Norman conquest 1066-1100 revision pack 1 Flashcards
What is a housecarl?
A professional well-trained soldier hired by the king or an earl.
What is the feudal system?
Social hierarchy based on the holding of lands.
What were the 7 Anglo- Saxon kingdoms that emerged after the Romans left?
Kent, Essex, Sussex, East Anglia, Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex.
Who was King Canute?
The man who succeeded in conquering all of the country and added to its empire along with Denmark and Norway/
When did Edward the Confessor become king?
1042- He was the last Anglo- Saxon king and his death triggered the Norman invasion.
What is a Thegn?
A person who owned more than 5 hides of land- similar to a knight in later times.
Who is Godwin?
Godwin had been the Earl of Wessex since 1018- it was the oldest and richest earldom in the whole kingdom.
In 1042, what did Godwin support?
Edward’s claim to the throne and a few years later Edward married Godwin’s daughter, Edith.
Who were the most powerful men in the nobility?
The earls, who were given large areas of land ( earldoms) by the king. In return, earls were expected to make sure their earldoms were well governed.
What were most of the population?
Peasants, who did agricultural work for their lord and were given a small plot of land in return.
How was the Anglo-Saxon Church split up?
Into 16 large areas called dioceses, each one controlled by a bishop. By 1066. these regions were starting to be divided into smaller areas called parishes.
What is simony?
Some churchmen bought and sold religious offices and promotions.
