Chapter 4 - Edward the Elder 899-924

Question 1

Why was there no guarantee Edward would take over?

Answer 1

Concept of primogeniture not introduced yet

Question 2

Where did Aethelwold seize?

Answer 2

Seized Wimborne - staking claim to throne

Question 3

What did Edward do to get Aethelwold to leave Wimborne?

Answer 3

Set up camp near Wimborne, which was enough to get Aethelwold to flee to Northumbria

Question 4

Why was Aethelwold’s alliance a threat?

Answer 4

He now had extra resources to launch offensives from

Question 5

Who did Aethelwold encourage to raid Wessex and Mercia in 903?

Answer 5

East Anglian vikings

Question 6

How did Edward respond to 903 raids?

Answer 6

Raided parts of Cambridgeshire - lead to battle of holme, Edward retreats, but Kent division stays, Aethelwold attacks, many casualties, Aethelwold killed

Question 7

Evidence for Mercian independence

Answer 7

Charters suggest that they didn’t agree to Edward’s overlordship, construction of new church (St Oswald) shows independence

Question 8

Evidence against Mercian independence

Answer 8

Charter hint they did accept Edward’s overlordship, coins struck in Mercia were under Edward’s name, Edward lead combined Wessex and Mercian army to raid Northumbria in 909

Question 9

Edward Marriage 1

Answer 9

Ecqwynn - provide heir, secure lineage

Question 10

Edward Marriage 2

Answer 10

Aelflaedd - Unite members of Wessex dynasty during succession crisis

Question 11

Edward Marriage 3

Answer 11

Eadgifu - strengthen relations with Anglo-Saxons in Kent, invaluable in reclaiming parts of Danelaw

Question 12

What seemingly established peace with settlers?

Answer 12

The founding of the Danelaw, under the treaty between Alfred and Guthrum

Question 13

What does Scandinavian settlement suggest?

Answer 13

An integration with the Anglo-Saxon people

Question 14

Scandinavian settlers by 903

Answer 14

A mix of Viking armies and Danes from Ireland

Question 15

Sources of evidence for settlement

Answer 15

Place names, material culture, genetic data

Question 16

Order of burhs

Answer 16

Burh constructed, Vikings yield, people in area would submit to Anglo-Saxons

Question 17

First major burh

Answer 17

911 Hertford - designed to repel Vikings from East Anglia and East Midlands

Question 18

Where were new burhs?

Answer 18

Mainly on the border of the Danelaw

Question 19

Forms of force

Answer 19

Raiding and plundering

Question 20

Force - Edward example

Answer 20

909 - harried Northumbrian Vikings, lead to negotiated peace deals and payment of riches to Edward

Question 21

Force - Aethelflaed example

Answer 21

Offensive campaigns to capture Derby and Leicester - so successful that people of York wanted to form an alliance with her, but she died before this could happen

Question 22

Edward’s position at time of Aethelflaed’s death

Answer 22

918 - strong position made it easier to take control of Tamworth and assume title of King of Wessex and Mercia

Question 23

Peaceful methods of recapture

Answer 23

Edward wanted to broker peace deals, he encouraged Athens to purchase land in Viking territory - so they could monitor Viking expansionism

Question 24

Submission of Welsh - how

Answer 24

918 Aethelflaed’s death, Edward takes Tamworth, Mercians and Welsh sought him as lord

Question 25

Submission of Welsh - why

Answer 25

Extension of friendship, Mercians hostile so Welsh need protecting

Question 26

Submission of Scottish - how

Answer 26

Scottish ‘chose him as lord’ at the meeting in 920

Question 27

Submission of Scottish - why

Answer 27

impressed with Edward’s handling of Vikings and wanted to see what could be gained form negotiation

Question 28

Submission of Reginald - how

Answer 28

920 - Acknowledged Edward’s overlordship at the same time as Scots

Question 29

Submission of Reginald - why

Answer 29

Possibly frightened into submission due to Edward’s success in defeating other vikings

Question 30

Anglo Saxon Chronicle - Submission

Answer 30

Only record of these events, may have been glorified in favour of Edward to gain Mercian support

Question 31

Viking threat - Ireland

Answer 31

Viking armies attacked monasteries and created encampments in Ireland. 902 - overpowered and forced to flee to north-east england

Question 32

Growing Viking threat

Answer 32

As settlements spread and grew the vikings posed a greater threat to Edward

Question 33

Raegnald and the Scots

Answer 33

Fought Constantine, at Battle of Corbridge and was defeated. 918 - Vikings take revenge and win

Question 34

Why is Raegnald’s victory against the Scots worrying?

Answer 34

A number of Anglo-Saxons were rumoured to be fighting on his side

Question 35

Political continuity

Answer 35

Mercian independence exaggerated - Aethelflaed and Aethelred had acknowledged Edward’s overlordship

Question 36

Political discontinuity

Answer 36

Aethelflaed’s role in helping Edward consolidate and expand his power has been marginalised in order to make the Wessex royal family seem more important