causes and outcomes of anglosaxon resistance 1068-71 Flashcards
Which three rebellions occurred during this period? When?
The revolt of Earls Edwin and Morcar in 1068.
Edgar Æthling and the rebellions in the North, 1069.
Hereward the Wake and rebellion at Ely, 1070–71.
causes of revolt of edwin and morcar
William had promised that Edwin could marry his daughter. William went back on his word.
Morcar hated that William had reduced his power in Northumbria
Bad government- Odo of Bayuex and William FitzOsbern unlawfully took land from Anglo-Saxons. allowed their soldiers to sa/rape Anglo-Saxon women without punishment. As earls, Edwin and Morcar wanted to protect their people from this treatment
Taxes
William increased geld tax in December 1066. This policy was hated among the Anglo-Saxons. Edwin and Morcar knew that this money would only benefit Normandy, not England
Castles
Castles were a symbol of Norman dominance in an area. William expected Edwin and Morcar to establish castleries, areas that had to provide equipment and soldiers to a castle. They were not under the earls’ direct control - Castellans were often Normans
Loss of land
William had reduced Edwin’s earldom of Mercia. William had granted Tostig’s thegn Copsi the northern part of Morcar’s earldom of Northumbria. William gave parts of Morcar’s land in Yorkshire to Maerleswein, Norman earls performed illegal land grabs to expand their territory
two features of edwin and morcar revolt
One feature of Edwin and Morcar’s revolt was the use of other nobility (1). Edwin and Morcar gained the support of Maerleswein, Waltheof, Gospatric and Edgar Aethling .(1).
One feature of the revolt of Edwin and Morcar in 1068 is that they fled from Williams court. After being held by William and taken to Normandy,they escaped to the North and met up with several people who were going to aid the revolt.
consequence of edwin and morcar revolt.
- Weakened Anglo-Saxon Nobility
Edwin and Morcar surrendered to William after realizing they could not defeat him.
Although initially allowed to keep their positions as earls, their power was further eroded, and they were closely monitored by Norman officials. - Increased Use of Castles
The rebellion highlighted the importance of castles as tools for control. William built more castles across England, particularly in strategic locations, to prevent further uprisings.
These castles allowed the Normans to project their power, control key routes, and quickly respond to any future unrest. - Northern Unrest Continues
Although the revolt ended with Edwin and Morcar’s surrender, it did not fully pacify the north.
The dissatisfaction of the northern lords and population eventually led to the Harrying of the North (1069–1070), where William carried out widespread devastation to crush further resistance. - Stronger Norman Grip on Governance
Following the revolt, William reduced the independence of Anglo-Saxon earls and began replacing them with Norman lords who were loyal to him.
This rebellion showed William that Anglo-Saxon leaders could not be trusted, leading to the replacement of Anglo-Saxon aristocracy with Norman elites over time.
6)the North of England became a centre for rebellion against Norman control. William needed to find a way to stop the North from rebelling against him
why did edwin and morcar revolt fail
- William’s Swift and Decisive Response
William reacted quickly to the rebellion by marching his forces north, demonstrating his military strength and determination to suppress any resistance.
He built castles at Warwick and Nottingham, securing key strategic locations. - Lack of Widespread Support
Edwin and Morcar failed to gather enough support from other Anglo-Saxon nobles or the general population. Many Anglo-Saxons were either too afraid to rebel or skeptical about the rebellion’s chances of success. - Divisions Among the Rebels
Edwin and Morcar did not have a clear or unified strategy for the rebellion. Their leadership lacked coordination and focus, which weakened their ability to challenge William’s forces effectively.
There was no central figure to unite the Anglo-Saxons, as Edgar the Ætheling, a potential leader, did not actively participate in this revolt. - William’s Diplomacy
William used a combination of force and diplomacy to deal with the revolt. While he crushed resistance militarily, he also sought to win over some Anglo-Saxon nobles, offering leniency to those who submitted.
Edwin and Morcar surrendered without a fight after realizing they could not match William’s strength.
causes of edgar the aethling and rebellions of the north
- Edgar’s Claim to the Throne
Edgar the Ætheling was the last male descendant of the Anglo-Saxon royal house and had a strong claim to the throne. many Anglo-Saxons viewed Edgar as the rightful king, not William. - Resentment of Norman Rule
William’s imposition of Norman lords and his harsh governance, including the construction of castles and heavy taxation, angered the Anglo-Saxon population.
-William removed Gospatric from his position in Northumbria
-William replaced Gospatric with one of his supporters named Robert Cumin
-In January 1069, Cumin marched an army to the North
He attacked towns and villages on his way northwards
-Cumin allowed his troops to attack people and property in Durham Northumbrians captured Cumin’s troops and murdered them in the streets
-The rebels set fire to the house that Cumin had taken refuge in and killed Cumin - Cumin’s murder encouraged other rebels to fight against Norman rule
why did edgar revolt fail
-the building of castles made it harder for them to seize any key places
- edgar was only a teenager and lacked authority and experience
-various groups acting independently.
- williams sent a fleet to york to quickly
cause of anglo danish revolt
-Sweyn may have identified an opportunity to side with Edgar Aethling to increase Denmark’s riches and power
Vikings had raided England for centuries. Viking invaders landed on the East Coast as this was the closest to Scandinavia
Recent rebellions led Sweyn to believe that William was vulnerable. An invasion would have a greater chance of succeeding
Hardrada’s death at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. His death created an opportunity to become the most powerful leader in Scandinavia
two features of the edgar aethling rebellions in the north
The rebellion led by Edgar and supported by Danish forces culminated in the capture of York in 1069. After a siege, the rebels successfully took control of the city, which had been an important center of Anglo-Saxon power.
William quickly responded with military force, and the city was retaken by the Normans soon after. The city’s capture demonstrated the temporary success of the rebellion .
consequences of anglo danish revolt
William’s Retaliation: William responded with the Harrying of the North, devastating the region to prevent further uprisings.
Withdrawal of the Danes: Sweyn’s fleet withdrew after William bribed them, leaving the rebels without crucial support.
Enacting revenge on the North through the Harrying of the North in the winter of 1079-1080
the Harrying of the North stopped future uprisings from the North as, if the Danes returned, there were no crops or people to support their raiding campaigns
two features of anglo danish revolt
The Normans set York on fire As the fire damaged the fortifications, the Normans started an open fight with the Anglo-Danish troops
The Normans lost the battle Around 3,000 Norman soldiers died in the conflict . the Danes looted the city
and the army destroyed the Norman castle in York.
herward the wake and rebellion at ely time stamp
1070-1071
two features of the rebllion of ely
William’s troops built a mile-long wooden bridge over the marshland to reach the Isle of Ely When William’s troops used the bridge, it collapsed Many of William’s soldiers drowned due to their armour.
The Normans bribed local monks to direct the soldiers safely through the marshland William defeated Hereward and Morcar and captured Ely William captured Morcar.
what is guerilla warfare
a unconvential way of fighting battle- small groups of rebel citizens would set up booby traps , ambushes avoiding confrontation when up aginst a much stronger military force
causes of rebellion of ely
Support from Danish Forces-
King Sweyn II of Denmark, a long-standing enemy of the Normans, provided military support to the rebels. His involvement gave the rebellion additional strength and encouragement.
Symbolic Importance of Ely-
Ely was an important symbol of Anglo-Saxon resistance and independence. The area had a strong Anglo-Saxon heritage, and the abbey at Ely was a spiritual and political center. Its location in the fens (marshy region) provided natural defensive advantages, making it an ideal place for a rebellion to take hold.
Hereward the Wake’s Leadership
Hereward the Wake, an Anglo-Saxon noble who had been exiled after the conquest, returned to England and lost his family estates loss of land was a good motivator for rebellion.
