Gathering of the descendants of the Compagnons of William the Conqueror in Dives-sur-Mer, 21 August 2011

William the Conqueror and his Conquest of England

In 1066 William the Bastard prepared his armies in Normandy on the estuary of the River Dives to set out to conquer England. On the 12th September, the fleet sailed from Dives-sur-mer to arrive at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, where he and his “Compagnons” camped for three weeks before crossing to Pevensey on the south coast of England. The Battle of Hastings against King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army was fought on the 14th October 1066 on the site of what is now the Town of Battle. The victorious William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on 25th December of that year.

Every year, the Town of Battle holds a reenactment of the battle and the Town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme organizes celebrations of William. In 2011 the Town of Dives-sur-mer intends to reclaim its page in history by organizing numerous events to mark the 1100th anniversary of the creation of Normandy at the Treaty of Saint- Clair-on-Epte in the year 911.

The highlight of these festivities will be on the 20th and 21st August. In particular, on Sunday the 21st, an ecumenical service will be held at the church of Dives-sur-mer in memory of William the Conqueror and his “Compagnons” and of all who fell in the Battle of Hastings. The ceremony will include descendants of William’s “Compagnons” and personalities from England and from the towns of Saint Valery sur Somme and Dives-sur-mer.

Two-day festival organized by the town in partnership with la Ruée vers l’Art (the Art Rush)

- 4 Viking companies on the estuary of the river with the arrival of a flagship
All Viking ways of life: weaving, making Viking coinage, weapons and chainmail, working bone objects and Viking glass, knitting, building Drakkar sails…/Nordic farm: woolly pigs and four-horned sheep… Flagship operation, scene of plundering along the river Dives, exchange of prisoners, ransoms which will be handed over/ Viking medieval market, cooking on the spot/ Evening activities: telling tales and legends.
- Camp of the eleventh century and its way of life around the churchMedieval market: weaving, clothing, weapons/ Norse games, Viking and eleventh century/ battle preparation/Evening activities/Street shows: troubadours, jugglers, minstrels/ Traditional ball/ medieval tavern.
- August 21th: Gathering of the descendants of William’s companions
Ecumenical service in honor of William, Matilda and his companions, King Harold and all those who fought at Hastings in 1066/ Ceremony by Father Lefèbvre in front of numerous personalities/ Medieval Banquet (reservation required).

You are a descender of William the Conqueror ?

If you or your family are descendants of William’s companions, please make yourselves known to us at the Syndicat d'Initiative of Dives-sur-mer. We would be honoured to welcome you in our town on Sunday, 21st August 2011.

It is planned that the programme of events will in particular include a mediaeval banquet in the Town’s ancient Market Hall, accompanied by the presence of minstrels, jugglers, fire eaters, etc.

Please contact us at :

syndicat-initiative@dives-sur-mer.fr

Photos taken during the reconstruction of the Battle of Hastings 14th October 2010.
Several groups involved in those celebrations will participate in the 2011 festivities at Dives-sur-mer
Translation : Many thanks to John Bethell and Emilie Vornières