TheOneandonlyDaho

Dark Throne: Silver Overview

history article review

Michael DeHaven
September 17, 2006
Honors History
Rapp

After reading “1066” by Morris Bishop I have gained a much better understanding of the events leading up to and including the invasion of Normandy. In the thirteen pages of the article Bishop writes about the actions that lead to the defeat of the Anglo-Saxon rule of England. In a time period where birth destined the role in life, William the Bastard rose above and became known as William the Conqueror.
William had a rough start to life. His father died when he was seven, after which his mother married a viscount and left him in the care of a guardian. Assassins then murdered his guardian, tutor, and his seneschal leaving William in the care of an uncle who hid him under the protection of woodcutters. William, however, was able to regain control of his kingdom over the rebellious nobles after a tournament in which many were killed. The text says “He was familiar with plots, bloodshed, torture, death. He had no boyhood, and evidently no education, except in war. He learned that he must rule or be ruled, kill or be killed. He must fight and win; he must seize and hold.”
As William grew up he learned how to be manipulative and self-serving. Even though it turned out to be a happy marriage he forced Matilda, a count’s daughter, to be “given” to him in marriage. After the king of England’s brother-in-law, Harold, experience an unfortunate mishap, William came to the rescue. Despite the good will Harold received, William used the opportunity to further his reign and forced Harold to turn the English throne over to him when Edward the Confessor died. However, I believe that the greatest act of manipulation came during the heat of a battle. William and his army feigned retreat at the battle of Hastings. This opportunity proved too irresistible to the Anglo-Saxon who came charging after them. As the English ran across the plain, William ordered his cavalry to circle around and to slaughter them. This was the turning point in the war and in English history.
Bishop does an excellent job of presenting the story from the side of William the Conqueror. If presenting from the English side, Bishop might have referred to William as oppressive and tyrannical. Bishop is very knowledgeable about the history of William the Conqueror. Although the dates about the conception of William and the activities prior to it are vague, the dates and times regarding other portions of the article were well recorded.
Bishop describes the events from a third person omniscient point of view. He uses constructed sentences and is concise in his wording. The article appears to be writing as documentation. Knowing very little about this time period I gained a sense of what some of this time period was like. However knowing that many children from this time period did not have a childhood and that they were forced to become men at young ages. Bishop captured the cruelty and harshness of the world and how William conquered it and created his own destiny.