Anglo Saxon and Norman England, 1060-1086 Flashcards
1
Q
How was the Anglo Saxon society structured?
A
Slaves > Ceorls > Peasants > Thegns > Earls > King
2
Q
What were the powers of Anglo Saxon earls? What were their limitations?
A
- Had a lot of Economic, Military and legal power sometimes enough to even challenge the king
3
Q
What were the strengths and weaknesses of a Anglo Saxon king?
A
Strengths - Respected law maker, Religious, Military power
Weaknesses - Half of England was split up, Did not have most of the power in England
4
Q
How was Anglo-Saxon legal system
A
- ‘Blood Feuds’ occurred when a victim’s family hunted down a criminal to get revenge.
- The Wergild was introduced to prevent blood feuds: a victim’s family would receive final compensation from the criminal and his family.
5
Q
How was the the Anglo-Saxon government organized
A
- The Witan was a council of earls and bishops that advised the king on issues of government
- The Shire Reeve (sheriff) represented the King in each shire, they had to collect revenue from the King’s land, land tax called the ‘geld’, and collect court fines.
6
Q
Describe the Anglo Saxon economy
A
- Wool was the main export
- Eastern England was better suited to growing crops with lots of flour and grain produced.
- Anglo saxon towns were known as trading hubs
- However villages were mainly farming land and some trading
7
Q
Role of the church in Anglo Saxon society
A
- The Church was organised into large areas, each controlled by a Bishop who were rich and important.
- Religion was very important to every day life. People were worried about what would happen to them when they died, so the Church was very important.
8
Q
Events of the death of Edward the Confessor
A
- Edward the Confessor and his wife Edith of Wessex had no children meaning they had no heir to pass on the title of king to
- It is likely that Edward made different promises of the throne to William , Atheling’s father and Harold at different times in his reign.
9
Q
Four claimants to the throne
A
- Harold Godwin-son (c1022-66)
- Edgar Aethling (c1051-c1126)
- Harold Hardrada (c1015-1066)
- William of Normandy (c1028-1087)
10
Q
Steps willam took to make sure he was in full control of England after the battle of hastings.
A
- Establishing control - Made the saxons surrender to him after the Battle
- Creation of marcher earldoms
- Building castles
11
Q
Events and consequences of rebellions against William-
-Edgar Aethling and the rebellions in the North, 1069
A
- Rebels in Northumbria joined forces with Edgar Aethling who had been building support in Scotland. The King of Denmark also sent a fleet of ships led by his warrior brother and they teamed up with Edgar.
- Williams newly appointed Earl of Northumbria, Robert Cumin was slaughtered by Northumbrian rebels leading to the harrying of the north
12
Q
Events and consequences of rebellions against William-
-Hereward the Wake and rebellion at Ely, 1070-71
A
- In 1070 the Danish king Sweyn led a new fleet which landed on the Isle of Ely, in the middle of the Fens of East Anglia – he clearly felt that William was still vulnerable.
- The Isle of Ely was marshy and very hard to attack as it was surrounded by water and swamps that only the locals knew how to navigate.
- Hereward was joined by Morcar and his men, as William advanced they prepared to defend the isle of Ely.
- This rebellion was the last of the large-scale Saxon rebellions
13
Q
Harrying of the North
A
- William is reported to have regretted his decision to lay waste to the North for the rest of his life, from this it seems clear he acted out of frustration and anger, not cool strategic thinking.
- The rebels refused to meet William in open battle, they attacked when he and the main army was elsewhere. William decided to make entire areas uninhabitable to stop the rebels doing this.
(wanted revenge for Earl Robin cumen)
14
Q
Feudal System
A
- The Feudal system was a way for William to ensure he had enough men for his armies which he needed to defend England and Normandy, without having to pay the huge costs of a professional army.
- William gave land to loyal followers called ‘tenants-in-chief’ but in return they had to promise to provide men when William needed and army. This obligation was called a ‘fief’.
15
Q
Feudal system heirarchy
A
Peasents > Knights > Barons > King
16
Q
Importance of Odo
A
- A man with a bad reputation, he was nontheless supported by William and rewarded with land following his support for William during the Norman Conquest (as williams half brother)
- When William went back to Normandy in 1067, Odo was co-regent with William FitzObern. They took advantage of their power and ruled unfairly over the english.
17
Q
Robert of Normandy and his Revolt
A
- Robert was a good warrior, but William didn’t trust Robert to defend
- Robert and his siblings got into a fight which almost descended into a civil war.
- Robert lived in one of the French King’s castles and repeatedly led attacks on William’s norman property. Matilda sent money to Robert to help him out. William was angry when he found out
- Robert and William fought each other during one battle, and Robert knocked William from his horse – very humiliating for Willliam who had to leave the battlefield.
- In Easter, 1080, Matilda forced father and son to make peace. Robert was made heir of Normandy
18
Q
How did William rufus become king of england
A
- William Rufus left for England before his father’s death. ‘Rufus’ is latin for red and this probably meant he had red hair or a reddish face.
- He carried with him a letter from his father William, recommending that William Rufus be the next king of England. The letter was addressed to Lanfranc.
- Lanfranc supported William Rufus and he was crowned in September 1087. The Witan’s authority was not needed now that the Normans were in charge.
19
Q
Significance of the Domesday book
A
- William ordered a survey of England in 1085 – the result was the Domesday Book: a record of the landholdings of each shire, who held what land, what taxes they owed to the king and whether they could pay any more.
- The Domesday Book was very significant to Norman government for financial, legal and military reasons.
20
Q
How did William win in the battle of hastings
A
- William’s Leadership
- Luck
- Leadership
21
Q
Who were the house of Godwin
A
- Godwin was very rich, owning so much land he was as wealthy as the King.
- The Godwin family were Earls to so many thegns they could summon an Army far stronger than the King’s.
- Whilst the Godwin family had to stay loyal to the King (if they didn’t they would be comitting treason, a very serious crime in Anglo-Saxon times), they could use their wealth and power to pressure the King into doing things that they wanted him to.
