A newly identified papal letter from the Vatican archives may alter historical accounts of the 1066 Norman Conquest of England and the pivotal Battle of Hastings. Research by Professor Tom Licence of the University of East Anglia suggests that Pope Alexander II's backing of William the Conqueror was influenced by England's alignment with an antipope, a rival to Alexander.
The traditional understanding of the Battle of Hastings frames it as a dispute over the English throne between King Harold II and William of Normandy. However, Licence's findings, detailed in his book "Harold: Warrior King," propose a deeper connection to a broader political and religious struggle involving the papacy. The rediscovered excerpts from the papal letter describe England as being led astray by an "evil head" and label the English as "followers of Satan."
Licence suggests this language was a reaction to England potentially siding with antipope Honorius II. At the time, Honorius II was a significant contender in a power struggle with Alexander II, and his position appeared to be strengthening in 1065. The papal letter, according to Licence, indicates that England's shift away from supporting Alexander II provided the Pope with a motive to sanction and support the Norman invasion.
"Read in that context, the letter from Pope Alexander about England being led astray under an 'evil head' made sense at last," Licence stated. "It was never clear to historians in the past what Alexander was referring to." He expressed confidence that England had indeed moved away from backing Alexander II, which constituted "a withdrawal of support."
Licence's specialization in both ecclesiastical history and the Norman Conquest allowed him to connect these elements. "Most scholars working on the Norman Conquest aren't specialists in ecclesiastical history, and they may not, in any case, be looking closely at papal politics," he noted. The findings reshape the understanding of Alexander's motivations, indicating a desire for "regime change in England."