Anglo Saxons 871-1016

Question 1

When was Alfred born?

Answer 1

849

Question 2

When did Alfred go to Rome to meet the Pope?

Answer 2

853

Question 3

When did Athelwulf die?

Answer 3

858

Question 4

When did the great heathen army arrive in England?

Answer 4

865

Question 5

When did the Great Summer army arrive in England?

Answer 5

871

Question 6

What were the names of Alfred’s brothers?

Answer 6

Aethelstan
Aethelbald
Aethelberht
Aethelred

Question 7

When did Aethelbald die?

Answer 7

860

Question 8

When did Aethelberht die?

Answer 8

865

Question 9

Who opposed Alfred’s right to the throne in 871?

Answer 9

Athelwold (Aethelred’s son)

Question 10

What battle did Alfred and Aethelred fight together in 871?

Answer 10

Battle of Ashdown

Question 11

Was the battle of Ashdown an Anglo-saxon or Viking win?

Answer 11

Anglo Saxon

Question 12

When did Aethelred die?

Answer 12

871 (months after the Battle of Ashdown)

Question 13

Was the battle of Wilton an Anglo-Saxon or Viking win?

Answer 13

The Vikings

Question 14

What did Asser say about Alfred about the battle of Wilton?

Answer 14

‘he fought most vigorously’

Question 15

Who is Asser?

Answer 15

Asser is a Welsh monk who wrote about Alfred’s life and reign as King?

Question 16

What is a panegyric?

Answer 16

An exaggerated piece of propaganda used to praise someone.

Question 17

What is Asser’s book called?

Answer 17

Asser’s Life Of King Alfred

Question 18

What was the 5 hides system?

Answer 18

One soldier per 5 hides along with their equipment would be supplied to the fyrd when called up. The rest in the hide had to pay for the soldiers supplies and food.

Question 19

What did Alfred find out about the Ealdormen of Wiltshire in 878?

Answer 19

That he had made peace with the Vikings.

Question 20

Why were Fyrds a problem?

Answer 20

They were commanded by thegns who mostly showed loyalty to their ealdormen before allegiance to the crown.

Question 21

What were Fyrds?

Answer 21

As there was no standing army Fyrds were used in Alfred’s law code and the Anglo Saxon chronicle to signify a royal military expedition

Question 22

Who was the commander of the Vikings when they arrived in 871?

Answer 22

Guthrum

Question 23

What was the scale and nature of the Viking attacks before 850?

Answer 23

Consisted of up to 50 ships and were aimed at gaining moveable wealth.

Question 24

What was the scale and nature of the Viking attacks after 850 (Alfred)?

Answer 24

Fleet size grew to between 150 and 150 ships and the armies were seen to grab and share land in Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia.

Question 25

When did the Vikings set up camp at Chippenham?

Answer 25

6 January 878
Twelfth Night

Question 26

What did Alfred do at the battle of Chippenham 878?

Answer 26

Fled to Athelney

Question 27

Why was Alfred’s refuge at Athelney important (3 Reasons)?

Answer 27

Alfred launched a number of raids against the Vikings
Alfred got new of a Viking defeat in Devon from Ealdormen Odda.
The story of the burnt cakes

Question 28

How many soldiers did Alfred call up at Athelney?

Answer 28

Around 4000

Question 29

What happened at the battle of Edington 878?

Answer 29

They went in with overwhelming force and forced Guthrums army to retreat. They fled to Chippenham where Alfred besieged them and began peace talks with Guthrum.

Question 30

What did Alfred do in his military reforms?

Answer 30

He created a network of burhs

Question 31

What is a buhr?

Answer 31

A fortified town or defended site

Question 32

What was Alfred first battle as King?

Answer 32

Wilton 871

Question 33

When was the battle of Wareham?

Answer 33

876

Question 34

What did Alfred do at Wareham?

Answer 34

He offered an exchange of hostages and paid the Vikings money (Danegeld) to leave as long as they swore an oath to their own gods.