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History A level > Anglo-Saxons > Flashcards

Anglo-Saxons Flashcards

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1
Q

When did Edward the Elder reign from?

A

899-924

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2
Q

When did Aethelstan reign from?

A

924-934

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3
Q

How many times did Edward marry and what were the benefits of each marriage?

A

3 times, the first was to produce an heir, the second was to unite members of the Wessex dynasty to support Edward’s claim, and the third was to create a union between Wessex and Kent.

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4
Q

Who threatened Edward’s claim to the throne?

A

His cousin, Aethelwold

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5
Q

How and when did Aethelwold die?

A

In 903 and he died in battle

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6
Q

How did Edward manage to retain authority over Mercia?

A

He co-operated with his brother-in-law (Aethelred) and Aethelflaed. He continued to build burhs and combined armies to protect Mercia and Wessex from common enemies.

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7
Q

Where did Vikings settle during Edwards reign and why was this a problem?

A

The north and east of England. With more permanent bases, it was easier for the Vikings to attack the midlands and south. They also formed more alliances with Northumbria and Scottish leaders.

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8
Q

Why did Edward and Aethelflaed feel it was important to reconquer the Danelaw from the Vikings?

A

It looked like they were settling, making alliances with Scottish and Northumbrian leaders and might start expanding into Mercia and Wessex

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9
Q

When did the Welsh King submit to Edward’s authority?

A

918

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10
Q

When did the Scottish king submit to Edward?

A

920

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11
Q

What kind of threat or challenge did Aethelwold pose for Edward?

A

He wanted the throne for himself, so dynastic and military challenges

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12
Q

How did Edward refer to himself in his charters following the death of Aethelwold?

A

‘King of the Anglo-Saxons’

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13
Q

Whose chronicle was written between 975 and 983 and is a translation of the anglo - saxon chronicle?

A

Aethelweard

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14
Q

Who was venerated as the first Anglo-Saxon Saint?

A

St Ozwald

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15
Q

Why did Edward marry Ecqwynn?

A

To give him a male heir

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16
Q

Why did Edward marry Aelflaedd?

A

To gain more support from the Wessex dynasty and give him more protection against the threat of Aethelwold

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17
Q

Why did Edward marry Eadgifu?

A

For another alliance with non-wessex families

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18
Q

What three sources of evidence give historians some idea about the degree of settlement and integration between the viking settlers and the anglo - saxons?

A
  • Place names
  • Material culture
  • Genetic
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19
Q

Name three places where Aethelflaed built burhs between 890 and 915

A
  • Chester
  • Bridgnorth
  • Tamworth
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20
Q

Edward would raid and construct burhs to prevent viking expansionism. What did he encourage his thegns to do to help?

A

To buy the land that the Vikings inhabited

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21
Q

Who was Raegnald the grandson of?

A

Ivad the Boneless

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22
Q

In 918 Raegnald led a viking army to victory over a Scottish army. Where did this battle take place?

A

Corbridge

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23
Q

Who becomes King of Wessex after Edward?

A

Aethelweard, step-brother to Aethelstan

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24
Q

Why was the Capture of York important in Aethelstan’s reign? (three things)

A
  • It showed he was prepared to military skill and resources to deal with threats to his authority early in his reign
  • Made the Welsh, Scottish and Northumbrians to reaffirm their submission to the leadership of Wessex and Mercia.
  • Scared his opponents into accepting his authority
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25
Q

How was being able to rescue his sister from the grip of Guthfrith significant for Aethelstan?

A

His sister represents Aethelstan’s ability to make alliances and the fact that he goes to get her show the possibility to create alliances with other leader.

26
Q

Why was York an important place to gain control over for Aethelstan?

A

It was an important trading place, giving him another source of income, and it was a place used for insurgencies in the past so this decreased the threat of uprisings.

27
Q

When did Aethelstan capture York?

A

927

28
Q

How effective was Aethelstan in dealing with the Scottish in 934?

A

Not very. He was initially effective his use of sea and land routes to raid settlements as far North as Kincardine and Caithness. But these raids caused the alliance between Olaf Guthfrithsson and the Scots and the Strathclyde people. This led to an invasion of Aethelstan’s land. Ergo, not effective.

29
Q

When was the Battle of Brunanburh?

A

937

30
Q

How effective was Aethelstan in the Battle of Brunanburh?

A

Very. Aethelstan made sure his army was well equipped with ‘elite cavalry’ and had well thought out strategies. His military prowess led to the submission of Scotland. But, it wouldn’t stop future issues with the Scots so he needed to implement other methods of peacekeeping

31
Q

Who did Aethelstan marry to Sihtric, when and what were the benefits (and drawbacks)?

A

His sister in 926. It meant he could form a military and political alliance with the northern Danes. Sihtric died a year later so this was short lived.

32
Q

Who replaced Sihtric after he died?

A

Olaf but he was too young so, Guthfrith

33
Q

What did William of Malmesbury claim about the Capture of York?

A

That Aethelstan ordered the fortifications of the city to be razed to the ground and for Guthfrith to be driven out

34
Q

When did Aethelstan start harrying the Scottish?

A

In 934

35
Q

Who formed an alliance against Aethelstan in 937?

A

The leaders of the Scottish and Strathclyde peoples, Constantine and Owain, formed an alliance with Olaf Guthfrithsson, the leader of the Norsemen from Ireland

36
Q

Where did Aethelstan have continental links?

A

France, Flanders and Germany

37
Q

Why did Aethelstan introduce a law code?

A
  • To create a communication between the King and his subjects.
  • To demonstrate a willingness to negotiate over judicial matters.
  • To create a sense of shared values at a time when the kingdom was expanding and diversifying
  • To solve increasing problems related to internal dissent
38
Q

How many sections in Aethelstan’s law code?

A

Six

39
Q

How was Aethelstan unique with his law codes?

A

Promulgated a multi-part law code, with each section designed to serve different purposes

40
Q

What was I Aethelstan about?

A
  • Dealt with payment of tithes to the Church and Ordinance on Charities
  • Royal reeves responsible for this
  • Collected other payments, including for the souls of the dead and ‘plough alms’
41
Q

Athelstan I states that this royal official is responsible for the collection of tithes to the Church

A

Royal reeve

42
Q

What did II Aethelstan deal with?

A
  • Administration of justice
  • Trial by ordeal
  • Minting coins and establishment of uniform coinage
  • Capturing thieves
43
Q

What was the punishment for breaching laws in II Aethelstan?

A

Death.

‘no thief shall be spared who is in the act if he is over twelve years old and if the value of stolen goods is more than eight pence.’

44
Q

What does V Aethelstan deal with?

A
  • It relaxed punishments for theft
  • Dealt with ‘powerful kindreds’
45
Q

Who did Aethelstan see as ‘powerful kindreds’?

A

Those bent on challenging royal authority and disturbing the peace

46
Q

What did IV Aethelstan deal with?

A
  • Tougher stance on crime
  • Killing thieves regardless of circumstance
47
Q

What was III Aethelstan about?

A

Not so much a law as a statement from people of Kent:
- Showing appreciation to Athelstan
- Promising loyalty

48
Q

What was the importance of Athelstan’s law codes: why he needs a flexible approach to law?

A

To respond to consequences of his changes to central and local government. We can see this through codes II, V, IV

49
Q

What was VI Aethelstan?

A
  • How to keep law and order in London
  • Established the London Peace Guild (prominent men combating crime in the city)
50
Q

What were the key challenges faced by Edmund?

A
  • Olaf Guthfrisson in the North
  • The king from Strathclyde
  • Religious reformers
  • Criminals within his kingdom
51
Q

Who were Edmund’s parents?

A

Edward the Elder and Eadgifu

52
Q

How successful was Edmund in dealing with the challenge from Olaf Guthfrisson?

A

Quite. He was able to regain Northumbria. Edmund had proved wiser, more strong willed and better resources in terms of the size of his army than his Viking opponents.

53
Q

How successful was Edmund in dealing with the King of Strathclyde?

A

Not successful. Edmund’s success in dealing with Strathclyde is somewhat diminished by the fact that within a couple of year Dunmail had regrouped to retake his territory. This shows the limited nature of Edmund’s achievements in Strathclyde; Northumbria and England were the limits of his kingdom

54
Q

How successful was Edmund in dealing with Religious reformers?

A

Quite successful. After a near miss during hunting, Edmund seemed to become more interested in god. He appointed Dunstan to the post of abbot of Glastonbury. Dunstan (under Edgar’s guidance) enacted the reforms that members of the church and nobility had demanded.

However, Edmund did place the running of Bath Abbey to clerks who did not support the reform. (suggesting he was not fully supportive)

55
Q

Why was there a succession issue after Edmund died?

A

Edmund married twice. One wife had Eadwig and Edgar. The other marriage had no children. This should have meant no issues but Edmund died young, when his sons were too young to rule. The problem was solved by having Eadred, Edmund’s brother, become king. Eadwig becoming Eadred’s successor.

56
Q

How successful was Edmund in dealing with criminals?

A

Effective. He established new laws, that would be updated with the changing social climate. He had a firm hand in dealing with law and order issues, and it is notable that there is very little indication of internal instability during his reign

57
Q

What were the two main legal issues that concerned Edmund? What were his actions?

A

Feuds in England (mainly leading to compensation, injury or even death as acts of revenge):
- Edmund attempted to restrict and control feuding without banning it
- This was presumably because he felt it was getting out of hand and was leading to too much bloodshed and violence
- Edmund was the first king to identify feuding as a major problem and his action was indicative of a general trend by later Saxon rulers to intervene to control crime

Dealing with runaway slaves (thralls)
- He ordered that special posses should be formed to round up runaways
- Leaders, if found, were to be hanged on the spot
- Other gang members were to be punished by being flogged three times, scalped and having their little fingers removed
- The other gang members would then be returned to their owners to continue to work

58
Q

Who was Dunstan in Edmund’s reign?

A

Dunstan was a leading reformer, who was appointed abbot of Glastonbury by Edmund. In his life he was Bishop of London (Westminster), Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury)

59
Q

How effectively did Eadred deal with the renewed challenge of the vikings?

A

Quite effective. The Northumbrians had a ‘on-off’ alliance with Eric Bloodaxe, meaning that when the Northumbrians were allianced with the vikings they challenged Eadred but when not they turned to Eadred as lord.

In 947, Eadred obtained oaths of loyalty from the Northumbrians at Tanshelf (including Wufstan I, Archbishop of York). But within the year they had returned to their alliance with Eric Bloodaxe.

Angered by the Northumbrians, in 948, Eadred organised an army to attack Ripon and raze the minster to the ground. The army withdrew, only to be attacked by the Northumbrians at Castleford. The entire rear guard of Eadreds army were destroyed. Eadred retaliated again by threatening to obliterate the north. The Northumbrians, as a result, supported the king again.

The friendship lasted about two/three years. Sometime between 950 and 951 the Northumbrians rebelled again, siding with Olaf Sihtricsson, who had returned to Dublin. He was ‘driven out’ of the north quickly though.

In 952, Bloodaxe returned and joined forces with the Northumbrians again. An entry from the chronicle suggests Wulfstan I was arrested for plotting against Eadred. But was forgiven, apparently, in 954. In 954, the Northumbrians drove bloodaxe out from the region and welcomed back Eadred as King of northumbria.

60
Q

Why was the death of Eric Bloodaxe so significant for Eadred?

A

His death marks the point when England seemed to become completely united. With Eadred becoming king of Northumbria as well as the south. He became king of Britain rather than just England.

61
Q

What two features make Eadred’s reign significant (Apart from the Vikings)? What did he do?

A

Eadred continued the monastic reforms started by Edmund with more enthusiasm.
- He appointed the reformer Aethelwold to the monastery of Abingdon
- The church had decayed and Aethelwold even thought about leaving to the continent
Eadred convinced him to stay and supported the monastery with substantial grants of land

Eadred suffered from a mysterious illness that eventually led to his death in 955
- He delegated most of his authority (probably to Dunstan)
- This further reinforced the move towards church reform

History A level (5 decks)

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