Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

The city of Winchester was the capital of Wessex as well as a cathedral town of which Stigand was bishop, in addition to being archbishop of Canterbury. Thus when William the Conqueror made his great, sweeping march around London, laying waste the land, the surrender of Winchester was important both because it was the capital of the late earl of Wessex and king of England, Harold Godwinsson, but also because of its ecclesiastical importance.

See also: Harold Godwinsson; Stigand; Wessex; William the Conqueror

Related Reading:

• Hastings 1066 (Revised Edition)- The Fall of Saxon England
  (Campaign 13 )