1.1 The Succession Crises In 1066 Flashcards
Who was the first King to control all of England?
Aethelstan
When did Aethelstan rule?
924-939
Tell me about England before it United
It has been a collection of territories rule by angle or Saxon Chiefs
They started to unite under Alfred the great in the ninth century
What was England’s economy based on
Agriculture, also came from trade in wool and natural mineral resources sucks as iron, lead and copper
Why and when did the Vikings invade
England’s wealth made it attractive to Viking invaders who raided and then settled in the NORTH of England in the eleventh century
Where did the Vikings come from
Norway, Sweden and Denmark (Scandinavia)
Who were the Vikings/ what were they like
They were skilled sailors who travelled long distances to find natural resources that were scarce at home.
What was the Vikings inheritance system like
Meant that a mans land was divided between all his sons
This meant that holdings got smaller and smaller so the Vikings were looking for places to settle
What was Normandy like in the eleventh century
Was an independent country and ruled by a duke
What were the Normans like in 1050’s
They were descended from Vikings (Norsemen) who has settled in 911 due to its wealth of resources,
They gradually became known as Normans and established and settled a wealthy community and always trying to expand community.
Tell me about the Christian church in the 1050’s
Religious belief was very strong and the Catholic Church dominated Western Europe - priests among every village
Head of church was based in Rome and the pope has a huge influence over Europe - had strong political influence too
How do we know about Norman England?
The conquest was a significant event and was written a lot about - however not always accurate favoured William or hated him.
What key event happened in 1016
Aethelred the unready (English) dies and Canute (Viking) becomes king
What key event happens in 1017
Aethelreds widow Emma (English) marries Canute
What key event happened in 1035
Canute dies
What key event happens in 1035-1040
Harold harefoots reign
What key event happens in 1040-1042
Harthacanutes reign
What key event happens in 1042
Edward the confessor becomes king
What key event happens in 1051
Godwin family is exiled
What key event happens in late 1050’s
Harold proclaimed sub-regulus
What key event happens in 1066 - January
Edward the confessor dies
Was England a rich country - how so?
Yes it has fertile farming land, rich mineral resources, wool trade farming, English towns good source of taxes, Christian country
^all this made it very effective for invaders
How did England deal with constant raids from the Vikings
They would pay the Vikings to leave
The payment were called DANEGELD
How did the Normans keep some influence on England
Richard the duke of Normandy forced Emma (aethelreds widow) to marry Canute
How did Canute marrying Emma benefit him
Marrying the previous kings widow was some way appeasing to the English
How did Canute divide England
Into 4 earldoms which were:
Wessex, Northumbria, Mercia and east Anglia
What were the earls like under canutes reign
Most powerful men in country after Canute, the earl of Wessex (earl Godwin) was the most powerful of the four earls
What was Edward the confessors path to throne like
Canute died, his sons harefoot and harthacanute has short reigns - harthacanute was preoccupied with problems in Denmark or ill
So he invited Edward (Emma’s son and his half brother) to England
Edward appointed harthacanutes successor and won support of earls, was crowned King on 3 April 1043
What was Edward like?
He had only been a child when Vikings invaded England, he had escaped to Normandy and raised in Norman court so respected the Norman ways of life
What were the relations like with edward and the Godwin family
Edward married earl godwins daughter Edith, but in 1051 the godwins rebelled but Edward survived with support of Northumbria and Mercia and exiled the Godwin family in 1051
Why was the Godwin family allowed to come back
The English advisors, the Witan encouraged Godwin and his army to come back, they forced Edward to expel Norman advisors from his court and to restore Godwin to his previous privileged position.
What did Edward turn out to be like as a ruler
A weake ruler, he took less interest year by year in goverining England , he preferred to focus on religion
Tell me 2 key point about 11 th century England’s
Vikings, Normans, earls of Wessex all interested in ruling England (think about 1066!!)
That when a king died it was not straight forward to who would be next kind
What did the English want in a King
A relative of a previous King
Supported by English losers and church
Wealthy and powerful enough to protect country from foreign attack
Who were the four men that believed they had s right to the throne in 1066
Edgar Aetheling
Harald hardrada
Harold godwinson
William duke of Normandy
Why did Edgar Aetheling deserve the throne
He was the nearest relative and Edgar’s grandfather was Edwards half brother
Had been named Edwards successor in 1056
However only 14 in 1066 and has no money, soldiers, military experience
Why did harald hardrada deserve the throne
He was king of Norway in 1046+
King harthacanute made agreement with Magnus King of Norway if he died before Magnus did he would be King but when harthacanute died Magnus was too busy defending lands In Norway so Edward took the throne
When Magnus died in 1046 harald became king of Norway and believed he should also be King of England because of agreement
By 1066 hardrada was an experience ruler
Had support of tostig godwinson (Harold godwinsons brother)
Why did William duke of Normandy deserve the throne
William was a distant cousin of Edward - but relationship flawed due to William being an illegitimate son
Wessex and Normandy has been allies since 988, traded and helped each other face threats such as Vikings
- relationship blessed by the pope
When Edward has rebellion from Godwins William sent soldiers to protect Edward, in exchange it appears Edward said William would inherit throne
Normans also clammed Harold godwinson had visited Normandy in 1064 and swore under oath to support Williams Claim to throne
William was a capable ruler in Normandy
Why did Harold godwinson deserve Throne
Was Edwards brother in law
Very powerful family however had previously tried to rebel against Edward
Harold inherited fathers earldom in 1053 making him the richest man of England
In final years of Edwards reign, Harold acted as sub-regulus
Was a skilful military leader eg, so smiled when King gruffydd of Wales threatened he organised defence that gruffydd killed by his own men
English lords supported him
Edwards dying wish was for Harold to become log apparently he said “I commend all the kingdom to your protection”
What were the English customs to naming s successor
The English regarded the King dying wish / last words as more important than any other promise before
Only way an earlier promise was stronger was if it was “kept” so has named successor and shared throne from that point on
What were the Norman customs to naming a successor
Any promise seen as final and could not be undone later even on deathbed
When did Edward the confessor die
5th January 1066
Who was first crowned king of England
Harold Godwinson
What made Harold seem insecure about England
He was hurriedly crowned - 1 day away Edwards death
Haste reflected his insecure he felt
He knew he would face challenges from other claimants
