Anglo Saxon England Flashcards
What was the witan?
The king’s advisors
What did the Witan discuss?
Possible threats from abroad
Land disputes
Religious affairs
Who was gonna be the next king
What could the king use his land for?
He gave out land in return for loyalty and service
For example, giving earldoms to earls
What were the responsibilities of the earls?
Keeping the peace
Raising the army
Collecting the taxes
How much did the king earn through tax?
£6500 a year
How did the king have military power?
He had the responsibility of defending the country
Had a powerful army which he could raise (the fyrd)
How did the king have control of the government?
Made laws
Decided taxes
Controlled production of coins
Responsible for domestic and foreign policies
Led the witan and could choose the members
How did the king have religious power?
He was ‘chosen by God’
Could appoint the archbishops and key bishops
When was the uprising against Tostig?
October 1065
What were the reasons for the uprising against Tostig?
People in the Danelaw were in an area that had been settled in by Vikings so they didn’t trust southerners and hated his high taxes on them
He was Friends with Malcolm III, king of Scotland and so did nothing when the Scottish attacked
He ordered the murder of 2 followers of Gospatric and assassinated Gospatric when he was on his way to go complain to the king about Tostig
When was the Battle of Hastings?
14th October 1066
What are the reasons that William won at the Battle of Hastings?
William was a good leader
Harold was a bad leader
Luck
How was William a good leader during the Battle of Hastings?
William waited for the Fyrd to be sent home before invading
Prepared well with horses, soldiers and even a pre-made castle
Used the feigned retreat to break the Anglo Saxon defence
He motivated his troops by taking off his helmet when a rumour spread that he was dead
How was Harold a bad leader during the Battle of Hastings?
His army was tired from fighting the earlier to battles in the North
The Fyrd were inexperienced
Lack of control over the Fyrd led to them breaking the shield wall because of the feigned retreat
How did luck play a huge role in the Battle of Hastings?
Harald invading caused Harold’s army to be tired
Harold was shot in the eye during the battle which caused the Fyrd to flee
How was Anglo Saxon England wealthy?
Had a system of silver coins traded from Germany
Sheep farming dominated in the West and the cloths woven from the wool were then sold around Europe
England had fertile land and exported its iron, cheese and crops like wheat
What was economy like in Anglo Saxon villages?
Almost everyone farmed and would trade for other things (exchange economy)
What was economy like in Anglo Saxon towns?
These were trading centres
Major towns had mints where coins would be produced by the order of the King
When was the Harrying of the North?
December 1069
What happened during the Harrying of the North?
Burnt and destroyed all food
Murdered any potential rebels
Earth was salted to prevent the growing of crops
Cattle was killed
Villages were burnt
What were the causes of the Harrying of the North?
The 1069 rebellion - Robert Cumin and thousands of Normans killed
Rebels refused to fight and would always scatter when William arrived
For years the North was rebellious
What were the consequences of the Harrying of the North?
Even in the 1086 Doomsday Book it was found that 60% of York was still a wasteland
From 1071 there were no more rebellions
Thousands of people fled North
Cannibilism was big and in the winter of 1069, 100000 people died
When did Edward the Confessor die?
5th January 1066
Who were the 4 contenders for the throne after Edward died?
Harold Godwinson
William of Normandy
Edgar Atheling
Harald Hardrada
Why was Harold Godwinson a contender for the thone?
Was an Anglo Saxon
Was a brother in law to Edward
Claimed Edward promised him the throne on his deathbed
Very good fighter
Had a lot of support
Why was William a contender for the throne?
Second cousin to Edward
Claimed that Harold Godwinson promised to support him in 1064
Had a good army and was a good soldier
Why was Edgar a contender for the throne?
Edward’s nephew
Was only 14 when Edward died so wouldn’t have been a good leader
Didn’t have any supporters
Why was Harald a contender for the throne?
Was the Norweigan king and was distantly related to the old English king Cnut
Promised the throne of England by Magnus Alafsson who took it from Cnut’s son
Fierce and tremendous warrior
When was Harold coronated?
6th January 1066
What happened during the submission of the Earls?
William harried the South and seized the treasury at Winchester, while building castles everywhere else
Why did the Earls surrender?
William seized the treasury so Edgar had no money
William was outnumbered but regardless was a ruthless military leader
Intimidation tactics were effective
Many of England’s best warriors were killed in the battle of Hastings
How did Wiliiam reward his followers while in England?
He set a high Geld Tax to pay his mercenaries
Rewarded followers land that was confiscated from people who dies in the Battle of Hastings
How did William appease the Anglo Saxons while in England?
Edwin and Morcar could keep their earldoms but they were made smaller
Archbishops were kept the same