KeyTopic1:Anglo-SaxonEngland and the NormanConquest,1060-66 Flashcards
King Edward
Edward the confessor, King of England 1042-66
anglo-saxon england
the period of history of the part of britain thta became known as england from the fith century until the Norman conquest of england in1066
role of the King
head of the government, made all the important decisions, good military skills, laws made and obeyed and he had to manage his nobles by co-operating with them and controlling them
who were the most important nobles
earls
how many earls were there
about 6
who were the witan
the wise men, most powerful nobles
what did the witan do
offered their views to the king, offer a recommendation if the king wanted advice on the succession
hundred
a subdivision of a shire, having its own court
reeve
a local official, in particular the chief law officer of a town or district in Anglo-Saxon england
sheriff
the chief officer of the crown in a shire, having various administrative and judicial functions
shire
a county area in england
what did the earls do
controlled large areas of england, prevented rebellions, upheld laws and raised armies
who is the most powerful out of thegns and earls
earls
most important earldoms
wessex,mercia,northumbria,east anglia
who are thegns and what they do
nobles who held their lands directly from the king in return for military service in time of war
what was land divided into
shires and hundreds
who looked after the shires
sheriffs
who looked after hundreds
reeves
who were ceorls
free men who owned their land, they had to serve in an army if called on to do so
who were peasants
rented land from the thegn and had to do work on his land for three days each week
barter
exchange of goods for other goods without using money
blood feud
a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings
diocese
an area administered by a bishop
mutilation
injuring or disfiguring severely, especially cutting off body parts
retaliation
the action of harming someone because they have harmed you
tithing
a grouping of men, originally ten in number, for legal and security purposes
trial by ordeal
a method of determining a person’s guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under the control of God
wergild
the cash value of someone’s life in Anglo-saxon england
what was wergild used for
compensate victims of crime, depending on the rank of the person in society- the higher the rank the higher the compensation
what was the punishment for treason
capital punishment
what was the punishment for a crime against the church
mutilation
what was the punishment for reoffenders
mutilation
what was the main form of law enforcement
tithings
two types of court
shire and hundred
what happened in shire and hundred courts
used a jury made up of people who knew the parties in the case, the jury listened to the evidence and made a decision
what happened if the judge didn’t come to a decision
trial by ordeal
village and town economy
villages had a subsistence economy: they produced enough food for themselves and some could produce other materials
some goods traded at local markets and either bartered or sold
towns would have weekly markets
craftsmen would trade their hand-made goods
how much of the land did the church own
25%
who attended church
everyone
how was the church organised
hierarchically organised, 2 archbishops (Canterbury and York), 15 bishops and numerous priests. Bishops were in charge of a diocese and they ensured that the priests carried out their duties effectively
which family was the wealthiest in England
Godwin family
house of godwin
Harold Godwinson and his brothers were earls and controlled much of the country by 1060. Harold had a strong claim to the throne as the leading nobleman
when did Godwin die
1053
what happened when Godwin died
Harold Godwinson became Earl of Wessex
when did Tostig become Earl of Northumbria
1055
who was Harold Godwinson’s sister
Edith Godwinson
who did Edith Godwinson marry
King Edward
who did Harold Godwinson make a ‘danish marriage’ to
Edith Swan-Neck
when did Harold G marry Edith Swan-neck
1045
who was Morcar
Son of the earl of mercia. He became Earl of northumbria in 1065
bayeux tapestry
an embroided cloth about 70 metres long, illustrating events leading up to the norman conquest and made between 1066-77
what does the bayeux tapestry show
Harold going to normandy in 1064 to confirm Edward’s promise of the English throne to William of Normandy
