Anglo-Saxon England (Before Edward The Confessor)

Question 1

How was England structured in the mid-Saxon period?

Answer 1

A heptarchy (seven Kings ruling what became earldoms)

Question 2

What were Anglo-Saxon Burns?

Answer 2

They were built to help defend England from Vikings.

King Alfred set up Langport as a burh.

The 33 burhs became centres for trade.

Question 3

What is the key piece of evidence we have of Anglo-Saxon burhs?

Answer 3

The Burghal Hidage document lists the 33 burhs, suggesting which were most important by their size.

Question 4

How effective were burhs in fulfilling their purposes (trade, defence)

Answer 4

10% of Anglo-Saxon England was Urban at the start of Edward the Confessor’s rule.

Edgar the Peaceful ruled over a relatively stable Anglo-Saxon England, likely due in part to the success of burhs.

Question 5

How did Edgar the Peaceful succeed in reforming the English Church?

Answer 5

St. Dunstan assisted Edgar the Peaceful with his monastic reforms. By the end of the century, around 50 Benedictine monasteries were reformed, the largest three being in Glastonbury.

Edgar made the idea that being an Anglo-Saxon King was sacred, appointed by God.

Question 6

What was the system of coinage during the reign of Edgar the Peaceful?

Answer 6

London was where coins were made due to its mints.

In 973, Edgar designed a new silver penny. They could at any point be called in and issued back out with a new design. This shows how much control Edgar has, which at the time, was unique from Europe.

The coin shows Edgar wearing a crown, the first Anglo-Saxon King to do so.

Question 7

Analyse the use of government and charters during the reign of Edgar the Peaceful

Answer 7

Charters and writs during the reign of Edgar were about land disputes. They demonstrate Edgar’s royal authority across the entirety of England.

He used regular assemblies of a royal council called the witenagemot, showing there was a form of government in Late-Saxon England.

Question 8

When did Edgar the Peaceful have his coronation? Why?

Answer 8

He waited until he was 30 in the year 973, perhaps because this was the minimum age for a bishop, showing how close he believed the kingship should be to God.

Question 9

Who assisted Edgar the Peaceful with his coronation ceremony?

Answer 9

St. Dunstan, who by now was Archbishop of Canterbury.

Question 10

What tradition was started by the coronation of Edgar the Peaceful?

Answer 10

The coronation was the first to contain the anointing of holy oil, which was a symbol that the king was the closest on earth to God.

Question 11

What did Edgar the Peaceful do after his coronation?

Answer 11

Edgar and his army marched or sailed to Chester to meet with 6-8 other kings in Europe. He apparently steered the ship while the other kings swore allegiance to him.

Question 12

How was the will of the king exercised in the Anglo-Saxon era?

Answer 12

Exercised through writs and charters, which were drawn up in the scriptorium at Winchester, the ancient capital.

Question 13

Other than containing the scriptorium, how was Winchester important?

Answer 13

It held the treasury where taxes were sent to and the government was becoming wealthier through increasing trade and urbanisation - 10% of England was Urban by 1066 and burhs became centres for trade and commerce.

Question 14

How does the system of coinage during the Anglo-Saxon era provide evidence of sophisticated government?

Answer 14

60 royal mints controlled the casting and issuing of silver pennies, which was exclusive to England in Europe.

Question 15

Who were the Saxon ruling class?

Answer 15

The King, earls and thegns. Represented a nobility of 4-6 thousand out of 2 million people.

Question 16

What were Ceorls?

Answer 16

Peasant farmers. Made up 90% of Anglo-Saxon England. Dependent on thegns for land and work however some owned land independently.

Question 17

What percentage of the population of Anglo-Saxon England were slaves?

Answer 17

10%

Question 18

How did the increase of land of Godwine increase his power?

Answer 18

In 1018, Godwine has Earl of Eastern Wessex.
In 1020, he became Earl of all of Wessex, the richest earldom in England. This included the Ancient capital of Winchester l, which contained the chancery where writs and charters were created as well as the royal treasury.

Question 19

How did Godwine use marriage to increase his power?

Answer 19

He married Canute’s sister-in-law, establishing a family nexus.

Question 20

How did Godwine rise to pre-eminence?

Answer 20

In 1021, Thorkell the Tall was exiled back to Denmark. This meant that from 1023, Godwine was the first witness on charters.

Simon Schema described Godwine as being a “virtual co-ruler”.

Question 21

How did Canute choose to rule England?

Answer 21

As an Anglophile, he brought stability through, according to Schama, “changing absolutely nothing”.

He was a model English ruler who had deep respect for the structure of Anglo-Saxon government.

Question 22

What did Canute’s marriage to Emma Cause?

Answer 22

It tied him to the English state but resulted in the exile of Edward and Alfred to Normandy.

Question 23

Provide evidence that Harold Harefoot was only considered a regent for the first two years of his time in England rather than king.

Answer 23

The Archbishop of Canterbury had initially refused to crown Harefoot.

Question 24

How did Harold Harefoot become king of England?

Answer 24

Many saw him as just a ‘regent’ for the first two years of his reign, however internal political strife in Denmark and Norway kept Harthacanute from ruling in England.

Question 25

State a key event that shows a lack of clarity over inheriting the throne in the period 1035-1040.

Answer 25

The murder of Alfred in 1036. Godwine was complicit in the murder, handing Alfred to Harefoot’s men before his blinding and death at Ely.

Question 26

How did Harold Harefoot’s reign come to an end?

Answer 26

He was accepted by the Witan and ruled until his brother prepared an invasion force in 1039. There could have been a civil war in England but Harefoot’s death prevented further political strife.

Question 27

Why was the reign of Harthacanute seen as a period of uncertainty?

Answer 27

He ruled England in an overly autocratic manner which was not popular as this style of rule could function in Denmark but not England.

Question 28

What happened to Godwine during the reign of Harthacanute?

Answer 28

Godwine survived the political turmoil but was held accountable for the murder of Alfred.

His guilt was established but he managed to extricate himself from losing his power by offering a warship to Harthacanute, perhaps as a form of wergild.