Migration: Conquerors and the Conquered Flashcards
- The Vikings - Hundred Years War - Angevin Empire
Name 2 groups of people who settled in England before c.750
- Hunter-Gatherers
- Anglo-Saxons
- Farmers
- Beaker people
- Celts
When did the Vikings first begin to explore then raid countries around them?
Mid 700s
Where is the first recorded Viking attack in England?
The monastery at Lindisfarne in Northumbria in 793AD
Why did the Vikings move from raiding to settling in Britain?
In Scandinavia:
- Poor soil
- Overcrowding
- Only the eldest sons could inherit the land
Which Anglo-Saxon ruled Wessex?
Alfred of Wessex/the Great
At which battle did Alfred eventually beat the Vikings?
Battle of Edington
What was agreed in the peace deal between the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons?
The Viking leader Guthrum became a Christian and agreed to never attack Wessex again. Alfred accepted the Vikings and settled the boundary
What was the name of the land over which Vikings ruled?
Danelaw
Give an example of the influence of Norse in the development of the English language.
Days of the week eg: Thursday named after tjor
How did the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings interact peacefully?
Trade and intermarriage
Which kingdom did Athelstan conquer?
Northumbria
Why was Alfred’s great-grandson known as Edgar the Peaceful?
England was the most settled it had been for generations
What was the North Sea Empire and who was its leader?
North Sea Empire consisted of England, Denmark, Norway, and parts of Sweden and it was ruled by King Cnut
Describe King Cnut’s time as King of England
- dealt with opposition harshly
- viewed England as the main domain and greatest asset
- introduction of Danish nobles helped to control England
How did the North Sea Empire change England?
- changes to the social hierarchy system
- improved trading connections
- stronger relationship with the Church
Who did Aethelred marry?
Emma of Normandy
Describe the problems Aethelred faced as king
- was 9 years old when he ascended the throne
- reign was difficult due to corruption amongst advisors
What agreement did Aethelred make with the Vikings?
To pay Danegeld (money paid to the Vikings to leave)
Where did Forkbeard travel from to attack England?
Denmark
Why did Forkbeard attack England?
- take revenge
- wealth of England would improve Vikings status
Who was Emma of Normandy and why did Aethelred and Cnut marry her?
A powerful figure in the 1000s married two kings and was Queen Consort through her marriage alliances
Why was Matilda (daughter of Henry 1) queenship challenged?
She was a woman and people thought that it was unfit for a woman to be the Monarch of a nation. Consequently usurped by her cousin Stephen
Why were the marriages of Emma of Normandy and Queen Matilda important in terms of empire?
Queen Emma: united Normandy with England
Queen Matilda: united England with Anjou, France
Describe Cnut and Aethelred’ s rivalry
- Cnut was Forkbeard’s son
- He took the throne after Forkbeard’s death but was fought off by Aethelred who came to reclaim his throne
- After Aethelred died in 1016, his son Edmund ascended the throne but was overthrown by Cnut
Who was Edward the Confessor?
- Aethelred’ s son
- ascended the throne because the public hated both of Cnut’s sons
- considered himself more French than British having spent more time there
- died having left no clear heir to the throne
Who were the three contenders to the throne and how were they related to Edward the confessor?
- Harold Godwinson: Edward’s brother in law
- William the Conqueror: Edward’s distant cousin + claimed Edward had promised him the throne before he died
- Harold Hardrada: King of Norway, family were descendants of King Cnut
Who was the victorious contender and why?
William of Normandy because of his military skillset + weaknesses of Harold Godwinson’s army who’d previously fought Harold Hardrada at Stamford Bridge
How did England change under the Norman rule?
- built castles
- used the French language, which made it the language of the nobles and those of a higher status
- built churches and cathedrals
- introduced the feudal system and the Doomsday book
- made his loyal followers Barons and Knights in England + gave them property and land
- used violence to destroy the opposition
Who was the first king of the Angevin Empire?
Henry II
What was the significance of the Norman Empire?
Short term:
- taxes paid to French
- Anglo-Saxons became second-class citizens
Long term:
- changed architecture
- introduced the Feudal system
- impacted language
How was the Angevin Empire formed and expanded?
- hereditary ties to Anjou and Maine
- Aquitaine through marriage
- Brittany and Ireland through conquest
How was Henry II able to invade Ireland?
In 1171, Irish Lod asked Henry II for assistance: a team of barons travelled to Ireland to help. The barons took opportunity to seize the land. Henry II visited in 1171 and was declared the Overlord
Describe the impacts of the Angevin Empire
- trade between nations
- culture + language
- political-international control
- social patterns
Why did the Angevin Empire decline under Richard I and John I?
Richard I: spent his time on crusades
John I: had too many opponents who seized the opportunity to launch attacks
Why was the Angevin Empire significant?
- Henry II seen as Europe’s most powerful leader at the time
- largest Empire an English King ruled over
- changed the way England was seen
- changed England and Ireland’s relationship
Why did the Angevin Empire fall?
- John being a poor military commander
- King Phillip II conquering parts of France John ruled
- loss of support
When did the 100 years war occur?
between 1337-1453
Why did England go to war against France in 1337?
- Edward III wanted more power + prove that he was stronger than his father
- France threatened to cut trade: Flanders wool
- England controlled the Gascony wine area
- hereditary ties with France through Grandfather
- conflict with Scotland who supported the French
How did the 100 years war impact the English identity?
- separation from mainland Europe after losing majority of land
- shared language (stopped speaking French as it was the enemy language)
- sense of pride through victorious battles eg: Battle of Agincourt
Name one battle that occurred during the 100 years war
- Battle of Crecy
- Battle of Poiters
- Battle of Agincourt
Why did John I have a poor relationship with the Barons?
- imposed heavy taxes on the Barons to pay back his debts from funding the war
- If the barons refused, he took away their property and responded with violence
Why were the barons unhappy with the way that John I was ruling the country?
- poor military leadership and losing territory
- raising taxes
- ignoring his advisors
- horror at the idea that he could murder his own nephew
- quarreling with the Pope
Why did Henry V decide to fight at the battle of Agincourt?
Henry V wanted to make the war with France focus of his reign and was determined to regain lost territories in France
Describe the consequences of the Battle of Agincourt
- between 700-1000 French soldiers killed as compared to the 100 English soldiers
- gave England the momentum they required to gain back lost land –> basically restored hope
What was the significance of John’s reign to England?
- saw the end of the Angevin Empire
- left England’s economy in ruins
- reign saw the creation of the Magna Carta
What was the Magna Carta?
A Great Charter drawn up by barons detailing the changes they wanted, which would distribute some of the King’s power to said, barons:
- gave every free man the right to a fair and just trial
- respecting the rights of the Church
- stopped unfair taxes
What were the impacts of the loss of the Angevin Empire?
- Magna Carta formed: start of a partial democracy
- had to increase taxes
- power of the King decreased
- England started to move away from French traditions
What were the short term outcomes of the Hundred years war?
- English lost all of their French territory except Calais
- A treaty formed between France and England
- Destruction of areas that had to face battle
- Damaged economy of both countries involved
- death of many soldiers from both sides
What were the long term impacts of the 100 years war?
- Military Impact: focus shifted from cavalry to archers
- France became one unified country
- increase in nationalism
- a better system of taxation established
- increase in gunpowder
