1.1 how defensible was Wessex in 871? Flashcards

1
Q

What’s a fyrd?

A

A form of military, mostly voluntary that can be called upon when needed.

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2
Q

Shires meaning?
Who ran them and who did they report to?

A

Local districts with their own councils to run them, reported to the king.

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3
Q

Ealdormen meaning?

A

Very high rank in society, basically nobles. Large land holders.

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4
Q

Thegn meaning?

A

High rank, below ealdormen and reeves, owned land and led armies for ealdormen and the king.

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5
Q

How is England divided? What were the 4 key ones. Overall, England…

A

Kingdoms, Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex and East Anglia. …doesn’t exist yet.

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6
Q

How were there struggles between kingdoms?

A

Mercian supremacy had been established by Offa, but after he died, Mercia fell into a decline.

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7
Q

How did Wessex maintaining their borders for many years benefit them?

A

Wessex was one of the wealthiest Southern Kingdoms.

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8
Q

How was the economy evolving fast?

A

Coinage is developed in many kingdoms, particularly under Offa.

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9
Q

What does coins being found in Mercia indicate?
Why is this significant?

A

They participated in global trade. There were no cities, but coastal ministers provided sites for markets.

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10
Q

Most artistic developments are associated with…?

A

The Church

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11
Q

What was known for being made of gold and gemstones? Where were they produced?

A

Illuminated manuscripts, produced at monasteries.

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12
Q

What 3 factors impacted Wessex’s defensibility?

A

Alfred himself, the enemy, Wessex itself

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13
Q

How many siblings did Alfred have? Who were the key ones?
(alfred himself)

A

5: Aethelbald, Aethelwulf, Aethelred.

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14
Q

What happened to Alfred between 853-855? What does this suggest? (2)
(alfred himself)

A

He was sent to Rome to have a spiritual experience. He’s intelligent, but not as valuable.

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15
Q

Who was originally meant to inherit after Alfred’s father? How likely was Alfred to become King?
(alfred himself)

A

Aethelwulf, very unlikely.

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16
Q

What did Aethelbald do in 855 when Alfred and his father went to Rome?
(alfred himself)

A

Schemed to stop his father.

17
Q

What happened as a consequence to Wessex after Aethelwulf’s death?
(alfred himself)

A

Wessex would be permanently split.

18
Q

Aethelbald inherited but died in in 865, what was Alfred worried would happen when his brother Aethelred became king?
(alfred himself)

A

He would be side-lined.

19
Q

What did Alfred ask Aethelred for? What did he say?
(alfred himself)

A

A fair share of their fathers property, Alfred should gain all of their fathers possessions once Alfred became king.

20
Q

What would happen if Alfred outlived his brother? Why?
(alfred himself)

A

Cause Alfred considerable challenges to his authority - the surviving brother is to pass the position of King to his own children (not nephews-children of brother who died first is to be looked after by surviving brother).

21
Q

What future problems would challenges to Alfred’s authority cause?
(alfred himself)

A

Aethelred and Aethelbald would oppose Alfred - KINGS RULE BY CONSENT.

22
Q

What battle did Aethelred and Alfred fight in 871? What was the outcome?
(alfred himself)

A

Battle of Ashdown, won but at a bad cost.

23
Q

Geographical strength of Wessex itself?
(wessex itself)

A

Fryds belonged to different shires which were led by individual ealdormen.

24
Q

Military strength of Wessex itself?
(wessex itself)

A

Alfred successfully fought at a battle at Edington with fyrds drawn from Somerset, Wilshire and Hampshire. Raised 4000 warriors.

25
Q

Political strength of Wessex itself?
(wessex itself)

A

Alfred was left as sole ruler after Aethelred’s death, united defence>easily coordinated.

26
Q

Geographical weakness of Wessex itself?
(wessex itself)

A

Wessex was a divided territory after Aethelwulf dies in 858. This leads to an inevitable divided defence.

27
Q

Political weakness of Wessex itself?
(wessex itself)

A

Lack of previous unity>forced Alfred to look for better methods for running his kingdom, defined Anglo-Saxon history long after his death.

28
Q

Military weakness of Wessex itself?
(wessex itself)

A

Fyrds belonged to shires, shires had localised conflicts. Would often strike deals with opponents to avoid taking too much damage e.g. in Wiltshire during a Viking attack.

29
Q

What were Viking’s considered as before 865? How did their strategy change? E.g?…
(the enemy)

A

Pirates, obtaining as much wealth (at minimum risk) to gaining territory. E.g they targeted churches (wealthy and no defence) to attacking Northumbria first.

30
Q

What happened between 865-868? Why is it hard to know the full details? What does this make difficult?
(the enemy)

A

Every kingdom EXCEPT WESSEX came under control of the Danes(vikings), kingdom left no records -hard to understand why Anglo-Saxons found it hard to defend themselves from Vikings.

31
Q

What was important for the success of Viking raids? (2)
(the enemy)

A

Horses and ships

32
Q

What did the Viking ships make it possible for them to do? Why did this help in winter?
(the enemy)

A

Landing on islands, they could defeat them.

33
Q

Why was the Vikings ability to carry horses advantageous?
(the enemy)

A

They could go straight to the islands.

34
Q

Why was the Vikings “hit and run” tactic effective? (2)
(the enemy)

A

The anglo-saxons weren’t able to organise and defend themselves in time.
They were slow and had no permanent military.

35
Q

What caused a change in the “hit and run” tactic? What was this designed to be?
(the enemy)

A

The Great Heathen Army 865 (anti-christian). Designed to be highly mobile and unpredictable.

36
Q

Who had the Vikings previously targeted? Why did the Vikings struggle to attack here after 862?
(the enemy)

A

Kingdom of West Frankia. King Alfred built bridges, fortified towns and abbeys.

37
Q

Which 2 kingdoms did the Great Heathen Army attack first?
(the enemy)

A

Kent and East Anglia

38
Q

What did the Great Heathen Army get from King Edmund of East Anglia? (3) Why was one of these a bad decision? This leads to the Vikings now being more?…
(the enemy)

A

Food, money and horses.
Horses=they’re more mobile. Vikings are now more powerful.

39
Q

Why was Wessex more fortunate?
What did Wessex do, that other kingdoms did not, to survive? (2)
(the enemy)

A

Conquest of Northern England (they targeted north to south).
Built buhrs, taxed their people more.