Revolt of the Earls facts for kids

The Revolt of the Earls was a big challenge to King William the Conqueror in 1075. It was a rebellion led by three powerful earls. This event was the last major fight against William after he took over England in the Norman Conquest.

What Caused the Revolt of the Earls?

The main reason for the revolt was a wedding! In 1075, Emma, whose father was a powerful earl, wanted to marry Ralph de Guader, the Earl of East Anglia.

King William was away in Normandy at the time. He did not approve of their marriage. But Emma and Ralph decided to get married anyway, without his permission. This made the king very unhappy.

Who Started the Rebellion?

While King William was still away, Ralph de Guader, his new brother-in-law Roger de Breteuil, and Waltheof began their rebellion. But things quickly went wrong for them.

Waltheof soon felt unsure about the plan. He told Archbishop Lanfranc about the secret plot. Lanfranc tried to convince Earl Roger to stop his rebellion. When Roger refused, Lanfranc officially removed him and his followers from the church. Waltheof then told King William, who was still in Normandy, about the revolt.

How Did the King's Forces Respond?

Earl Roger was supposed to bring his army from the west to meet Ralph. But he was stopped at the River Severn. An English bishop named Wulfstan gathered a local army, called the fyrd, and blocked Roger's path.

Meanwhile, Ralph faced a much larger army near Cambridge. This royal army was led by two powerful bishops, Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey de Montbray. Ralph quickly retreated to Norwich. The king's army followed him closely.

Ralph left his wife, Emma, to defend Norwich Castle. He then sailed to Denmark to find help. He later returned with a large fleet of 200 ships. These ships were led by Cnut and Hakon. However, they did not manage to do anything helpful for the rebels.

What Happened to the Countess?

The Countess Emma bravely held out in Norwich Castle. Eventually, she made a deal for herself and her followers. They lost their lands, but they were allowed to leave England within 40 days. The Countess went to her lands in Brittany, where her husband Ralph later joined her.

After the Revolt

King William punished the earls who rebelled against him.

What Happened to the Leaders?

• Ralph de Guader: King William took away all of Ralph's lands and his title as earl. Ralph was forced to leave England and went to his lands in Brittany. The king then gave Ralph's lands in East Anglia to another Breton lord, Alan Rufus.
• Roger de Breteuil: Roger also lost his lands and his earldom. Unlike Ralph, he was sent to prison forever. He was briefly set free with other prisoners when King William died in 1087. But he was quickly executed after that.
• Waltheof: On May 31, 1076, Waltheof was executed near Winchester. He was the only Englishman to be punished this way during King William's rule. People said he was very strong but also a bit weak-willed. However, he was also known to be very religious and kind. Because of this, many English people saw him as a martyr. It was even said that miracles happened at his tomb in Crowland.