historians believe that Eadric joined and assimilated into the Norman force, and would later accompany King WIlliam I on an expedition to Scotland in 1072 during which Treaty of Abernethy was signed. Lands which had been possessed by Eadric were documented as being owned by William le Savage, suggesting that he might have been a descendent of Eadric, meanwhile Eadric son of Ælfric - appears as the tenant of Much Wenlock Priory, holding lands at Bourton and Hughley - implying that he was still a land-owner (however with much diminished possessions) when the Doomsday Book was collated.

Stafford itself, as with much of the North, appears to have largely destroyed. Seventeen years following the battle, when the Doomsday Book was completed in 1086, the town was declared to still be "partially waste". Archaeological evidence suggesting that much of the town had been abandoned, with the town suffering through an extensive period of depopulation and urban decay. Stafford Castle was built during the following decade, with the Norman motte, moat, and baily still visible to this day. Additionally a wooden castle had been built in 1070 much closer to the town centre, with two potential locations being current Castle Street and Mount Street, however this had been destroyed by the recording of the Doomsday Boom.