ANGLOSAXON AND NORMAN ENGLAND Flashcards
Who were the anglo saxons?
Anglo saxon originated from people who protected Rome, but then spread into colonising England. This influenced the spread of christianity.
Controlled by Alfred the great
Explain the role of the king within anglo Saxon England
the kings job was to govern and protect the country from internal and external threats.
the king was also supreme decision maker, deciding the foreign policy and domestic policy.
explain the make up of the anglo Saxon royal household.
Made up of the king and immediate family, and the most noble servants, forming the CHANCERY
additionally the king had HOUSECARLS which were soldiers who job in was to be bodyguards.
explain the splitting of the land in anglo Saxon England.
four earldoms- Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia, Northumbria. Governed by Earls.
forty Shires. covered by sheriffs
Hundreds where overseen by Reeves.
explain the legal system in terms of anglo Saxon England
the king presided over any major dispute, such as murder.
The overseer of the hundred or shires would govern any other dispute, settling it in smaller courts of law.
how advanced where the anglo Saxon economy?
Edward the Confessors England was rich and prosperous. Many countries became jealous of Englands wealth.
Additionally, in 1086 William created the Doomsday book, to keep on top of all wealth.
explain the use of royal mints and silver pennies within anglo Saxon England
one silver penny was equivalent to one days labour
the use of these made extensive trade possible
foreign coins where forbidden, meaning the anglo Saxon coinage was exclusive
therefore on of the greatest AS accomplishments
expand on the urbanisation which occurred in anglo Saxon England
the development of towns resulted in a settled population, which were well farmed (producing supplies)
in addition to this, some specialism, such as jewellery making, specialism for cotton etc.
explain the role of costal towns and oversee trade on anglo Saxon England
merchants from Europe brought over cloth, pottery, gloves etc
England also exported items such as ham and cheese
trading ports became central to long, Lincoln, Cambridge
explain the anglo Saxon system of taxation
A geld was administered every year
raised around £6000 which was put towards the army, buy off any invaders
the ability to quickly raise funds allowed England too be strong
Why was the Godwin family so powerful?
Earl Godwin was king cants advisor and therefore was granted the Earl Of Wessex.
When power grew, Earl Godwins sons were both granted earldoms, increasing their influence towards the British monarchy.
explain the rise of Harold Godwin
the earl of Godwin died in 1053, leaving Harold to become the Earl of Wessex.
Harold was named Deputy King
additionally Harolds brother tossing was handed northumbria.
explain the ‘welsh wars’ which occurred in anglo Saxon England.
Harold Godwinson was known to have presence.
Wales became a threat with the rise of the first named Scottish king, Gruffed Ap Llewelyn. He was disputing over the welsh and British borders.
The welsh marchers occurred, causing but after all Harold remained dominant, and fought of the welsh.
explain Harolds oath to duke William
harold was said to a trip to France, and it was suggested that Harold had made an oath of loyalty to William.
explain the Northumbrian uprising which occurred between Harold and Tostig.
Testing was secretive.
Testing tried to bring northumbria over his control, but was a tyrant, arranging the killing of 3 magistrates.
Northumbria uprose, causing Harold sending testing into exile.
what event caused Harolds kingship?
Edward the confessor died, and did not leave any heirs as he did not have children, leaving the position of king questionable. The next day, Harold Godwinson raced to the monarchy to be crowned king on Christmas Day.
who were the main claimants of the throne?
there where four claimants to the throne.
1. Edgar of Althing, the only blood relative to Edward
2. Harold Hardrada, the Viking king
3.William of Normandy
4. Harold Godwinson
William believed that Harolds coronation was not legitimate, as he had earlier sworn an oath which gave William loyalty and therefore believed Harold was a traitor by taking the throne.
explain the main events if the battle of Fulford.
Harold Hardrada and Harolds brother tostig teamed up.
Unfavourably, Northern winds kept Harold at bay, preventing him from closing the attack instantly.
A week later Hardrada landed on the coast of England, being swayed in by the winds
Edward and Morcar tried to block the road
The fight began when Tostig advancing his troops onto the advancing England, and after a short intensive fight, the Saxons tried to retreat.
Harold Hardrada won.
explain the key events of the battle of Stanford bridge.
Harold Godwinson heard about the events of gate fulford, and instantly knew that the vikings must be stopped in order to reclaim he name and enforce power
Harold gathered his forces, and his most noble men which was risky.
Together, they marched down to Stanford bridge, where the vikings were.
They both were positioned on opposite sides of the bridge, and a viking warrior was stood in between, holding an axe killing anyone who stood in his way
Harold used the tactic of surprise, half the troop snook up of the vikings, launching a full scale attack.
The devastation was large and Tostig was killed.
This put an end to any more viking attacks in the future as the distraction was so large.
Explain the preparations took by William and Harold in order to prepare for the battle of Hastings.
William was known to be a strong, violent man, with a successful track record of scaring away invaders.
After hearing the news of Harolds coronation, he instantly started preparing for war. Gathering 10,000 men, food and horses. His army was made up of professional men.
Luckily, the winds swept him right over to England, where he marched to Hastings, and got his men to savage the surroundings.
Harold heard of the invasion and instantly marched his men over 305km in 5 days in order to meet the invaders.
Whilst he had an army of 7-8,000 men, they were not as skilled as Williams, and where tired from the other two fights which had occurred previously, and then the marching down to Hastings.
explain the events of the battle of Hastings.
started fighting around 9 o’clock, where William imposed an aggressive attack.
The English stood compact in a shield wall, upon the hill, which proved to be difficult to break.
This fight lasted hours.
William kept attempting to send arrows, his cavalry and men on foot to fight the shield wall, but nothing proved to be effective.
Rumour spread that Harold in fact had died, so the men started to question there fighting.
Harold had not, and at 4 pm, the English wall started to weaken, giving room for Williams troops to launch a full attack.
this allowed for Harold to be shot with an arrow, falling to his death
William off Normandy beat the English.
On Christmas Day, William was crowned king in Westminster abbey.
explain the rebellions in the south which occurred 1067-69.
no major events occurred after his crowing on Christmas Day, as the nation feared him due to his harrying attack of the battle of Hastings.
Kent uprose first, but the culprits were killed.
Then Exeter rebelled. this gain was put a stop to, but William knew he was going to have to put a secure working into place.
So placed a castle within Exeter so he could see for the country further away.
Explain Edwin, Morcar and Edgar’s uprisings which occurred in 1068
Edwin and Mercer uprose, beliving that Harold had gone against his wishes to marry his daughter.
William sent flash raids and this stopped.
Next, Rebels attacked Durham, lead by Edgar of Althing. William again gained control, whilst Edgar escaped.
explain the events of the harrying of the north.
Danish fleets of over 240 ships landed in Kent, under the rule of Canute and Henry.
Their fleet raided the north marching down to the humber.
Edgar of Althing joined, in full force, resulting in York being seized.
William reacting brutally and quickly, marching from Nottingham to York, wearing his crown to show dominance over the rebells.
