1066 and all that...

Question 1

What was the name of the king who died in January 1066?

Answer 1

Edward the Confessor.

Question 2

What was the name of the Anglo-Saxon royal council of powerful men who were given the job of choosing the new king in 1066?

Answer 2

The Witan.

Question 3

Who became king after Edward the Confessor’s death?

Answer 3

Harold Godwinson - the Earl of Wessex, was immediately crowned king by the Witan after Edward’s death.

Question 4

Who attacked in the north east?

Answer 4

Harald Hardrada, the king of Norway invaded the north east.

Question 5

What did Harold Godwinson do when Hardrada attacked?

Answer 5

Godwinson went north with his army and defeated Hardrada at the battle of Stamford Bridge.

Question 6

Who then invaded in the south?

Answer 6

William of Normandy.

Question 7

What did Harold Godwinson do when William attacked?

Answer 7

He went south to defend the country but was defeated at the Battle of Hastings.

Question 8

How did luck help William win in the battle of Hastings?

Answer 8

He had to wait for the wind to change to cross the sea from France to England - he got the right wind while Godwinson was in the north fighting Hardrada!

He was lucky that Godwinson was killed during the battle - maybe with an arrow to the eye?

Question 9

How did William’s skill help him win the battle of Hastings?

Answer 9

He tricked the English into chasing after him and his men from a high position by pretending to run away. This meant the English lost their strategic advantage of being high up and William could then take advantage of his cavalry to turn the tide in the battle.

Question 10

How did preparation help William to win the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 10

William planned for the invasion well - cutting and drying wood to build ships, making armour and weapons for his men and bringing their own supplies of food.

He also built strong defensive positions, using motte and bailey castles, to prepare for the battle of Hastings.

Question 11

What type of castles did William start building to keep an eye on the Anglo-Saxons?

Answer 11

Motte and Bailey castles.

Question 12

Why did William have to control Dover castle?

Answer 12

Because he didn’t want to leave the enemy behind him and he needed reinforcements to be able to land there from Normandy.

Question 13

When the nobles in London did not surrender immediately, what did William do?

Answer 13

William destroyed property and murdered many people in the counties surrounding London.

Question 14

Did William’s use of fear and violence work?

Answer 14

Yes:

1. Winchester (which was then the capital) surrendered.
2. William was crowned king.
3. William began building castles to protect his barons and help them keep control of the surrounding area.
4. In 1067, William felt so secure that he returned home to Normandy for a short time.

Question 15

What happened in the north between 1069-70?

Answer 15

The north rose in rebellion, so William ordered the ‘Harrying of the North’ - William and his men destroyed, burnt and murdered in a sweep across the country between York and Durham.

Question 16

Who was another rebel leader in East Anglia who rose up against William?

Answer 16

Hereward the Wake.

Question 17

What happened to Hereward the Wake?

Answer 17

He was bought off! William paid him to be loyal.

Question 18

Why did William use Motte and Bailey castles? Give three reasons.

Answer 18

1. They were made of wood – so there was plenty of materials around to make them.
2. They were fast to put up and only took under two weeks to build.
3. They were enclosed and built on a mound of earth about 12 metres high, so were well guarded and difficult to attack.

Question 19

How did William manage to rule the whole country as a new king?

Answer 19

He established the feudal system: He granted much land, as a reward, to those Normans that had fought with him. They then passed land down to the Knights, who passed land down to the peasants.