东英格兰大学的研究提出新论证，认为英格兰国王哈罗德在11世纪60年代的宗教政治选择，可能导致其在1066年的诺曼征服中失去教宗支持。[1]
1061年西方基督教发生分裂，分别拥戴亚历山大二世和帕尔玛主教卡达鲁斯（霍诺留斯二世）两位对立的教宗。[1]根据该研究发现的一份失传教宗信件残片，亚历山大二世曾表述"人民被撒旦之骄傲所激发"，指控英格兰背离了"真理之路"。[1]中世纪历史学教授汤姆·利桑斯通过新著《哈罗德：战士国王》发表了这项研究成果。[1]
研究表明，教宗可能因英格兰支持其宗教对手而选择支持威廉的入侵，而非仅基于哈罗德所发誓言的争议。[1]当哈罗德于1066年1月成为国王后，英格兰与罗马教廷的关系可能随之发生转变。[1]这表明诺曼征服的最终结果既受到哈斯廷斯战场的军事因素影响，也受到罗马宗教政治决策的深刻影响。[1]
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have uncovered a fragment of a lost papal letter suggesting that King Harold of England backed the wrong faction in a 11th-century religious power struggle, potentially costing him the support of Pope Alexander II and contributing to the Norman Conquest of 1066.[1] The discovery indicates that the outcome of that pivotal year was shaped not only by the Battle of Hastings but also by religious political decisions made in Rome.[1]
A schism in Western Christianity divided the papacy in 1061, creating rival factions supporting Pope Alexander II and Cadalus, the Bishop of Parma (also known as Honorius II).[1] A letter attributed to Pope Alexander II expressed that "people were inspired by the pride of Satan," suggesting England had strayed from "the path of truth," according to the research.[1] Following Harold's ascension to the English throne in January 1066, the kingdom's relationship with the papacy may have shifted.[1] The pontiff could have supported William's invasion not merely because of disputes over Harold's oath, but potentially in retaliation for England's backing of his papal rival.[1]
The research was conducted by Tom Licence, a professor of medieval history at the University of East Anglia, and published in his new book Harold: Warrior King through Yale University Press.[1]