Norman conquest and control Flashcards
What are the Anglo-Saxons?
Tribes that invaded England from Germany in 400 AD.
Who are the Vikings?
Seafaring people from Scandinavia who raided countries across Europe.
What is a monarch?
The King or Queen of a country.
What is the Witan?
A collection of Anglo-Saxon noblemen who advised the king.
What is a claimant?
One of three challengers to the throne.
What is the succession?
A new monarch taking over the throne of the old monarch.
What is it to be illegitimate?
To be born out of marriage, no royal blood
What is an oath?
A promise witnessed by God.
Who were the three claimants to the throne in 1066?
Harald Hardrada - King of Norway
Harold Godwinson - Anglo-Saxon
William Duke of Normandy
In what year did Edward the Confessor die?
1066
Why was there so much chaos caused by Edward the Confessor’s death?
He dies without any children to inherit the thrown so the succession was not clear.
What makes a good monarch?
Work with the Church
Have a strong army
Defend the country
Keep law and order
Be a strong and resilient leader
Take the advice of the nobles
Marry and have healthy sons
Have a claim to the throne that people accept
Gain the respect of the people
Be an experienced warrior
What does William say that Harold did in 1064?
He was said to have sworn an oath of loyalty to William in 1064 promising to support his claim to the English throne.
Which claimant had the support of Tostig Godwinson?
Harald Hardrada
Who supported Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne?
The Witan.
Who supported William’s claim to the throne?
The Pope.
What was Harald Hadrada’s claim to the throne?
Hadrada claimed that the English throne belonged to the Vikings since the days of King Canute.
Who is Tostig?
He was Harold Godwinson’s brother who supported Hadrada’s claim to the throne.
Who had the best claim to the throne in 1066?
William:
1) Royal bloodline - William was a distant cousin of Edward’s. Although some argued he was illegitimate, he had royal blood and a blood connection to the English monarch.
2) Promise/Oath - He claimed that Edward had promised him the throne in 1051, before his later deathbed promise to Harold Godwinson, and that Harold had promised to support his claim under oath in 1064.
3) Qualities - William had the best qualities of a king of all the claimants because he had an army, he had already shown himself a strong leader in Normandy.
4) Support - He was a good Christian and The Pope even supported his claim.
Therefore, William had the best claim as a proven strong leader with a blood connection to Edward, who had already promised him the throne.
Why did Tostig support Harald Hardrada?
Harold Godwinson stripped Tostig of his title Earl of Northumberland and he was bitterly angry.
What were the two parts of the Anglo-Saxon army?
The Huscarls and Fyrd.
Which part of the army were made up of untrained working men?
The Fyrd.
Why did Harold Godwinson send his army home after 9 months of waiting for an invasion?
Because most of his army were normal working men, he couldn’t afford to keep them doing nothing and he sent them to gather harvest.
Who did the Witan want to become king?
Harold Godwinson.
Which claimant was seen as illegitimate?
William of Normandy.
Which claimant was Anglo-Saxon?
Harold Godwinson.
When King Edward the Confessor died, he had been King of England for …. years.
24
What were Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne in 1066?
1) Edward had many times – including on his deathbed – promised the throne to Harold Godwinson, the most powerful noble in England. He had been the King’s chancellor.
2) Harold’s sister was also married to King Edward.
3) He was popular among the Anglo-Saxon nobles and an excellent fighter.
4) Support - The Witan agreed Harold should be king and crowned him the day after Edward’s death. The Witan are an assembly of wise men made up of the most powerful men in England, it advised the king.
Who was Edgar the Aetheling in 1066?
He was an Anglo-Saxon prince and great nephew of King Edward.
Aged 15 - lacked the experience and support to become king.
What is the meaning of ‘Hardrada’?
Hard Ruler.
What is the Bayeux Tapestry?
It is an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long that depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, led by William, Duke of Normandy challenging Harold II, King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. It is thought to date to the 11th century, within a few years of the battle.
Was Halley’s comet visible in 1066?
In 1066, the comet was seen in England and thought to be an omen: later that year Harold II of England died at the Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror claimed the throne. The comet is represented on the Bayeux Tapestry and described in the tituli as a star.
When was the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
25th September 1066
Who was involved in the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
Hadrada sailed from Norway
300 ships
10,000 men
Fought King Harold Godwinson.
HG was victorious.
24 ships returned to Norway with son Olaf who was shown mercy and swore an oath to HG, promised never to invade again.
When was the Battle of Hastings?
14th October 1066.
Who was involved in the Battle of Hastings?
King Harold Godwinson fought off an invasion by William of Normandy.
Fleet of 700 ships and 7000 men.
William won the battle - became known as William the conqueror.