On this Day in History ... 18th October

Economium Emmae Reginae. [18th October 1016] When the winter season had passed, Edmund (age 26) once more gathered his army during the whole of Lent, and soon after Easter prepared to drive the king and the Danes out of the land of the English. Coming, therefore, with an innumerable multitude, he planned suddenly to attack them. But the report did not escape the Danes, who, leaving their ships behind, took to the land, and made ready to receive whatever might come against them. For they had a banner of wondrous portent, which, though I may believe it to seem incredible to the reader, yet, because it is true, I will insert into this true account. Indeed, though it was woven of the simplest and purest silk, and bore no image or figure embroidered upon it, yet at the time of battle there was always seen upon it a raven, as if woven within the fabric, when their side was to be victorious, the raven appeared with open beak, beating its wings, and standing unsteady upon its feet; but when their side was defeated, it was seen motionless and drooping in every part. When Thorkell, the leader of their first battle, saw this, he cried out: "Let us fight manfully, comrades! There shall be no danger for us, the restless raven of our prophetic standard bears witness to our victory!" Hearing this, the Danes became more daring, and, hardened in their iron armor, they advanced to meet the English in a place called Aescenedun, which we Latins may interpret as "the Hill of the Ash Trees." And there, even before the armies joined battle, Eadric, whom we said was the chief of Edmund's earls, spoke these words to his men: "Let us flee, comrades, and withdraw our lives from the death that threatens; otherwise we shall perish at once, for I know well the hardness of the Danes." And, veiling the standard which he carried in his right hand, he turned his back on the enemy, and by his flight defrauded the army of a great part of its strength. And, as some say, he did this not from fear, but from treachery, as later became clear; for, as many assert, he had secretly promised the Danes to do so, in return for some unknown reward. Then Edmund, seeing this and pressed on every side, cried out: "O Englishmen! Either you will fight today, or all together you will go into bondage. Fight therefore for freedom and for your country, brave men! As for those who flee, being cowardly, if they had not departed, they would only have hindered our army." Saying this, he charged into the midst of the enemy, cutting down the Danes on every side, and by his example made his own men, the nobles, more eager to fight.

Then was joined a fierce battle on foot, for the Danes, though fewer in number, chose annihilation rather than the peril of flight. They stood firm like men and fought bravely, and the combat, begun at the ninth hour of the day, lasted into the evening, not that they unwillingly met the swords of others, but rather that they pressed upon others with the points of their own. On both sides armed men fell, yet more from that host which had the greater numbers. And when the time of evening drew near and the shadows of night approached, their love of victory overcame the perils of darkness; for neither did they fear the coming of night, being consumed by a greater care, nor would they yield even to the darkness, while they still burned to prevail over the enemy. And unless the bright moon had shown them where the foe was, each man might have struck down his own comrade, thinking him an enemy resisting, and none of either side would have survived except those whom flight had saved. Meanwhile, the English began to grow weary and little by little to think of flight, when they saw that the Danes were resolved either to conquer or to perish to the last man together. For the Danes now seemed to them more numerous and, in that long-continued struggle, the stronger; they truly deemed them stronger, and with good reason, for now, stung by the goads of steel and angered by the fall of their comrades, they seemed rather to rage than to fight. Then the English, turning their backs, fled here and there without delay, falling before their adversaries, and so added glory to the honour of Cnut and his victory, while Edmund their prince fled in shame. Yet though overcome, he withdrew yielding only to the stronger, still not wholly despairing, and entrusted himself to safe places, intending, when he should gather a stronger host, to try again whether by chance fortune might favour him. But the Danes pursued the fugitives not far, for being unfamiliar with the country, they were hindered by the darkness of night. The English, however, knowing the ground well, quickly escaped from their hands, leaving the enemy to the spoils of the slain, and betaking themselves to ignoble refuges.

Recedente vero brumali tempore, tota quadragesima rursus militiam adunavit, et mox post pascales dies regem et Danos a finibus Anglorum deturbare paravit, et veniens cum innumerabili multitudine, eos subito cogitavit invadere. At sermo non latuit Danos, qui puppibus postpositis petunt arida, aptantes se excipere quaeque obvia. Erat namque eis vexillum miri portenti, quod licet credam posse esse incredibile lectori, tamen, quia verum est, verae inseram lectioni. Enimvero dum esset simplissimo candidissimoque intextum serico, nulliusque figurae in eo inserta esset imago, tempore belli semper in eo videbatur corvus ac siintextus, in victoria suorum quasi hians ore excutiensque alas, instabilisque pedibus; et suis devictis quietissimus totoque corpore demissus. Quod requirens Turchil, auctor primi prelii: Pugnemus inquit viriliter, sotii, nihil nobis erit periculi; hoc denique testatur instabilis corvus presagientis vexilli. Quo audito Dani audentiores effecti, ferratisque induviis indurati, occurrunt Anglis in Aesceneduno loco, quod nos Latini montem fraxinorum possumus interpretari. Ibique nondum congressione facta, Edric, quem primum comitum Aedmundi diximus, hec suis intulit affamina: Fugiamus, o sotii, vitamque subtrahamus morti imminenti, alioquin occumbemus ilico; Danorum enim duritiam nosco. Et velato vexillo quod dextra gestabat, dans tergum hostibus magnam partem militum bello fraudabat. Et ut quidam aiunt, hoc non causa egit timoris sed dolositatis, ut postea claruit; quia hoc eum clam Danis promisisse, nescio quo pro beneficio, assertio multorum dicit. Tunc Aedmund hoc intuitus et undique angustiatus: O Angli, inquit, aut hodie bellabitis, aut omnes una in deditionem ibitis. Pugnate ergo pro libertate et patria, viri cordati; hi quippe qui fugiunt, utpote formidolosi, si non abirent, essent impedimento exercitui. Et haec dicens in medios ingreditur hostes, circumquaque caedens Danos, nobiles hoc exemplo suos reddens ad bellandum proniores.

Commissum est ergo prelium pedestre gravissimum, dum Dani, licet pauciores, nescii cedere magis eligerent internetionem quam fugae periculum. Resistunt itaque viriliter, et prelium hora diei nona ceptum ducunt in vesperam, se gladiis haud sponte opponentes, sed gladiorum aculeis voluntarius alios urgentes. Cadunt utriusque partis armati, plus tamen eius quae erat numero eminentiori. At ubi iam advesperante noctis adessent tempora, vincit amor victoriae tenebrarum incommoda, quia neque horrebant tenebras instante cura maiore, neque etiam nocti dignabantur cedere, in hostem tantum dum ardebant prevalere. Et nisi luna clarescens ipsum monstraret hostem, cederet quisque suum commilitonem, ut inimicum resistentem, nullusque utriusque partis superviveret nisi quem fuga salvasset. Interea ceperunt Angli fatigari paulatimque fugam meditari, dum intuentur Danos in hoc conspiratos, quatenus aut vincerent aut usque ad unum omnes una perirent. Videbantur enim eis tunc numerosiores et in tam diutina conflictatione fortiores. Fortiores namque eos estimabant vera suspitione, quia iam stimulis ferri commoniti casuque suorum turbati, magis videbantur sevire quam bellare. Unde Angli terga vertentes, hac et illac fugitant absque mora, semper ante adversarios cadentes, adduntque decus honori Cnutonis et victoriae, decorato Aedmundo fugiente principe. Qui licet devictus valentioribus cedens recederet, tamen adhuc non penitus desperans, tutis se commisit locis, ut demum fortiori multitudine collecta iterum experiretur, si quid forte sibi boni succedere posset. At Dani fugientes non longe sunt persecuti, quia incogniti locorum noctis obscuritate sunt retenti. Angli vero loci non inscii, cito a manibus hostium sunt elapsi, eos relinquentes ad spolia, seseque dantes ad inhonesta refugia.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. Robert (age 66) surpassed all his brothers, who were themselves dukes and counts, in valour, wisdom, and greatness. For he subdued all Apulia, Calabria, and Sicily, and, having crossed the sea, he invaded the greater part of Greece and disgracefully put to flight Emperor Alexios, who had wickedly rebelled against his lord, Emperor Michael, after defeating his immense army in battle¹.

Robertus autem fratres suos, qui omnes duces vel comites fuerunt, virtute et sensu ac sublimitate transcendit. Nam totam Apuliam, Calabriam, ac Siciliam sibi subjugavit et transmeato mari maximam partem Græciæ invasit et Alexium imperatorem, qui contra dominum suum Michaelem Augustum nequiter rebellaverat, bello turpiter cum immenso exercitu victum fugavit.

Note 1. The Battle of Dyrrhachium, 18th October 1081, Robert Guscard defeated Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of Byzantium. Dyrrhachium, now Durrës in Albania, is opposite the heel of Italy. The Alexiad by Anna Comnena: "Then after a little preliminary skirmishing on either side, as Robert was leisurely following his men, and the distance between the armies was by now fairly short, some infantry and cavalry belonging to Amicetas' phalanx dashed out and attacked the extremities of Nabites' line. These however, resisted the attack very stoutly, so the others turned their backs (since they were not all picked men), threw themselves into the sea, and up to their necks in water, made their way to the Roman and Venetian ships and begged them for protection, which they did not receive. And now, as rumour relates, directly Gaïta, Robert's wife (who was riding at his side and was a second Pallas, if not an Athene) saw these soldiers running away, she looked after them fiercely and in a very powerful voice called out to them in her own language an equivalent to Homer's words, 'How far will ye flee? Stand, and quit you like men!' And when she saw they continued to run, she grasped a long spear and at full gallop rushed after the fugitives; and on seeing this they recovered themselves and returned to the fight. Meanwhile the axe-bearing barbarians and their leader Nabites had in their ignorance and in their ardour of battle advanced too quickly and were now a long way from the Roman lines, burning to engage battle with the equally brave Franks, for of a truth these barbarians are no less mad in battle than the Franks, and not a bit inferior to them. But they were already tired out and breathless, Robert noticed, and naturally so he thought, considering their rapid advance, their distance from their own lines and the weight of their weapons, and he ordered some of the foot to make a sudden attack on them. The barbarians having been previously wearied out, proved themselves inferior to the Franks, and thus the whole corps fell; a few escaped and took refuge in the chapel of Michael, the 'Captain of the Host,' as many as could crowded into the chapel itself, and the rest climbed on to the roof, being likely in this way, they imagined, to ensure their safety. But the Latins started a fire and burnt them down, chapel and all. Meanwhile the rest of the Roman army fought on bravely. But Robert like a winged horseman, dashed with his forces against the Roman phalanx, drove it back and split it up into several fragments. Consequently some of his opponents fell fighting in this battle, and others ensured their own safety by flight. But the Emperor Alexius stood fast like an impregnable tower, although he had lost many of his comrades, men pre-eminent for their birth or military skill. For instance, Constantius fell there, the son of the ex-Emperor, Constantine Ducas, not born while his father was still a private man, but born and reared in the purple and deemed worthy formerly by his father of the royal fillet. There fell too Nicephorus by name, but nicknamed Synadenus, a brave and very handsome man who strove to surpass all in fighting on that day. With him the aforementioned Constantius had often spoken about marrying his sister. Nay, Nicephorus the father of Palaeologus, and other well-known men fell too, and Zacharias received a blow in the chest which cost him his life. Aspietes and many other picked men also perished. The battle did not come to an end because the Emperor still maintained his resistance, therefore three of the Latins, one of whom was Amicetas already mentioned, the second Peter, son of Aliphas, as he himself asserted, and a third, not a whit inferior to these two, took long spears in their hands and at full gallop dashed at the Emperor. Amicetas missed the Emperor because his horse swerved a little; the second man's spear the Emperor thrust aside with his sword and then bracing his arm, struck him on the collarbone and severed his arm from his body. Then the third aimed straight at his face, but Alexius being of firm and steadfast mind was not wholly dismayed, but with his quick wit grasped in the flash of an instant the thing to do, and when he saw the blow coming, threw himself backwards on to his horse's tail. Thus the point of the spear only grazed the skin of his face a little and then, hitting against the rim of the helmet, tore the strap under the chin which held it on and knocked it to the ground. After this the Frank rode past the man he thought he had hurled from his horse, but the latter quickly pulled himself up again in his saddle and sat there calmly without having lost a single weapon. And he still clutched his naked sword in his right hand, his face was stained with his own blood, his head was bare, and his ruddy, gleaming hair was streaming over his eyes and worrying him, for his horse in its fright spurned the reins and by its jumping about tossed his curls in disorder over his face; however, he pulled himself together as much as possible and carried on his resistance to his foes. Soon however he saw the Turks fleeing and Bodinus, too, retreating without having fought at all. This ally had donned armour and arranged his army in battle-order and hovered about throughout the day as if to succour the Emperor, if need be, according to their mutual agreement; but evidently he was watching, purposing to help in the attack on the Franks if he saw victory incline to the Emperor; or, in the contrary case, to keep quite still and then beat a retreat. This being his intent, as events proved, directly he perceived that the Franks had gained a complete victory, he rode off home without having struck a single blow. The Emperor, seeing this and not finding any one to help him, turned his back upon the foe and fled. Thus did the Latins beat the Roman army."

The Alexiad by Anna Comnena Book 4 Chapter 6. [18th October 1081] Then after a little preliminary skirmishing on either side, as Robert was leisurely following his men, and the distance between the armies was by now fairly short, some infantry and cavalry belonging to Amicetas' phalanx dashed out and attacked the extremities of Nabites' line. These however, resisted the attack very stoutly, so the others turned their backs (since they were not all picked men), threw themselves into the sea, and up to their necks in water, made their way to the Roman and Venetian ships and begged them for protection, which they did not receive. And now, as rumour relates, directly Gaïta, Robert's wife (who was riding at his side and was a second Pallas, if not an Athene) saw these soldiers running away, she looked after them fiercely and in a very powerful voice called out to them in her own language an equivalent to Homer's words, "How far will ye flee? Stand, and quit you like men!" And when she saw they continued to run, she grasped a long spear and at full gallop rushed after the fugitives; and on seeing this they recovered themselves and returned to the fight. Meanwhile the axe-bearing barbarians and their leader Nabites had in their ignorance and in their ardour of battle advanced too quickly and were now a long way from the Roman lines, burning to engage battle with the equally brave Franks, for of a truth these barbarians are no less mad in battle than the Franks, and not a bit inferior to them. But they were already tired out and breathless, Robert noticed, and naturally so he thought, considering their rapid advance, their distance from their own lines and the weight of their weapons, and he ordered some of the foot to make a sudden attack on them. The barbarians having been previously wearied out, proved themselves inferior to the Franks, and thus the whole corps fell; a few escaped and took refuge in the chapel of Michael, the 'Captain of the Host,' as many as could crowded into the chapel itself, and the rest climbed on to the roof, being likely in this way, they imagined, to ensure their safety. But the Latins started a fire and burnt them down, chapel and all. Meanwhile the rest of the Roman army fought on bravely. But Robert like a winged horseman, dashed with his forces against the Roman phalanx, drove it back and split it up into several fragments. Consequently some of his opponents fell fighting in this battle, and others ensured their own safety by flight. But the Emperor Alexius stood fast like an impregnable tower, although he had lost many of his comrades, men pre-eminent for their birth or military skill. For instance, Constantius fell there, the son of the ex-Emperor, Constantine Ducas, not born while his father was still a private man, but born and reared in the purple and deemed worthy formerly by his father of the royal fillet. There fell too Nicephorus by name, but nicknamed Synadenus, a brave and very handsome man who strove to surpass all in fighting on that day. With him the aforementioned Constantius had often spoken about marrying his sister. Nay, Nicephorus the father of Palaeologus, and other well-known men fell too, and Zacharias received a blow in the chest which cost him his life. Aspietes and many other picked men also perished. The battle did not come to an end because the Emperor still maintained his resistance, therefore three of the Latins, one of whom was Amicetas already mentioned, the second Peter, son of Aliphas, as he himself asserted, and a third, not a whit inferior to these two, took long spears in their hands and at full gallop dashed at the Emperor. Amicetas missed the Emperor because his horse swerved a little; the second man's spear the Emperor thrust aside with his sword and then bracing his arm, struck him on the collarbone and severed his arm from his body. Then the third aimed straight at his face, but Alexius being of firm and steadfast mind was not wholly dismayed, but with his quick wit grasped in the flash of an instant the thing to do, and when he saw the blow coming, threw himself backwards on to his horse's tail. Thus the point of the spear only grazed the skin of his face a little and then, hitting against the rim of the helmet, tore the strap under the chin which held it on and knocked it to the ground. After this the Frank rode past the man he thought he had hurled from his horse, but the latter quickly pulled himself up again in his saddle and sat there calmly without having lost a single weapon. And he still clutched his naked sword in his right hand, his face was stained with his own blood, his head was bare, and his ruddy, gleaming hair was streaming over his eyes and worrying him, for his horse in its fright spurned the reins and by its jumping about tossed his curls in disorder over his face; however, he pulled himself together as much as possible and carried on his resistance to his foes. Soon however he saw the Turks fleeing and Bodinus, too, retreating without having fought at all. This ally had donned armour and arranged his army in battle-order and hovered about throughout the day as if to succour the Emperor, if need be, according to their mutual agreement; but evidently he was watching, purposing to help in the attack on the Franks if he saw victory incline to the Emperor; or, in the contrary case, to keep quite still and then beat a retreat. This being his intent, as events proved, directly he perceived that the Franks had gained a complete victory, he rode off home without having struck a single blow. The Emperor, seeing this and not finding any one to help him, turned his back upon the foe and fled. Thus did the Latins beat the Roman army.

During the night of 18th and 19th October 1216 King John of England (age 49) died at Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire [Map]. His son Henry (age 9) succeeded III King of England.

John Monmouth (age 34) was present.

On his deathbed, John appointed a council of thirteen executors to help Henry reclaim the kingdom and requested that his son be placed into the guardianship of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 70).

King John's will is the earliest English royal will to survive in its original form. The document is quite small, roughly the size of a postcard and the seals of those who were present at the time would have been attached to it. Translation of the will taken from an article by Professor S.D. Church in the English Historical Review, June 2010:

I, John, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, count of Anjou, hindered by grave infirmity and not being able at this time of my infirmity to itemize all my things so that I may make a testament, commit the arbitration and administration of my testament to the trust and to the legitimate administration of my faithful men whose names are written below, without whose counsel, even in good health, I would have by no means arranged my testament in their presence, so that what they will faithfully arrange and determine concerning my things as much as in making satisfaction to God and to holy Church for damages and injuries done to them as in sending succour to the land of Jerusalem and in providing support to my sons towards obtaining and defending their inheritance and in making reward to those who have served us faithfully and in making distribution to the poor and to religious houses for the salvation of my soul, be right and sure. I ask, furthermore, that whoever shall give them counsel and assistance in the arranging of my testament shall receive the grace and favour of God. Whoever shall infringe their arrangement and disposition, may he incur the curse and indignation of almighty God and the blessed Mary and all the saints.

In the first place, therefore, I desire that my body be buried in the church of St Mary and St Wulfstan at Worcester. I appoint, moreover, the following arbiters and administrators: the lord Guala, by the grace of God, cardinal-priest of the title of St Martin and legate of the apostolic see; the lord Peter bishop of Winchester; the lord Richard bishop of Chichester; the lord Silvester bishop of Worcester; Brother Aimery de St-Maur; William Marshal earl of Pembroke; Ranulf earl of Chester; William earl Ferrers; William Brewer; Walter de Lacy and John of Monmouth; Savaric de Mauléon; Falkes de Bréauté.

The signatories were:

Guala Bicchieri (age 66) (ca 1150 - 1227) Papal Legate.

Bishop Peter de Roches, Bishop of Winchester.

Richard le Poer (? - 1237), Bishop of Chichester.

Sylvester of Worcester, Bishop of Worcester.

Aimery de St-Maur (? -?1219), Master of the English Templars.

William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke.

Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln (age 46).

William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby (age 48).

William Brewer (? - 1226), 1st Baron Brewer.

Walter de Lacy (ca 1172-1241) Lord of Meath.

John: (1182 - 1248) Lord of Monmouth.

Savaric de Mauléon (? - 1236) Seneschal of Poitou from 1205.

Falkes de Bréauté (? - 1226) Seneschal of Cardiff Castle.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 18th October 1837. Also, on Saint Lukes daie^c, being Thursdaie, the Prince was proclaymed at the court "Edward, sonne and heire to King Henrie the Eight, Prince of Wales, Duke of Comewall, and Earle of Chester^d." Also the King made that daie tow earles and six knightes, that is to saie: Mr. Fittes Williams, Lord Admirall and Vice-Treasorer, was made Earle of Hampton^e, and the Queenes brother, Viscount Beawchamp, was made Earle of Hertforde^f and Mr. Powlett was made Vice-Treasorer,^a and Sir John Russell, Controler of the Kinges howse, Mr. Henage^b, Mr. Long^c, and Mr. Knevett of the Kinges Privie Chamber, knightes, and Mr. Coffin, and Mr. Listre^d, knightes and Mr. Semer^e, the Queenes brother, knight..

Note c. October 18th.

Note d. This passage would seem to countenance the common account that the infant prince was almost immediately invested with these titles, whereas he himself tells us in his journal that he was only about to be created so when his father died, in which he is confirmed by Burnet, who says that Edward was called Prince of Wales, as the heirs to this crown are, yet he was not invested with that dignity by a formal creation.

Note e. William Fitzwilliam, descended from the ancestor of the present Earl Fitswilliam, was created Earl of Southampton, October 18th, 1537.

Note f. By which title he is known until the accession, in 1547, of his nephew Edward VI. when he was created Duke of Somerset, and was made Lord Protector of the Kingdom.

Note a. Sir William Poulet, Comptroller of the Household, was made Treasurer of the Household in 1587, when the Comptrollership was conferred on Sir John Russell, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, who eventually became first Earl of Bedford.

Note b. Thomas Hennage.

Note c. Richard Long, Master of the Buckhonnds.

Note d. Richard Lister, Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

Note e. The Queen's younger brother, Thomas Seymour.