Norman England, c1066-c1100 Flashcards
When did the reign of Edward the Confessor start?
1042
It was followed by a time of instability.
How could the King make anyone an earl in Anglo-Saxon England?
-He would give them a piece of land in return for their loyalty known as Patronage.
-He could also take away the land and could call upon his earls to provide an army in terms of war.
What was the population in Anglo-Saxon England?
2 million mostly living in southern areas
What was society like in Anglo-Saxon England?
Country was divided into earldoms (Earls could become very powerful and needed to be managed by King to maintain order).
Clear Hierarchy in society with king followed by earls & clergy (Peasants at the bottom).
King and earls commanded 2500-3000 professional soldiers (housecarls) to provide defence (could also call on peasants).
Main religion was the powerful Catholic Church owned large amounts of land and made rules.
Had a vast economic system with minting system drawing attention due to vast wealth.
What changes did the Normans make for Anglo-Saxon England?
- At first allowed Anglo-Saxons to keep earldoms but split the areas without earls into small areas for Normans to govern. These men are barons or tenants-in-chief.
- Gradually replaced other English earls with Normans and gave land to create Norman aristocracy.
- Most powerful barons included William’s half brothers, Robert of Mortmain and Bishop Odo as well as a distant cousin William Fitzosbern.
-By 1076, only two earldoms were still held by Anglo-Saxons.
What was the English Feudal System under the Normans?
King
Bishops: 25% land was controlled by church (tenants in chief) Barons: Grant land through subinfeudation and give protection and justice.
Knights: Mesne lords, who owned homage to another lord rather than to king, provide military aid and loyalty to king (military aid could be avoided through paying a tax called scutage).
Peasants: Mostly villeins who were not allowed to leave land or marry without Lord’s permission; some were freemen who paid rent to the lord but not tied in him.
What was the power of the Godwins in an Anglo-Saxon England?
-Most powerful figure apart from the King to which the Godwins controlled the largest and most important earldom, Wessex, as well as vast population.
-Power increased with Godwin’s daughter(Edith) marrying the King and sons Harold, Sweyn and Tostig appointed to powerful positions.
-They were exiled in 1052 after a public falling out. A year later the arrived with a large army and King Edward was unable to supress them so had to accept Godwins’ wish.
What is the Witan?
Leading earls and clergy (nominated a successor)
What is the difference between Post obitum and Novissima verba
Post obitum- successor named after death.
Novissima verba- king named successor on deathbed.
-What ways can one claim the throne in Anglo-Saxon England?
-Primogeniture (generally Cognatic Primogeniture).
-Another male relative.
-A male relative of previous King.
-Post Obitum.
-Novissima Verba.
-The Witan could nominate a successor.
-Use force to claim throne.
Who were the 4 claimants to the throne?
Harold Godwinson
Edgar the Aethling
William Duke of Normandy
Harald Hardrada
What was Harold Godwinson’s claims to the throne?
-Following the death of his father, Earl Godwin, Harold became Edward’s ‘sub-regulus’.
-Was Edward’s brother in law.
-Had shown loyalty to Edward over brother Tostig.
-Harold claimed to have been promised throne on Edward’s deathbed (Novissima Verba).
-Had the support of the English nobles and the Witan.
When was Harold Godwinson crowned King?
6th January 1066
What was Edgar the Aetheling’s claims to the throne?
-Edgar was the Great-Nephew of Edward.
-Lived with Edward since childhood so was treated by many as adopted son.
-Was an Anglo-Saxon and so had the support of many English Earls.
-Was only a teenager in 1066, so lacked experience , military and political prowess to challenge Harold Godwinson’s coronation.
What was William Duke of Normandy’s claims to the throne?
-Was an experienced leader and had been Duke since age 7.
-A distant cousin of King Edward through Edward’s mother Emma of Normandy.
-William claimed the throne had been promised to him several years prior.
-Edward grew up in Normandy and his court and rule were influenced by this, suggesting he wanted a Norman to succeed.
-Claimed that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support William’s claim 1064- it was said to have been an oath over a holy relic and so was therefore binding in the eyes of God.
What was Harold Hardrada’s claims to the throne?
-As a Viking, he had a reputation as strong and powerful warrior [Hardrada means ‘hard ruler’].
-Since Edward was celibate he believed that a relative of the previous ruler should get the throne since he was related to Cnut (reigned from 1016-1035).
-Claimed that his father, Magnus had been promised the throne by Cnut’s son Harthacnut but when Harthacnut died in 1042, Edward took throne- Harold was determined to claim what he felt was rightfully his.
How was William able to invade England?
-King of France was 14, and so was the most powerful man in north-western Europe with no threat nearby so could look across channel.
-William secured support of Pope Alexander II by saying he would reform the English Catholic Church and so the Papal Banner helped him with support since ‘God was on his side.’
-Spent a fortune building boats to cross channel; built flat-bottomed boats were built to make transporting horses easier; new weapons made and flat-pack castles prepared.
-Kept men in line and issued punishments to those who stepped out of line.
-Stationed fleet in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to cross channel in shortest distance.
-Recruited people willing to fight beneath Papal Banner, Mercenaries looking for riches, and loyal Norman men; 8000 men in total.
When was the battle of Fulford Gate?
20th September 1066
Battle of Fulford Gate:
Who was fighting on Harold Hardrada’s side?
-Hardrada along with 7000 Vikings.
-Tostig Godwinson (Harold Godwinson’s brother)
Battle of Fulford Gate:
Who was fighting on the English side?
-Commanded by Edwin (Earl of Mercia), Morcar (Earl of Northumbria).
-Army of around 3500 men.
Battle of Fulford Gate:
What happened?
-Initial English attack took the Vikings by surprise but Viking numbers overwhelmed the Anglo-Saxon army and Edin & Morcar were defeated.
-Hardrada was victorious, English army scattered and earls forced to flee.
-Vikings however had lots of casualties.
How did Tostig die?
An arrow to the throat during Battle of Stamford Bridge
How many Motte and Bailey castles were built between 1066 and 1086?
500
Battle of Stamford Bridge:
When did it take place?
25th September 1066
Battle of Hastings:
How much distance did Harold and his private army cover in 4 days?
- 306km (190miles)
Battle of Stamford Bridge:
What happened ?
1) Reached Tadcaster on 24th September 1066, a town outside York
2) Waited overnight to avoid being spotted
3) Entered York 25th September, with his army on high ground
4) Confronted Vikings at Stamford Bridge, Hardrada sent 3 riders on his fastest horses to get reinforcements
5) Hardrada and Tostig both were killed
6) Reinforcements initially routed English, but were defeated
7) Hardrada’s son Olaf was allowed to leave with the surviving soldiers
Battle of Stamford Bridge
How much distance did Harold and his private army cover in 4 days?
- 306km (190miles)
Why was William delayed in his arrival to England?
It was delayed by 6 weeks since the wind was blowing in the wrong direction.
How was land settled during Norman times?
Land was given to the eldest son instead.
Why did William’s delayed arrival to England work in his favour?
He arrived at Pevensey to an undefended coast and after Harold Godwinson waiting for weeks, he sent his men home since most of them were farmers who were needed for the harvest.
Why did William keep some Anglo Saxon laws, as well as create more Norman laws?
To ensure that he maintained control in both kingdoms.
How was England divided up, under the Normans?
- Divided into smaller Norman earldoms
- Often based around shire towns, such as Chester and Shrewsbury
How was law and order enforced in shires and how did this develop under Normans?
Meetings were held at shire courts (twice a year), where cases where heard by the sheriffs.
Under Normans:
Later replaced by hundred courts, where tenants could appeal cases directly to the lord
What were punishments of Anglo-Saxon times and how did this change in Norman times?
Brutal with execution and mutilation. Punishment also based on ordeal system based on the principle of ‘Judicium Dei’ (the judgment of God). They would be put through things like ordeal of fire where it was believed that God would save them from punishment.
Normans:
Mostly same as Anglo-Saxon with addition of the ‘ordeal of combat’, involving a fight to death between the accused and accuser.
How was land settled during Anglo Saxon ages?
They divided up land between members of the family.
What is primogeniture?
The eldest son receives land or titles from his father.
How did forest laws develop from Anglo-Saxon to Norman times?
People were allowed to hunt animals in the forests to supplement their diets.
Normans:
Since William was a keen hunting didn’t allow ordinary people to hunt on lands and introduced the forest laws, banning activities.
What was ‘The Common Oath’ during Anglo-Saxon times?
People swear not to commit major crimes.
What was the Common Oath replaced with in the Norman times?
Murdrum Fines
Consequences of breaking ‘The Common Oath’
If involved in a crime the criminal and their family is exiled or executed.
What is ‘Murdrum fines’?
If a Norman earl was killed, the whole area was heavily heavily fined.
What was the ‘Murdrum fines’ extended to
Any Norman, who were injured or attacked by an Anglo-Saxon, results in the area being heavily fined.
Purpose of ‘Murdrum Fines’
As Norman Earls and citizens were in danger from attacks by the local Anglo-Saxon population.
What was the ‘King’s court’
Upheld the laws of the king and was presided by king or designated official.
Who judged the
‘County courts’
The sheriff
Who were ‘Hundred Courts’ and how did they development under Normans?
Shires were divided into small areas (hundreds). They dealt with local land issues.
Normans:
Met more frequently than shire courts and run by the sheriff’s deputy.
What two powerful Anglo-Saxon earls opposed Willam?
Edwin and Morcar
What happened in 1066 at Berkhamsted?
The suppression of brothers Edwin, Morcar.
Led a rebellion in London soon after the Battle of Hastings soon put down by William.
Forced to show oath of loyalty before coronation in Berkhamsted and allowed them to keep their lands and titles.
What rebellion took place in 1069?
Rebellion of the Welsh Border
A Herefordshire theign, Edric the Wild, started a revolt with a large number of English followers, in the Welsh borders during 1067. Then the attacked reached Cheshire and Straffordshire in 1069, but were defeated in battle at the Norman castle in Shrewsbury.
Who lived in the Welsh borders?
English outlaws as it was difficult to rule.
When did William return to Normandy?
Between March and November 1067
What was the revolt of Eustace?
- A rebellion after the Welsh rebellion, led by King Edward’s brother in law, Eustace Count of Boulogne.
- They attacked Dover Castle in Kent, but was defeated by the knights inside.
- Made peace with William along with Edric the Wild
What was the rebellion in the south west and Exeter?
-City of Exeter rebelled against William’s rule in 1068, resulting in the king besieging the city with an army of Normans and Englishmen
- The city held out for 18 days, however Exeter was forced to surrender
- King built a castle on the highest ground, leaving his half-brother Robert of Mortain in charge
- On his way William supressed Bristol and Gloucester and defeated 3 of Harold Godwinson’s sons
What happened during the ‘rebellions of the Norman earls’?
- In 1075, William faced revolt from his own Norman Earls.
- Ralph de Gael was the leader who was joined by Roger de Breteuil, as he was unhappy that he didn’t have the same power, as his father had, under William.
- They have various other earls under them as well
- They were supported by King Philip 1 of France, as he didn’t want Normandy to be more powerful than the rest of France so wanted to keep William busy so he could exploit it.
- William let his regents, Lanfranc and Odo, to deal with the situation
- Lanfranc sent troops to Hertfordshire, whilst Odo forced Ralph to retreat to Norwich, then Brittany
- During Christmas 1075, the rebels were blinded and murdered, except for Roger who was imprisoned, instead due to to his friendship with William
Was there any other major rebellions during William’s reign after 1075?
No
When and what was the ‘Harrying of the North’?
1069
Williams troops laid waste to land around York, burning and salting the fields and killing any living creature.
- From Domesday book that 80% of Yorkshire was known as ‘waste’.
Cause of ‘Harrying of the North’
The North was the most rebellious area, seeing itself as semi-independent from the rest of the country, so it was to intimidate other rebels or contestants to William’s throne (Edgar)- had the support of King Malcolm of Scotland (recently married his sister), as well as bringing the 240 Viking ships (payed off by William)
Results due to Harrying of the North
- Most people from the North moved to the South, as most of the land was inhabitable and infertile to grow crops.
-Starvation of peasants across the region.
-Made William to have little trouble with Yorkshire in his reign.
Purpose of Norman castles
To intimidate, bully and administrate the local area. Mainly against the aggressive Anglo-Saxons.
APICS
Administration
Protection
Intimidation
Control
Symbolism
What was a ‘Motte and Bailey’ castle?
-The motte was the hill the keep (fortified tower) was built upon
- The bailey was the outer area surrounding the motte.
