Anglo Saxon Society

Question 1

What powers did the King have?

Answer 1

Law making, Fyrd (army), Landowndership

Question 2

Who was King of England in 1066?

Answer 2

Edward the Confessor

Question 3

What was the Witan?

Answer 3

The Witan was a council that helped advise the King on issues such as religion, war, law, tax etc

Question 4

Who were the Earls?

Answer 4

The most important men in Anglo-Saxon England. They had an earldom such as Wessex. They collected 1/3 of tax in their area, enforced laws and had military power.

Question 5

Why was Edward the Confessor a strong AND weak king?

Answer 5

He was very religious and made good laws. However, he had no children (heirs) and struggled to keep down Earl Godwin

Question 6

What was a Shire Reeve and what was their role?

Answer 6

They were the king’s officers in local government. They collected taxes for the king, fines from shires and made sure men were provided for the Fyrd (army)

Question 7

How did the land ‘divide up’ in Anglo Saxon England?

Answer 7

Earldoms, Shires, Hundreds, Tithings

Question 8

How did law and order work in Anglo Saxon England?

Answer 8

Through collective responsibility. If one person from a tithing broke the law, the local community had a responsibility to bring them in or be punished themselves.

Question 9

How did the Anglo Saxons punish people?

Answer 9

Wergild (money paid to avoid a blood feud), or trial by ordeal, such as drowning, hot iron or trial by combat

Question 10

How did Anglo-Saxon England gain a strong economy? (lots of money)

Answer 10

Good climate for crops and animal (livestock) production, good trade links with Scandinavia, strong tax system and trading centers (Buhrs)

Question 11

What were the problems with the Anglo-Saxon Church?

Answer 11

Bishops were too rich and powerful, priests were poorly educated, the church was generally corrupt (used for making money)

Question 12

Could you move up and down in Anglo-Saxon society?

Answer 12

Yes! A peasant could become a thegn, and a thegn could become an earl. The same works in reverse.

Question 13

Why were the Godwin family powerful?

Answer 13

Landownership, good warriors, political marriages, lots of money through tax

Question 14

Who were the ‘Three Ediths’?

Answer 14

Edith Godwinson: Harold Godwinson’s sister who married Edward the Confessor (p.s. this gave them a claim to the throne)

Edith of Mercia and Edith of East Anglia: Harold Godwinson married them both (at the same time) to gain influence in Mercia and East Anglia

Question 15

What happened on Harold Godwinson’s embassy to Normandy in 1064? (or 1065 - nobody is fully sure when this happened)

Answer 15

King Edwards sent Harold Godwinson to send a message to William of Normandy. Harold got lost and was captured. William of Normandy then rescued him and they fought together in France. Harold then swore an oath to William, but there are two versions of what happened…

Question 16

What did the Normans claim happened on the embassy in 1064/5?

Answer 16

Harold Godwinson promised to help William of Normandy become King of England after the death of Edward the Confessor

Question 17

Why was there a rising against Earl Tostig?

Answer 17

Tostig was too harsh on the people of Northumbria. He taxed them, assassinated popular people and didn’t fight against the Scottish King who had caused hardship for the people of Northumbria

Question 18

What happened to Earl Tostig?

Answer 18

He was forced into exile after the uprising in Northumbria. Later returned with Harald Hardrada and was killed in the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.

Question 19

Who were the four claimants to the throne in 1066? (the next king)

Answer 19

Harold Godwinson, Harald Hardrada, William of Normady, Edgar Aethling

Question 20

What was Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne?

Answer 20

Supported by the Witan (council), had been doing the job more or less anyway, his sister married King Edward and therefore had a claim, he was also promised the throne by King Edward, strong warrior

Question 21

What was Harald Hardrada’s claim to the throne?

Answer 21

Claimed his father should have been made King of England many years before. Strong warrior, supported by Tostig Godwinson

Question 22

What was William of Normandy’s claim to the throne?

Answer 22

Promised the throne by Edward the Confessor, claims to have been promised support from Harold Godwinson (oath during the 1064/5 embassy), distant cousin and friend of King Edward, strong warrior

Question 23

What was Edgar Aethling’s claim to the throne?

Answer 23

Closest blood relative of the King, too young and inexperienced, not supported by anyone in 1066