8.2 1066 and the battle for the English Crown

Question 1

What type of soldiers did Harold Godwinson have?

Answer 1

Housecarls

Thegns

Fyrd

Question 2

What type of soldiers did William use?

Answer 2

Mercernaries

Question 3

How did William highlight he had God’s support, making this war a holy war?

Answer 3

Papal Banner

Question 4

How many ships did William have?

Answer 4

600-700

Question 5

How many men were in William’s army?

Answer 5

7000

Question 6

What were the different types of soldiers in William’s army?

Answer 6

cavalry and archers

Question 7

How many horses in William’s army?

Answer 7

3000

Question 8

What else did William prepare?

Answer 8

The Normans also arranged materials for building castles before they landed
in England. For example, they prepared all the timbers to the correct sizes
and all the bolts needed to fit them together.

Question 9

How did the Summer affect Harold?

Answer 9

Through the summer Harold’s army waited. Keeping an army fed was
extremely expensive. Many of his fyrd needed to return to gather the
harvest. They were sent home. Most of the fleet was dismissed.

Question 10

Where did Hadrada arrive in England?

Answer 10

Harald Hardraada joined forces with Tostig Godwinson and landed at Ricall near York

Question 11

What were the Vikings first battle in England and against whom? What was the outcome?

Answer 11

They defeated English earls Edwin and

Morcar on 20 September 1066 at the Battle of Fulford. The Vikings captured York.

Question 12

To fight the Vikings how far did Harold travel?

Answer 12

Harold regathered his army and marched north incredibly quickly (190 miles in 4 days).

Question 13

After the success what did the Vikings do?

Answer 13

On 25 September, part of Hardraada’s army was on its way to collect tribute (payments) and hostages from local leaders. As it was a hot day they had left their mail shirts behind.

Question 14

Who won the battle of Stamford Bridge and why?

Answer 14

Harold’s army surprised them at Stamford Bridge. He won a stunning victory. Hardraada and Tostig were killed.

Question 15

After their loss at Stamford, how many ships returned to Scandinavia?

Answer 15

The Vikings returned with 24 out of 300 ships and promised not to attack again.

Question 16

Why was Pevensey a perfect place for the Normans to erect their Motte and Bailey Castle at?

Answer 16

Pevensey had an old Roman fort and a large bay so was a perfect landing
spot.

Question 17

What course of action did the Normans take after building a castle at Pevensey?

Answer 17

The Normans quickly built a castle at Pevensey and others rode twelve miles to Hastings and built a castle there.

Question 18

To reach William how far did Harold travel?

Answer 18

Harold quickly marched to London (200 miles in four to five davs).

Question 19

When was the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 19

William knew Harold was coming and expected a surprise attack. His army
rode out to meet Harold’s on the morning of 14 October.

Question 20

Where did Harold set up his base in battle day?

Answer 20

Senlac Ridge/Hill

Question 21

What formations did the Saxons take?

Answer 21

Shield Wall

Question 22

How did the Shield wall break?

Answer 22

Feigned retreat caused the inexperienced fyrd to break formation and create gap where the infantry and cavalry could target.

Question 23

How Harold killed?

Answer 23

Arrow to the eye

Hacked to pieces

Question 24

What type of ships did William make?

Answer 24

Flat-bottom

Question 25

What is the ratio for horse to knight for the Normans?

Answer 25

3 horses for every knight

Question 26

How big was William army?

Answer 26

7000-8000 men

Question 27

How were Williams horses trained?

Answer 27

They were warhorses which could run, kick and bite.

Question 28

From what age were William knight trained?

Answer 28

Most from early as age 7 to 10 (as a squire)

Question 29

What is a conroy?

Answer 29

• Norman knights
• train groups of 10 as unit together
• creates an effective force which are used to working together and have experience with each other
• therefore gonfanon works

Question 30

What is Williams white flag system called?

Answer 30

Gonfanon

Question 31

What tactic did the Vikings use in the Battle of Fulford Gate?

Answer 31

Shield Wall

Question 32

What were the elite soldiers of Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 32

Housecarls

Question 33

What did the Anglosaxon soldiers fight with and how did they fight with them?

Answer 33

Double handed axes, swinging them in a figure of 8.

Question 34

Who are the elite Viking soldiers?

Answer 34

Berserkers

Question 35

Who lost the battle of Fulford Gate?

Answer 35

Edwin (earl of Mercia) and Morcar (earl of Northumbria)

Question 36

How many Anglo-Saxons did the lone Viking berserker kill before being stabbed in the groin by an Anglo-Saxon in a barrel travelling under the brigde?

Answer 36

40

Question 37

What did Hadrada carry to rally up the Vikings at Fulford Gate and Stamford Bridge?

Answer 37

Raven Banner

Question 38

If Harold had not went straight to William, how would he have benefitted?

Answer 38

The potential to gather 30,000 reinforcements

Question 39

What does William fake boosting the morale of his men?

Answer 39

His own death, claims God had brought him back

Question 40

How many times do the Normans use the feign retreat?

Answer 40

1

Question 41

How badly was Harold Godwinson killed?

Answer 41

Rumoured his entire body was mangled that only his mistress could identify him though a birth mark.

Question 42

Why did Hereward target William?

Answer 42

Normans killed his brother and used the head as a decoration for the front of the house, Hereward exchanged the head for 3 Norman earls