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History > Anglo-Saxon England And The Norman Conquest, c1060-87 > Flashcards

Anglo-Saxon England And The Norman Conquest, c1060-87 Flashcards

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1
Q

Who were the Witan?

A

The witan were a council of advisers to the king who discussed threats, disputes and the succession of a new king. They were not a limitation on his powers

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2
Q

Who were the earls?

A

As the most potent after the king, they governed earldoms on the King’s behalf and depended on the support of thegns

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3
Q

Describe three features of Earls

A
  • Collected taxes from their earldom for the king and kept 1/3 of it for maintaining the earldom
  • Oversaw law and order in their earldom through justice and legal punishments
  • They had great military power as the King’s generals; Each earl had a group of housecarls and lead their loyal thegns into battle
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4
Q

What was Edward the confessor’s life span?

A

1042-1066

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5
Q

Four strengths of Edward the Confessor

A
  • A pious figure. People believed God was guiding him
  • Respected as a wise lawmaker
  • Yielded a powerful military force of Earls and thegns
  • Married to Edith of Wessex, daughter of the wealthy and powerful Earl of Godwin
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6
Q

Five limitations to Edward the Confessor’s power

A
  • Exiled from Normandy; lacked support in England
  • No children to succeed him
  • The powerful Earl of Godwin could place pressure on him
  • Edward and Godwin fell out in 1050. Edward forced Godwin into exile, yet he returned in 1051 with an army. Edward granted him back his earldom to prevent war
  • Restricted by the laws and customs of the Danelaw
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7
Q

Who were the Shire reeves (Sheriffs)?

A

Shire reeves (Sheriffs) were the King’s representative in local government and were issued orders via writs

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8
Q

Describe three features of Shire reeves (Sheriffs)

A
  • Judged at the shire court
  • Collected fines, enforced law, provided men for the fyrd and maintained roads + defences
  • Collected the geld tax levied on land
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9
Q

What is a hide?

A

An area of land covering approximately 120 acres

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10
Q

Who were the general fyrd?

A

An army composed of 1 man from every 5 hides

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11
Q

Who were the selective fyrd?

A

Well-equipped thegns and their followers with fixed service of 40 days

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12
Q

Each earldom was divided into ______, overseen by a Shire Reeve.

A

Shires

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13
Q

Each shire was divided into ____ (equal to 100 hides in certain regions)

A

Hundreds

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14
Q

Each hundred was divided into ______ (group of 10 households)

A

Tithings

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15
Q

Describe five features of the legal system in Anglo-Saxon England

A

Collective responsibility: if one member of a tithing broke the law, all would suffer

Wergild (compensation for the dead) to avoid blood feud

Hue and cry: the community or Sheriff could call on others to track down a criminal

Treason against the king was common. The death penalty could be imposed

Trial by ordeal: God was asked to judge cases when community courts (trial by jury) could not. Included torture

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16
Q

Two features of Anglo-Saxon economy

A
  • Good climate for farming. We know this because western England was suited to sheep-rearing and Eastern England had drier conditions and fertile soils for crops
  • The King controlled the process of minting. We know this because coins had to be a standard thickness and weight and forging carried a harsh punishment
17
Q

Two features of Burhs

A
  • Burhs were trading hubs. We know this because towns grew in importance because of international trade links
  • Each shire had a Burh. These were planned so that no one was more than 15-20 miles away from safety if news of a Viking raid party reached them
18
Q

Describe three features of Thegns

A
  • Local lords who lived in a Manor House and held > 5 hides of land
  • Had duty to provide men for the fyrd when needed
  • Often built churches on their land. This brought villages together for a service on Sunday
19
Q

Describe four features of the church/religion

A
  • Resistant to reform, focusing on Saxon and older Celtic saints. People felt as if they were part of their everyday lives
  • Church was controlled by a bishop. Bishops served on the Witan as the King’s advisors
  • People were worried about the afterlife. For example, Edward the Confessor devoted time to rebuild the Westminster Cathedral
20
Q

When did Earl Godwin pass away and who succeeded him?

A

1053, Harold Godwinson

21
Q

State six reasons why the House of Godwin was so powerful (Think: PIMDLL)

A

Political marriages
Influence of the church
Military successes
Defensive importance
Leadership
Landownership

22
Q

Why was there a rising against Earl Tostig of Northumbria in 1065? (Think: TART)

A
  • (Double) Taxation (of Northumbrians)
  • Abuse of power
  • Relationship with Malcom III - King of Scotland
  • Tostig’s image as a southerner
23
Q

Who did Edward the Confessor marry? Why was this significant?

A

Edith of Wessex (Earl of Godwin’s daughter). This political marriage became a symbol of Earl Godwin’s power over Edward and provided him with connections to the monarchy

24
Q

Who did Harold Godwinson marry? Why was this significant?

A

Edith of Mercia. This meant that he inherited more land in East Anglia on her behalf

25
Q

Describe features of Harold’s embassy to Normandy in 1064/1065

A
  • Harold was taken prisoner by Count Guy of Ponthieu. This meant that William demanded that Guy hand Harold over and persuaded him with threats and rewards
  • Harold went to Normandy and joined William on a mobile cavalry raid of Brittany. This is where they torched villages and supported rebellion against the duke of Brittany
  • Harold was forced to swear an oath on holy relics. This was to supposedly support William’s claim to the English throne
26
Q

How did landownership make the House of Godwin so powerful?

A
  • One of the House of Godwin’s earldoms included Wessex, the richest part of England, which had an important role in defending England from attacks across the channel
  • By the 1060s, the granting of earldoms to Tostig, Gyrth and Leofwine meant that the Godwins controlled most of England
  • As a result, they had significant power due to the many thegns under their control and they were as rich as the king as they collected 1/3 of the tax levied on land. This meant that Edward the Confessor could be pressured
27
Q

How did political marriages make the House of Godwinson so powerful?

A
  • King Edward’s marriage to Edith Godwinson meant that the Godwins had powerful links to the monarchy and so could pressure the King
  • Harold Godwinson’s Danish marriage gave him support and land from East Anglia. His later marriage to the sister of Morca and Edwin of Mercia gave him support from the North, helping him in the Battle at Gate Fulford
28
Q

How did military successes make the House of Godwin powerful?

A
  • The Godwins’ military skills such as successfully defending England against formidable King Gruffyd of North Wales meant that they were supported by many lords.
  • This perhaps meant that the Witan chose Harold as King as He was a marinated soldier
29
Q

What was the Anglo-Saxon interpretation of Harold’s embassy to Normandy in 1064?

A

Harold went to recover two hostages from William - his brother and nephew, Wulfnoth and Hakon. He was however captured, and so to flee, had to join William on a mobile cavalry raid to Brittany and swear an oath

30
Q

What was the Norman interpretation of Harold’s embassy to Normandy in 1064?

A

King Edward commissioned Harold to go to talk to William about plans for William’s succession. The visit involved Harold swearing allegiance on holy relics to William as his future King

31
Q

What were the five reasons a succession crisis occurred in 1066?

A
  • King Edward had no strong blood heirs with Edith of Wessex
  • King Edward made promises to William and Harold Godwinson
  • The nature of Harold’s succession
  • The claims of Harald Hardrada

History (3 decks)

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