A King Without an Heir

Imagine a king so caught up in political struggles that he refused to share a bed with his own wife—for his entire life. That was Edward the Confessor, the unfortunate English monarch whose death in 1066 triggered one of the most famous battles in history.

With no heir to the throne, his death sparked a violent contest between his brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, and his distant cousin, William, Duke of Normandy. The result? A legendary showdown at the Battle of Hastings that changed England forever.

Some rumors suggest that Edward was either impotent or simply not interested in women. Regardless, his lack of an heir created a power vacuum that led to one of the most pivotal moments in English history.

The Man Who Brought Knights to England

Harold had home-field advantage and commanded an army of experienced Saxon infantry. However, William had something much deadlier: Norman knights.

The two sides were evenly matched in numbers, but when the dust settled, the result was clear—half of England’s nobility lay dead. William, once mocked as “William the Bastard,” was now “William the Conqueror,” crowned in Westminster Abbey as the first Norman King of England.

Why Did the Saxons Lose?

Before 1066, English armies fought in a traditional Saxon shield-wall formation. Their strategy was simple: march to the battlefield, dismount, line up, and brace for impact. This worked well against other infantry but was no match for trained cavalry.

Norman knights, raised from childhood to fight, were professional warriors. They had superior training, weapons, and mobility. The Saxons, in contrast, were often farmers and landowners called up in times of war, with little training beyond swinging an axe.

William’s cavalry crushed the Saxon infantry and introduced England to the power of mounted warfare.

Knights for Land, Knights for Gold

The Norman system was built on feudalism, where land was granted in exchange for military service. William confiscated half of England’s land and distributed it to his loyal followers. But he was clever—he made sure no noble held too much power by giving them scattered estates rather than one large region.

In return for land, knights were required to serve in the king’s army. Each knight had to provide their own weapons, armor, and horses—an expensive obligation that required significant landholdings to maintain.

As knights became wealthier, some preferred to pay “scutage” (shield money) instead of fighting. This allowed kings to hire professional mercenaries, marking the beginning of a shift from feudal armies to paid soldiers.

Why This Matters

William’s conquest didn’t just change who ruled England—it transformed the entire military system. His reforms ensured that loyalty to the king came first, preventing powerful nobles from challenging royal authority.

Before William, a knight’s first loyalty was to his immediate lord. After William, all knights swore direct allegiance to the king. This centralization of power laid the foundation for a stronger monarchy and a more organized military.

The Legacy of the Norman Knights

The introduction of chivalry, feudal obligations, and professional knights reshaped England’s culture and warfare. Over time, as money became more important than land, knights evolved from landowners into professional soldiers.

And to think—it all started with a king who never had an heir.