Activities Quiz

Question 1

Name three ways in which the Anglo-Saxon king was more powerful than his Earls?

Answer 1

. The King made the laws - the Earls had to obey the kings laws as they swear an oath of loyalty on a religious relic.
. The king controlled the production of currency
. The king had the power to give and take away land
. The king had religious authority as he is anointed in a religious ceremony and was believed to be appointed by God
.The king could name and take away an Earls title
. The king commanded the army

Question 2

Why were Thegns important in Anglo-Saxon England?

Answer 2

. Thegns managed local farm holdings, they had to own and oversee a minimum of 5 hides of land, which they would then tax and this tax would go directly to the king.
. Thegns were also the warrior class and would provide soldiers for the local armies - FYRD.

Question 3

Describe one STRENGTH and one WEAKNESS of the Fyrd system for defending Anglo-Saxon England from attack

Answer 3

STRENGTH: Moral and energy would have remained relatively high amongst the armed forces as Thegns only had to spend up to 40 days in the Fyrd, so, this meant they were never away from home/at war for too long.

WEAKNESS: Because of the short period that men were required to fight in the fyrd, strong bonds of loyalty were unlikely to form between men and commanders. Furthermore, it must have been difficult to organise the transfer of old/new men in and out of the fyrd in general but particularly if they were in the middle of an ongoing defensive.

Question 4

Name two aspects of the House of Godwin that made them so powerful?

Answer 4

1. They owned huge swathes of land and had as much wealth as the King.
2. They had family connections and local rulers all over Anglo-Saxon England: Godwin in Wessex, Tostig in Northumbria and political marriages connecting them to Mercia
3. Because the Godwins were lords over so much territory, this also made them lords & military generals to hundreds of Thegns (soldiers) - making them powerful war leaders.

Question 5

When did Harold become Earl of Wessex?

Answer 5

1053

Question 6

When did Tostig become Earl of Northumbria?

Answer 6

1055

Question 7

When was the uprising against Tostig?

Answer 7

1065

Question 8

Suggest three reasons why Harold went against the wishes of King Edward during the rising against Tostig?

Answer 8

1. He saw Tostig as a rival to the throne. By ousting Tostig, he eliminated him as a rival.
2. If Harold was to become king, he’s need a united kingdom to hold off foreign threats. If the country wasn’t united, it would weaken England’s defences.
3. The Northumbrian’s choice of Morcar, a southerner, to be an Earl probably pleased Harold. He was someone he could work with.

Question 9

When did Edward the Confessor die?

Answer 9

5th January 1066

Question 10

Who were the claimants to the throne after the death of Edward, where were they from and what was their claim to the throne?

Answer 10

1. Harold Godwinson
   - Earl of Wessex
   * Married to Edwards sister/most powerful man in England/claims Edward promised him the throne on his deathbed/had been the king’s right-hand-man for many years
2. Edgar Aethling
   - Hungary (in exile)/England
   * Edward the Confessors nephew = direct descendant
3. William of Normandy
   - Normandy, France
   * Claims Edward made an agreement in 1051, promising him the throne. (supposedly confirmed by Harold’s embassy in 1064)/ Obtained pope’s backing which gave him popular support for an invasion
4. Harald Hardrada
   - King of Norway
   * Based on a secret deal, made between other vikings

Question 11

When was the Battle of Gate Fulford?

Answer 11

20th September 1066

Question 12

How many miles did Harold’s troop march in 5 days when he heard news of the viking invasion in the North in September 1066?

Answer 12

185 miles in 5 days!

Question 13

Who won the Battle of Gate Fulford and why?

Answer 13

Harold Hardrada and Tostig.

Edwin and Morcar, the Earl of Northumbria were outnumbered in terms of troops and ships. They chose to defend the city from outside the city walls which made them more vulnerable and they stained their men in front of a marsh so when they went to retreat, they got stuck in the marshes.

Question 14

How many men were Edwin and Morcar outnumbered by?

Answer 14

6000-10,000!

Question 15

Where did Harold Godwinson immediately station troops after his coronation and why?

Answer 15

Along the south coast of England, because he expected an imminent invasion from William of Normandy.

Question 16

When was the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

Answer 16

25th September 1066?

Question 17

Who won the Battle of Stamford Bridge and why?

Answer 17

Hostages were planned to be delivered to Harald and Tostig on the Bridge. Whilst waiting for their hostages, Harold Godwinson launched a surprise, undetected attack from the hill overlooking the bridge. Both Harald Hardrada and Tostig were killed.

. The vikings were also tired from the previous battle, unarmed at the time, and their shield wall was broken by Harold’s housecarls.

Question 18

When did news reach King Harold of William’s arrival on the South coast?

Answer 18

1st October 1066.

Question 19

Who was the Earl of Northumbria at the time of the Battle of Gate Fulford?

Answer 19

Earl Morcar

Question 20

What was the name of Earl Morcar’s older brother?

Answer 20

Edwin