Migration and Empire - Part One Flashcards
Who invaded England once Romans left?
Tribes from Denmark and Northern Germany known as Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
How did Anglo-Saxons rule over England?
There were different kingdoms, led by lords and chieftains.
What religion were the Anglo-Saxons by AD 800?
Christian.
Who were the Vikings?
People from Scandinavia.
How did the vikings attack England?
Around AD 790, Vikings raided monasteries and villages near the coast.
They also sailed up rivers and attacked further inland and set up camps.
Why did the vikings invade Britain?
-They knew of how wealthy some Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had become.
-Better farming land - Scandinavia had little arable land.
-Opportunities for younger brothers who didnβt inherit land in Scandinavia.
-Scandinavia was becoming overpopulated.
What happened in 871AD to Alfred?
Alfred, 22 year old son of Aethelred of Wessex became king after his fatherβs death. He would become known as Alfred the Great and would become king. He fought the Vikingd and helped bring peace to the country.
What did the vikings do in 876AD?
After conquering Northumbria, East Anglia and most of Mercia, the vikings now turned to Wessex and began a series of attacks. After some early success, King Alfred and his army were driven back and forced to hide on the Isle of Athelney in the Somerset marshes.
What did King Alfred do in May 878AD?
He beat the vikings at the Battle of Edington in Wiltshire and the two sides discussed peace.
How did the vikings and Alfred agree to peace?
-The viking leader Guthrum had to become Christian and agree never to attack Wessex again.
-A boundary was created between Anglo-Saxon and Viking territory. The vikings were to live in the north and east of the country in the Danelaw.
What happened after the peace was signed between Alfred and Guthrum?
-During Alfredβs reign (871-899), there were still Viking raids on Anglo-Saxon territory.
-However, Alfred strengthened defences across the country.
-Many vikings in the Danelaw settled and lived fairly peacefully.
-People travelled and traded between Wessex and the Danelaw and there was intermarriage between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons.
-Other kingdoms in England acknowledged him to be the overlord.
-After Alfred died, his descendants recaptured parts of the Danelaw.
-By Alfredβs great-grandson (Edgar the Peaceful) became king in 959AD, the country was settled as it had been for generations.
What kingdoms were there before Viking raids?
Northumbria in the north, Mercia in the midlands, East Anglia, Essex and Kent in the South-East, Sussex in the south, Wessex in the South-West.
What happened in 991 during King Aethelredβs reign?
A huge Viking army led by Sven Forkbeard and Olaf Tryggvason arrived at Folkestone in a fleet of over 90 ships.
How was King Aethelred defeated in 991?
At the Battle of Maldon in 991, Aethelred was defeated by the Vikings.
What was the Danegeld?
Money that Aethelred paid the Danish to stop raids, costing a fortune of taxpayer money, making the English population angry.
How did Aethelred stop paying the Danegeld?
He made a deal with the Normans stating that they would support themselves against their enemies. This meant Vikings would not be able to use Normandy as a base to launch attacks on England. This did not stop Viking attempts to conquer them.
What happened in November 1002?
Aethelred carried out a mass killing of all Viking men, women and children south of the Danelaw. This became known as the St Briceβs Day Massacre.
How did Sven Forkbeard react in 1013?
The King of Denmark is angered (his sister was murdered) so he summons a large army and conquers England. Aethelred fled.
What happened to Forkbeard in 1014? What were the consequences?
Forkbeard died. His son, Cnut, succeeded him. Aethelred returned to England and forces Cnut back to Denmark. Aethelred is now back on the throne.
What happened in England between 1014-16?
Cnutβs supporters in England rebel against Aethelred.
What happened in April 1016?
Aethelred died and his son, Edmund, became king.
What happened in October 1016?
Cnut finally beats King Edmund and beat him at the Battle of Assandun in Essex.
How did Cnut and Edmund agree to terms after Cnutβs victory?
-Wessex will belong to Edmund.
-The rest of the country will be run by Cnut.
-When one dies, the other inherits the land.