Normans 1 Flashcards
What was life like before 1066?
England ruled by Edward the Confessor
Country divided and ruled by earls
2 mil population
Very religious Roman Catholics
Most of southern Britain covered in forests there were small villages where forest was cleared and farmed
England was wealthy so target for foreign traders
Defence of 2500-3000 housecarls
What was the godwins link to England?
Earl Godwin was first earl of Wessex most powerful earl
In 1051, rebelled against Edward so we’re exiled with help from Normans so more Normans appointed in Edwards court . Witan resented this so encouraged Godwins to return with army + did so and forced Edward to reinstate them
What was the Viking’s link to England?
Raised England for years but England wanted to get rid so payed them to leave called Danegeld . But Vikings kept coming back for more
What was the Normans link to England?
When king Aethelred was killed by Canute , his wife Emma and her 2 sons Alfred and Edward
Richard Duke of Normandy raised and protected them but forced Emma to return to England to marry King Canute Richard
Harold Godwins claim to the throne
Not blood relation but kings brother in law
Most powerful family in England
Supported by Witan
Final years of Edwards reign Harold was appointed sub regulus which meant he ran the country if w.g king was too I’ll
Excellent military leader - defeated attack by Gruffyd of North Wales and was successful Gruffyd killed by his own men
Edward Confessor offered him throne on his dead bed
William of Normandy’s claim to the throne
Distant cousin of Edward
Wessex and Normandy been allied since 998 AD
Edward confessor had been raised in Normandy
During Earl godwins rebellion William sent Norman soldiers to protect Edward so
Edward promised William the throne after his death
Harold Godwinson visited Normandy in 1064 and promised under oath Williams claim to throne
Harold Hardrada claim to the throne
Experienced king - throne of Norway for 20 years
Powerful warrior
Name meant hard ruler bc he settled disputes by force
Supported by Tostig Godwinson
Northern England had viking ancestors so likely to support Harald
Edgar Aetheling claims to the throne ?
Edward Confessor’s nearest blood relative
Treated like Edwards child
Only 14 in 1066
No money, soldiers , military experience
Battle of Fulford gate
Date
invaders/defenders
Outcome
Invaders- Harald Hardrada and Tostig + 7000 Viking soldiers
Defenders- Earl Edwin and Morcar + 3500 Saxon soldiers
Outcome- Saxons attacked early and many Vikings not yet on battlefield . As time went on more and more Vikings arrived and overwhelmed Saxons
Harald won but heavy losses both sides
Saxon army scattered and Edwin + Morcar fled
20 th sept 1066
Battle of Stamford bridge
Date
Outcome
25th Sept 1066
Loss at Fulford meant Harold had to move quickly he moved North gathering more soldiers and marched 190 miles in 4 days to reach York
Saxons had element of surprise as Vikings didn’t expect them to be so quick
Vikings camped on far side of river Derwent and hadnt defended bridge properly
Bloody battle and both Hardrada and Tostig killed
When did news arrive that William had landed on south coast ?
28th sept
Why did the saxons lose at Hastings?
Tired , poorly trained troops- mostly fyrds ( peasant farmers ) pitchforks and farming equipment as weapons
Exhausted from marches
Approx 7000 total soldiers
Leadership - He rushed to meet William and could’ve recruited 20000-30000 more soldiers . He fought on foot so hard to give orders
Poor tactics- shield wall formation predictable . Most soldiers infantry - not horseback
Bad luck - invasions during harvest so may farmers couldn’t fight
Why did the Normans win at Hastings?
Trained troops- approx 8000
Knights trained from 3 riding horses trained to bite + kick in battle
Good tactics- feigned flight tactic broke parts of Saxon shield wall
Archers used to wear down enemy
Knights on horseback had lances
Good leadership - William on horseback so could easily give orders
Arrived at Hastings and rested for several days
Archers moved to front at 12pm to slaughter Saxons without hitting Normans
Why did William build castles in England?
Between 1066-1086 about 500 motte and Bailey castles built
First Norman castle built at Pevensey before Harold arrived at battle of Hastings
Often built on hills so dominated surrounding area as constant reminder of Norman Takeover and control
Why was Motte and Bailey structure used?
Quick and easy to build and made using local geographical features E.g hills
2 weeks to build
1st one made of wood and done like this til 1070
After 1070, stone keeps built and by 1100 new castles solely of stone
By 1086, 48 large castles
Where were castles built ?
Strategically at important locations E.g along Welsh border to protect England from invading welsh
High enough to see attackers but close enough to important locations e.g town or river crossing as they needed resources e.g wood, food, water
What were the different courts ?
Kings court- most powerful Dealt with murder, treason , arson , robbery , rape
Shires courts- already in place before Norman’s met more regularly. Judges were local landowners or sheriff. Violence or theft
Hundreds courts- minor disputes more common in Anglo Saxon times
Lord courts- introduced by Norman’s for the lords to deal with his tenants . Crime or disputes , property transactions or new laws from the king
Manor courts- controlled by Lord of the manor . Dealt with day to day stuff in the village E.g bad labour
What were the ordeals used ? Which one did Normans introduced ?
Judgement of god to prove innocence or guilt
Ordeal by fire- put arm in cauldron of boiling water or hold red iron bar and walk 3 paces . Wound bandaged and if wound started to heal after 3 days they were innocent
Ordeal by water - suspected person strapped to chair and thrown in lake , if they sank they were innocent and if floated they were guilty and executed
Ordeal by combat - introduced by Normans . Person who was accused was accuser . Whoever lost was guilty and had to be dead by the end
What was the Welsh borders rebellion ?
1067
Eric the wild, Thegn of Herefordshire launched revolt with large number of English followers
Gained support from Welsh princes Bleedyn and Riwallion + stole property along England wales border
Launched another attack 1069 and attacked Norman castle at Shrewsbury where William 1 lead army to defeat them
Exeter and south west rebellion
1068
Exeter city refused to swear loyalty to William bc unhappy with taxes levied
Supporters of Godwins
Harold’s mother lived in SW and plotted with other Godwin family to challenge William
William besieged city and tried to undermine city walls + take by force but Exeter surrendered after 18 days
He treated city fairly after lowering taxes and building a castle
In 1068/9 when Harold’s brothers attempted to invade England Exeter refused to support Godwins showing they learnt their lesson or Norman castles having desired effect
Harrying of the North rebellion
1069
In 1068 Harold’s brothers in law Edwin and Morcar fled North with Edgar Aetheling
He was still keen to take throne but needed military support
King Malcolm Scotland 🏴 gave him support
Jan 1069 Norman earl Robert de Commines murdered by English rebels
Bishop of Durham house set on fire and Edgar attacked York
Danish Vikings with 240 ships joined English led army led by Earl Edgar and Waltheof. This combined army defeated Norman army outside York + captured York castle
William marched North with large army
Paid Vikings to leave
Laid waste to large areas burning houses , salting fields + murdering people and animals
Approx 100000 killed
Northumbria rebellion
1067
William appointed Copsig to rule Nothern part of Northumbria which was odd decision as had worked for Tostig Godwinson + hated by Northumbria
On arrival he was ambushed by locals and had his head hacked off
The Norman earls rebellion
1075
William own earls rebelled lead by Ralph de Gael and Robert de Bruteil
Hereward the wake rebellion
1070
according to anglo saxon chronicle the greatest threat to william was in spring 1070 when Danish king Sweiyn sent an army to conquer england
it was not large enough to restart Northern rebellion but was large enough for William to pay the Danes large amounts to leave
some Danes landed in East Anglia to support Hereward the wake rebellion
Hereward killed norman soldiers for murdering his brother
fought guerilla war against Normans and hid in march land of the Fens
William tried to build a bridge in to the Fens but it collapsed and even tried using a witch to scare Hereward away
eventually, he was betrayed by monks and King William captured his base on the isle of Ely . Hereward was never found but Morcar who supported Hereward was imprisioned for life
