Norman Conquest Flashcards
What was the wergild?
The value of someone’s life, if someone was killed the murderer had to pay their wergild. If they couldn’t afford it they were executed. 4800 shillings for an earl
Where did Anglo Saxon’s live before 1066?
Why did the pope dislike the church?
I’m burhs and burh gheats which protected the entire community.
Stingand was corrupt and ignored his invitation to be blessed in rome. Priests were poorly educated and could marry, bible was written in old English rather than Latin
What did William do when he set out to attack the Anglo saxons?
Waited on the shores of Normandy for 6 weeks until the weather calmed down. Sailing across with 7000 men and a cavalry.He set up defenses in Pevensey and Hastings as well as telling his army to raid local town to provoke Harold.Harold diverted to the north in 4/5 days losing soldiers and did not wait to gather a stronger army.William also had the popes support with a banner
How was Normandy different to England before 1066?
What was Williams experience?
Normandy had a strong Roman Catholic religious culture with stone churches. Built ringwork and motte and bailing castle everywhere, Normandy was a powerful fief in France. Feudal system in place
2.Became duke of Normandy at 8 years old, William had to learn who to trust when Norma knights tried to grab what land they could, lords ruling in Williams place were also killed.
ESSAY PRACTICE:What helped William win the battle of Hastings?
1.Cavalry- horses to move faster and better tactics
-Completely new to England- no experience did not know how to battle with cavalry
2.Feigned retreat-Broke Saxon shield wall
-Managed to repeatedly cut down many saxons
3.Diversion to the North-Reduced and weakened the number of soldiers in Harold army
-Many skilled fighters died in previous battle
4.Williams planning-Had support from pope->made some saxons quit immediately
-Dives-Sur-Met-> huge Norman summer camp to train soldiers and prepare for the invasion
5.Williams experience-Became ruler at 8 years old
-Trained to be ruthless due to betrayal in Normandy when he was young
ESSAY PRACTICE: It took William five years of ruthless oppression to end the rebellions, how far do you agree?
-Agree: Harrying of the North-destroyed all land and crops-famine
Killed 100,000 people so they couldn’t live there anymore
-Disagree:Exeter-Pardoned the citizens in return for their loyalty
-Laid siege to Exeter(less ruthless and violent)
-Disagree:York-Had crown placed on head at Westminster abbey
-Built 2 Motte and baileys at York
-Agree:Ely-Killed Edwin and many others
Gauged out eyes and chopped of hands
What happened at Exeter and year?
Gyrtha was joined by Irish lords and the Danish king, she raised a rebellion in Exeter and refused to swear an oath of loyalty to William. William paid the Danes to leave and defeated the rebels. However William pardoned the people of Exeter in return for their loyalty and built a castle in Exeter. He also took Gyrthas land of her
What are some ways William established control between 1066 and 1068?
-Crowned at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 in front of Edward’s tomb.
-Forced the English to build motte and Bailey castles all over England
-Took control of all land and allowed thegns and earls to buy it back
-Gave East Anglia to his friend Fitzosbern
-Took Edwin and morcar and Edgar to Normandy as hostages in march 1067
How did William respond to Northern rebellions? 1069
Harrying of the North: Destroyed all the land, crops and killed all farm animals to so people couldn’t live there and rebel.—>famine. Killed around 100,000 people and set fire to many homes
Paid off:William also paid off the 250 Danish ships which arrived to help Edgar
Symbolic:Had the crown placed on his head on Christmas Day in York minster
What did William to in London in December 1066?
Surrounded London with his army, setting fire to the surrounding villages and houses.Edgar the Atheling(king) eventually surrendered
What happens at Ely and what year
June 1070
English Thegn Hereward returned from exhile and took revenge in some Normand by chopping of their heads and replacing where his brother head hung above his family home. He and many others led a rebellion in the island of Ely with Danes.Williams army couldn’t cross the mile long bridge and hired to witch to curse the English. William besieged Ely and some monks showed them to way to the monastery. Defeated the rebels but hereward escaped
Killed Edwin and arrested morcar
How did William respond to the rebellion of summer 1068?
When Edwin and morcar and Edgar were released they led a rebellion in the midlands. William harried the midlands, Edwin and morcar surrendered and William had a castle built at York in July of 1068
How did William respond to the spring rebellion of 1069?
When Edgar and rebels slaughtered some Norman’s in Durham and attacked York, they William fought them himself and built a second York castle. Edgar escaped
Describe two Norman castles built for status
Exeter- built after the Exeter rebellion when the locals had sworn loyalty to William, the gatehouse faced inwards to be admired, had Anglo Saxon triangular windows- not good for defense. Entrance had a poor design and was made of wood
Castle acre: Diverted a Roman road to make it appear more impressive, built a deer park and priory, Norman lords changed surrounding landscape to look better
Describe two castles built for military purposes
York:Redirected river to surround castle for a large moat, destroyed 200 surrounding homes to clear surrounding land to prevent surprise attacks, 500 knights as garrison AA York was a Viking city with often rebellions
Hen domen:Built on border of wales (violent, lots of rebellions) with layers of defense, covered walkways and closing windows for archers
What was the domesday book and the year it was made and where was it presented to William
1086, presented at old Sarum
A record of who owned what in England down to the last plough and pig. 34 shires were divided into 7 regions with commissioned collecting information from areas where they did not own land themselves. Compared wealth in 1086 to 1066
Evidence to support the domesday book was made for taxes
William told his commissioners to make note of where more could be taken than what had already been taken. Rumours of a Viking invasion worried William, so he needed to raise taxes to build an army
Evidence to support the domesday book was made for control
The book was ordered by individual, stating the land owner and every thing that person owned rather than geographical- meaning it wasn’t good for collecting taxes. William knew who owned what so could take land of anyone being unloyal. It also confirmed William as the undisputed ruler of England and allowed Norman lords to establish what they owned
What were Anglo Saxon burh geats?
How did burhs differ to normal castles
Egg shaped enclosures with a hall in the centre, has a ditch and earthbank.
Burhs protected the entire town from invasion with the thegn in the middle, whereas motte and baileys only protected the Normans from rebellions
How many castles were built by 1071 and how many between 1071 and 1087
35
500 built in countryside by barons for status
Castles were initially built to deal with rebellions and eventually mainly for status
ESSAY PRACTICE:Castles were Williams main way of gaining control over England how far do you agree?
Agree:Forced Anglo Saxons to build motte and Bailey castles-intimidation
Motte and baileys eg York watched over city’s and dealt with rebellions
Disagree:Violence-Harrying of North
-Harrying of midland Edwin morcar and Edgar submitted
Disagree:Domesday book-Record land owners to take away land in even if rebellion eg 1075 Anglo-Norman rebellion with earl Waltheof
-Able to take land and give to Norman lords who have it to knights in return for loyalty
Disagree:Peaceful-Kept promises such as allowing E+M and Edgar back to England
-Paid off Danes during rebellions
