Normans 1066

Question 0

Was William of Normandy a Duke or a King?

Answer 0

Duke

Question 1

Who was Harold Hardrada?

Answer 1

King of Norway and Denmark

Question 2

Name the four men who wanted to take the English Throne when Edward the Confessor died in 1066?

Answer 2

Harold Godwinson
Harold Hardrada
William of Normandy
Prince Edgar

Question 3

Who was Harold Godwin

Answer 3

King of England, previously Earl of Wessex

Question 4

Who was Prince Edgar

Answer 4

Edgar of Atheling

Question 5

What were Harold Hardrada’s claims to the throne?

Answer 5

Claimed to be true heir to Canute

Supported by Harold Godwin’s brother, Tostig, who said he would supply army and ships to help him dethrone Harold Godwin

Question 6

Who was Harold Godwin’s brother?

Answer 6

Tostig

Question 7

What was against Harold Hardrada’s claim to the throne?

Answer 7

He was in Norway, not English.
Harold Godwin was the favourite.
If he invaded England it would renew the old wars between Danes and English.

Question 8

Who was the king of England that died in 1016

Answer 8

Ethelred the Unready, Father of Edward the Confessor

Question 9

Who took over from Canute as King of England in 1042?

Answer 9

Edward the Confessor who then died in 1066

Question 10

What were William of Normandy’s claims to the throne?

Answer 10

Claimed that (1) Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne of England - distant relative & (2) Harold Godwin had sworn to back him as king after he saved him from shipwreck.
Experienced commander and had good equipment.
Support of the Pope

Question 11

What were Harold Godwin’s claims to the throne?

Answer 11

Brother in law of Edward the Confessor.
Strong fighting leader.
Very popular with most of the English.
Elected king by Witan

Question 12

What was against William of Normandy’s claims to the throne?

Answer 12

Lived in Normandy so no English supporters.

Harold was already established as king.

Question 13

What is the Witan?

Answer 13

Saxon council made of bishops, nobles and advisors.

Question 14

What was against Harold Godwin’s claims to the throne?

Answer 14

William’s claims that he had promised support to him and that he had sworn on holy relics to do so.
He was not a direct heir, he was only married into it.

Question 15

What were Prince Edgar’s claims to the throne?

Answer 15

Great grandson of Ethelred the Unready &

Grand nephew of Edward the Confessor so direct descendent of the Saxon royal family.

Question 16

What was against Prince Edgar’s claim to the throne?

Answer 16

He was only a young boy.

Brought up in Hungary so no English supporters.

Question 17

Who were the Normans?

Answer 17

The Normans were originally Vikings.
Came from Northern Europe to France and were nicknamed the Normans.
Given land in the North of France - Normandy.

Question 18

Where did Harold Hardrada land with his Viking army?

Answer 18

North of England

Question 19

Who made up Harold’s Saxon army?

Answer 19

Bodyguards (housecarls) who fought on foot with axes and ordinary men such as farmers (fyrd) with any weapon they could get.

Question 20

How far did Harold Godwin and his army have to march to fight Harold Hardrada and how long did it take?

Answer 20

hundreds of miles (210), 5 days

Question 21

Why did Harold’s Godwin’s army win?

Answer 21

The Vikings weren’t prepared to fight - no armour

300 ships arrived, 24 went home!!

Question 22

When and where did the the battle with the Vikings take place?

Answer 22

Stamford bridge, 25th September 1066.

Question 23

Where and when did William land?

Answer 23

South of England, Pevensey, September 29th 1066

Question 24

What prevented William from invading earlier

Answer 24

Strong winds/weather

Question 25

What troops did William have in his army?

Answer 25

He had a well equipped army with calvary and knights on horseback, archers with crossbows and troops trained since they were 4! All seasoned warriors.

Question 26

What was the battle between William and Harold called and where and when did it take place?

Answer 26

Battle of Hastings, 9am, 14th October, 1066 in east Sussex.

Question 27

What is a shield wall?

Answer 27

When shields are locked together as one big shield wall.

Question 28

Who used a shield wall and why was it initially so effective?

Answer 28

The Saxons and they where on top of a hill and the Normans could not charge up the hill.

Question 29

What tactics did Normans use?

Answer 29

The Normans pretended to run away to get some of the Saxons to follow him and break down the shield wall. The men that followed were cut down by the Norman Knights. William then used his archers to shoot arrows over the top of the shield wall.

Question 30

What do they say happened to Harold Godwin?

Answer 30

He was shot in the eye.

Question 31

When was William crowned king?

Answer 31

December 25th 1066

Question 33

What state were the Saxons in before they fought the battle of Hastings?

Answer 33

Tired and wounded from fighting the Vikings as well as having marched for hundreds of miles which took them days.