WakeHereward Project
Forgotten hero..
Freedom fighter..
Legend..
%20yellowing%2C%20browning%20around%20the%20edges%2C%20torn.jpg)
Who Was Hereward the Wake?
Hereward the Wake was a famous Anglo-Saxon rebel who led a resistance against William the Conqueror and the Norman invaders in the 11th century. Born around 1044, one source says Hereward was the son of a noble family from Bourne, Lincolnshire. Known for his strength, bravery, and tactical skills, Hereward’s early life was marked by a rebellious streak. By the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, he had already been exiled for causing trouble and fighting against local authorities.
​
​
%20yellowing%2C%20browning%20around%20the%20edges%2C%20torn.jpg)
Rebel Leader of the Fens
When William the Conqueror became King of England after defeating King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, many Anglo-Saxons lost their land to Norman lords. Hereward returned to England and became a leader in the struggle to resist the Normans. He gathered an army in the Fens, a region of marshland, and made his base at Ely, which was difficult for the Normans to reach.
%20yellowing%2C%20browning%20around%20the%20edges%2C%20torn.jpg)
The Siege of Ely
In 1070, Hereward and his men launched daring raids against Norman-held towns and fortresses. His most famous raid was on the wealthy Peterborough Abbey, where he took treasures before the Normans could seize them. As his legend grew, so did the size of his army, with local men and exiled nobles joining his cause. The Normans struggled to capture Ely, as the terrain made it hard for them to fight back. However, in 1071, the Normans finally built a causeway to cross the marshes and besieged Ely,
Hereward Vanishes into Legend
After the fall of Ely in 1071, most of the rebels were captured, but Hereward escaped with a small group of his men. His fate remains a mystery. According to one legend, Hereward continued his resistance from a hideout in the dense Brunneswald Forest, only to be ambushed and killed by Norman soldiers. Another story suggests that he made peace with William the Conqueror and lived the rest of his days in peace, possibly being buried alongside his wife, Torfrida, at Crowland Abbey. His true end remains part of the legend that surrounds him.
