Anglo-Saxon England Flashcards
When was the withdrawal of the Roman army from Britain?
410 AD
What happened to England after the Romans left?
- Split into different kingdoms
- No single ruler for hundreds of years
- Were invaded many times
What was the order of the Anglo-Saxon hierarchy?
King
Earls
Thegns
Peasants
Slaves
What made England an attractive country to invade?
- Extremely wealthy due to agriculture (also had a minting system)
- Good trade links
- Ruler would have complete power over the country
- Small professional army
What was the Anglo-Saxon army made up of?
- 2500 Housecarls (highly trained professional soldiers)
- the Fyrd (untrained peasants)
Which people in Anglo-Saxon England had power?
- The King
- The Witan
- Earls
- The church
Who were the Witan?
Advisory group to the king who had a lot of power
What was an Earl?
A ruler of one of the English kingdoms
Who were the claimants to the English throne in 1066?
- Edgar Æthling
- Harald Hardrada
- William Duke of Normandy
- Harold Godwinson
What made Edgar Æthling a strong claimant to the throne?
Closest blood relative to Edward the Confessor
What made Edgar Æthling a weak claimant to the throne?
- He was 14 years old
- Had limited support
- No military experience
What made Harold Hardrada a strong claimant to the throne?
- Had agreed with King Harthacnut that he would inherit the throne
- He was one of the most feared warriors in Europe
What made William, Duke of Normandy a strong claimant to the throne?
- Claimed that Edward the Confessor promised him the throne
- Claimed Harold Godwinson said he would support his claim
- Had support from the Pope
What made Harold Hardrada a weak claimant to the throne?
- He had never been to England
What made William, Duke of Normandy a weak claimant to the throne?
- Many people in England did not like the Normans
- Other people had been promised the throne more recently
- Harold Godwinson said he was held against his will when promising to help him
