Anglo-Saxon England Flashcards
Anglo-Saxon Hierarchy
- King
- Earls
- Thegns
- Ceorls
- Peasants
- Slaves
Edward the Confessor
- king of England 1042-66
- not a warrior king
- viewed as a good leader and respected law maker
- pious
Witan
- most important advisers to the king
- chose the king if no distinct heir
Earls
- each of the 5 earldoms ran by an earl
- received one third share of tax in
earldom - oversaw justice in earldom
- bodyguards called housecarls
- high military power
Land
- 5 earldoms
- 40 shires
- 100 hundreds per shire
- hides of 120 acres
How many lived in towns and villages?
10% of population in towns
90% of population in villages
Burh
- main town in a shire
- no more than 15 miles from safety
- trading hubs
- fortified
Anglo-Saxon church
- a critical adviser to the government
- immensely wealthy and powerful
- played integral role in people’s daily
lives - was a large stone cross
How did the Anglo-Saxon church influence society?
- worshipped many saints, often made up
- believed in supernatural beings that
could inflict harm for unholy behaviour - morality plays for criticism on pre-
marital sex, drinking and over-eating - ran its own court and gave out
punishments for moral crimes
Policing
- people policed themselves
- tithing
- hue and cry
Tithing
Every male over 12 joined a group of 10 men responsible for each others behaviour. If a member broke the law, the others had to bring him to court or they would all face punishment.
Hue and cry
The entire village was expected to join the hunt in catching a criminal if a victim/witness raised the ‘hue and cry’, or the entire village would pay a fine.
Trials
Trial by jury - In the hundred or shire court, men who knew both the accuser and the accused decided who was telling the truth.
Trial by ordeal - God was the judge of who was innocent and guilty.
Trials by Ordeal
Trial by hot water - Accused put hand in boiling water and bandaged it. If healed in 3 days, they were innocent.
Trial by hot iron - Accused holds burning hot iron in hand and bandages it. If healed in 3 days, they were innocent.
Trial by cold water - Accused bound and thrown into holy water. If they sunk, God has accepted them and they were innocent. If they floated, guilty.
Punishments
- wergild
- capital punishment for treason or betraying your lord
- mutilation for re-offenders, so you could recognise them
What is wergild?
- fine paid to victim/family of victim as
compensation for a crime - set prices for different classes
- set prices for different body parts
Why was the House of Godwin powerful?
- King was marred to Edith
- strong links to the church
- controlled/influenced all Earldoms
- Harold appoints himself King of Wales
after killing the previous king
Embassy to Normandy
- Harold sent by King to Normandy and
gets taken prisoner. William helps to set
him free, so Harold helps in his army temporarily.
Norman View: Edward sends Harold to swear allegiance to William as the next King, and discuss the plans.
Anglo-Saxon View: Edward sends Harold to recover 2 hostages from William.
How is the Embassy to Normandy used to strengthen claims to the throne?
- Normans use it to show that Edward wanted William as the next king, and to portray Harold as an oath breaker.
- Saxons use it to show that Harold was Edward’s trusted adviser as it was an important embassy he was sent on.
Why did Northumbria rebel against Tostig?
- Tostig taxed too heavily
- Tostig had unfair laws and corrupt
governing - He was friends with Scottish King, and
let him attack Northumbria - Ordered assassination of rivals
- He was a southerner
What was the Danelaw?
The area of land in the north of England that used to be ruled by the Vikings, and still follows their customs.
Who did the rebels want to replace Tostig?
Morcar, brother of the Earl of Northumbria
What was King Edward’s response to the rebellion?
- he held a conference to decide what
to do - he commanded an army to be
raised that would put down the
uprising, but he wasn’t obeyed - he had no choice but to accept the
rebels demands
What was Harold’s reaction to the rebellion?
- sided with the rebels
- married Morcar’s sister, and was
gifted land in Mercia - supported that Tostig should be
exiled from England, which meant
he no longer had a major rival to
the throne
How did the rebellion help Harold in becoming king?
- Tostig was no longer a rival
- Harold now had a united kingdom
- Made Edward look weak and Harold
strong
English Customs
- be a blood relative of the king
- been chosen by the previous king
- been accepted as king by the Witan
Edgar Aethling
- great nephew of the king
- closest blood relative
- Witan didn’t choose him as he was
too young, and there was no
supporters amongst the Earls
William of Normandy
- Edward promised him the throne in
1051, when he had fallen out with
Harold - Edward promised him the throne
allegedly in 1064 on the embassy to
Normandy - was an experienced soldier and
ruler - wanted more land and wealth
- distantly related to the king
Harold Godwinson
- allegedly promised throne on
Edward’s deathbed - Witan supported him as king
- crowned the same day as Edward’s
burial, which was unheard of
Harald Hardrada
- weak claim based on an agreement
between Harthacnut of England and
Magnus of Norway - wanted more land and power
- Tostig encouraged him to invade
When was Gate Fulford and who fought it?
- 20th September 1066
- Harald and Tostig, vs Earls Edwin and Morcar
When was Stamford Bridge and who fought it?
- Harald and Tostig, vs Harold
- 25th September 1066
When was the Battle of Hastings and who fought it?
- 14th October 1066
- Harold vs William
Gate Fulford
- Harald wanted the throne and
Tostig wanted revenge - Their army sailed across the River
Humber to York - King sends Edwin and Morcar to
meet the Viking army - Vikings met Saxons on the road to
York - York was surrendered to the
Vikings
Stamford Bridge
- Harold’s army was very quick
- They surprised the Vikings, who
were at Stamford Bridge and had
left their armour on the ships - Stationed at opposite ends of the
bridge - A Viking beserker killed 40 before
they were killed by a Saxon - Saxons began to cross the bridge,
both armies forming a shield wall - Harold offered Tostig Northumbria
to show mercy, and offered
Hardrada ‘7 feet of English Earth’ - Tostig and Hardrada were both
killed and Vikings returned home
with 24 out of 300 ships
Norman Advantages
- Norman horses known for speed
and strength, ridden into battle - Knights well-trained and loyal
- Many archers
- Employed mercenaries
- Waved Catholic flag to show Saxons
God was on his side, and wore holy
bones on his neck
Anglo-Saxon Advantages
- Rode horses to get to battle
- Only a few archers
- Housecarls, considered the best
warriors in Europe (used shield
walls and battle axes, and part of
the select fyrd) - General fyrd
- Positioned at Senlac Hill
Events of the battle of Hastings
- Saxons gain control of Senlac Hill
- William sent archers but the Saxons shield wall caught the arrows
- William’s infantry couldn’t withstand the heavy damage from the Saxons axes
- William’s cavalry couldn’t get up the hill
- Norman’s failed to break shield wall
- A rumour said that William had been killed, so he removed his helmet
- Break in the battle
- Norman’s feigned retreat and Saxons broke the shield wall
- Cavalry then able to charge shield wall and break it up
- Harold and his brothers slaughtered
Tactics/Soldiers
- shield walls very effective
- William used an old Iron Age fort in Hastings and adapted it for defense
- feigned retreat
Harold’s leadership
- Made a mistake by calling out his army in May, he had to disband it in August
- Harold shouldn’t have rushed to Hastings
- Despite this, everything he did seemed logical at the time
Luck
- William was lucky to cross the channel successfully due to bad weather
- The battle could have gone either way, with the Saxons strong shield wall, but was beaten by lack of discipline
- Luck that killed Harold
Williams Preperation
- allowed men to cause great destruction to infuriate Harold and draw him into battle
- leadership key to Norman victory, holding off from crossing channel
- William was able to keep his army together
- constantly changed tactics to suit circumstances of the battle
- managed to break up the shield wall
