Kathleen Tyson

Carmen Widonis - The First History of the Norman Conquest Kathleen Tyson

This is a full-colour 2018 edition of the book that is changing the way we understand the Norman Conquest. Five years ago Kathleen Tyson began a new transcription and translation of the only manuscript to fully document the Norman Conquest at the time it happened, from the sailing of the fleet from Dives to the consecration of William as king of England on Christmas Day 1066. Her translation and analysis are important for several reasons. First, she demonstrates that the motivations for the conflict arose from a long-standing contest between Danes and Gauls for control of Britain's mineral wealth and mercantile trade. Second, she reveals a new geography for the port and battle that shifts the action into the Brede Basin, then an extensive, shallow estuary or sandy loch - 'Senlac'. Finally, by adhering to the literal manuscript, she reveals the truce ending the siege of London secured the citizenry the Charter of London's Liberties, a grant of royal prerogatives and protections that would frame Magna Carta two centuries later. This 2018 book, retitled as Carmen Widonis - The First History of the Norman Conquest, updates the text of her previous book, Carmen de Triumpho Normannico - The Song of the Norman Conquest. It is published in larger type and in colour with the Latin and English texts reformatted for easier reading and reference, and colour photographs and maps bring the action and geography into detailed focus. Invite Kathleen Tyson to speak to your history or archaeology group to share with them this exciting new narrative of the Norman Conquest.