8.1 how was edgar able to rule with such stability Flashcards
Who was Edgar the son of?
What happened when Edgar’s father died?
What happened to Eadwig?
Edmund
Fostered by Aethelstan, couldn’t rule straight away because Edgar was too young>Eadwig (Edmund’s eldest son), was made king
Died in 959>Edgar becomes king
What 3 key developments happen between Eadwig’s reign? (955-959)
- 956 Eadwig promoted ealdorman on ability, rather than blood
- Dunstan (reformer promoted by Edmund) was expelled by Eadwig for dishonesty
- 957 Northumbrians and Mercians switched their support from Eadwig to Edgar
How has Edgar’s character been described?
According to John of Worcester, Edgar is a peacemaker as most of his reign was smooth (no civil war or dynastic crisis).
No challenge between 954-980 from the Vikings
Firm ruler>peace
What are Edgar’s 3 law codes?
I Edgar
II-III Edgar
IV Edgar
What did I Edgar formalised?
What was it designed to do?
Formalised the use of Hundreds and general admin
Designed to make an efficient stable local governing system
What did the laws in II-II Edgar protect?
What idea did it introduce? (2)
Overall, what is this law about?
The rights of churches, showing an interest in monastic reform
‘Innocent until proven guilty’
Put severe punishments to false accusations, theft, selling of false goods
Fairness
What does IV Edgar deal with?
What does it explain?
What does this law code show?
Misfortunes, God’s will and administritive efficiency
The legal punishments for those with duties, but who treated them with irresponsibility
Shows that Edgar believed that administration, order and God were all linked
In what 3 ways does Edgar use governance to maintain stability?
Define each
Charters- grant of rights
Shipsoke- navy
Coinage- Edgar is the first major reformer of coinage since Alfred
How many charters were issued in Edgar’s reign?
When were most issued?
What do charters tell us?
60+
959-963
Role of certain individuals
What is always attatched to each charter?
What do these confirm? Example?
What does this tell us about the power of the Church?
Witness lists=people that have to approve a charter
Key figures in Edgars’s administration were bishops, abbots (40 mentioned), ealdormen and thegns e.g. Dunstan (Archbishop of York)
They are powerful and can interfere with states
How can shipsokes be measured?
Equating to a geographical area of 3 Hundres
When Edgar reformed the Church, what did he do with the Bishop of Worcester (Oswald)? Example?
What did this mean for landowners within the area?
Oswald was given special privileges and rights e.g. control of shipsokes
Landowners became tenants of the Church
What did Edgar do to the shipsoke?
What impact did this have on the navy?
Formalised it and made it more widespread
Strengthened the navy- its now expanded and there is less threats for Edgar
What can be assumed about the introduction of the shipsoke in key areas?
How did this impact who nobles answered to? (2)
What was the short and long term impact of shipsoke?
Relationship between senior members was altered
Nobles believed they were unanswerable to the bishop/archbishop (bishops got power from shipsoke)
Nobles aren’t happy because they have to answer to the Church
Short-term=beneficial
Long-term=grudge
When was a single currency in England organised?
What was the value of a coin?
How did they create ‘small change’
970-973
A days labour on land
Pennies were cut in half or quarters=’clippings’
