GCSE Normans Booklet 1

Question 1

How many housecarls were there in the Saxon army?

Answer 1

2500-3000

Question 2

What was the population of Britain in ____?

Answer 2

1066
2 million

Question 3

Which group of nobles advised Anglo-Saxon kings?

Answer 3

The Witan

Question 4

Who was the youngest claimant to the throne of England in ____?

Answer 4

1066
Edgar Aetheling, 14 years old

Question 5

What was the name of the Viking claimant to the English throne?

Answer 5

Harald Hardraada

Question 6

How long had Harald Hardraada ruled over Norway?

Answer 6

20 years

Question 7

Which member of the Godwin family supported Harald Hardraada?

Answer 7

Tostig Godwinson (Harold Godwinson’s brother)

Question 8

What was Duke William of Normandy’s claim to the throne of England?

Answer 8

Edward the Confessor was raised in Normandy and Harold Godwinson swore an oath to help William become king in 1064

Question 9

What was Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne of England?

Answer 9

Head of the most powerful family in England and had been Edward the Confessor’s sub-regulus

Question 10

What types of soldiers made up the Anglo-Saxon army?

Answer 10

Housecarls (professional soldiers), thegns (lords) and fyrds (peasants)

Question 11

Who did William gain the support of before the Norman invasion?

Answer 11

The Pope - William was given his banner

Question 12

How big was William’s army before the Norman invasion

Answer 12

7000 soldiers, 3000 horses and 700 ships

Question 13

What mistake did Harold Godwinson make on _th ___________, ____?

Answer 13

8th September 1066
He sent many of his soldiers home to bring in the harvest (many were farmers!)

Question 14

How big was Harald Hardraada’s invasion fleet and army?

Answer 14

300 ships and 8000 soldiers

Question 15

What was the first battle that took place between Saxons and the Viking in ____?

Answer 15

1066
Battle of Fulford Gate, 20th September 1066

Question 16

Who won the Battle of Fulford Gate?

Answer 16

Harald Hardraada; Earls Edwin and Morcar were defeated and fled

Question 17

When was the Battle of Stamford Bridge and what was the outcome?

Answer 17

25th September, 1066; Harald Hardraada and Tostig were killed

Question 18

How far did Harold Godwinson have to march to meet William at Hastings?

Answer 18

200 miles in just 4-5 days from York

Question 19

When was the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 19

14th October 1066

Question 20

How big were both the Saxon and Norman armies

Answer 20

6000-7000 troops each

Question 21

What types of soldiers made up the Norman army at Hastings?

Answer 21

Soldiers, archers and cavalry

Question 22

What defensive technique did the Saxons use at Hastings?

Answer 22

The shield wall

Question 23

What did William do when there were rumours he was dead at the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 23

He took off his helmet and spoke inspirational words to his army

Question 24

What tactic did William’s soldiers use to make the Saxon soldiers move off Senlac Hill?

Answer 24

The feigned retreat (pretending to run away)

Question 25

Following Hastings, which town did William attack to punish the Saxons?

Answer 25

Romney

Question 26

Which leading Saxon nobles were given land to make them loyal to William?

Answer 26

Edwin, Morcar and Edgar Aetheling

Question 27

What was William’s attack on the north of England called and when was this?

Answer 27

The Harrying of the North and 1069

Question 28

How many died during the Harrying of the North?

Answer 28

100,000

Question 29

What type of castle did the Normans built on arriving in England?

Answer 29

Motte and bailey castles

Question 30

How long did it take to build a motte and bailey castle?

Answer 30

2 weeks

Question 31

Where did the Normans build their castles?

Answer 31

In strategic places (e.g. river crossing) and in pro-Saxon areas

Question 32

When did William I die?

Answer 32

9th September 1087

Question 33

Which Norman rebelled against William II?

Answer 33

Bishop Odo in 1088

Question 34

When did William II die and how?

Answer 34

2nd August 1100, he was shot with an arrow whilst hunting