Normans

Question 1

Who won the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 1

The Saxons

Question 2

Where was Harold Godwinson when William invaded and why

Answer 2

When William arrived on the English coast Harold was not there ready to battle with him. This is because Harold had first off waited on the South coast for William to arrive but because William took time in preparing for the battle, eventually due to Hardrada’s arrival he has to move his troops north
This was then an advantage for William as it meant when Harold did arrive in the south his men were exhausted from marching and having already fought in a battle with the vikings

Question 3

What were the events of Stamford bridge

Answer 3

After the loss at Fulford Gate, Harold moved his southern army north covering 190miles in just 4 days
The speed of the manoeuvre surprised the vikings
Half of the Viking army were not ready with no armour or weapons and were easily defeated
Once the Saxons were able to get across the river Derwent, the other half of the Viking army were also defeated resulting in the death of Harold Hardrada and Godwinsons brother Tostig

Question 4

Who were the two sides fighting at the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 4

Saxons and vikings

Question 5

What were the events of Fullford gate

Answer 5

Harold Hardrada invaded England first on the north coast of England.
Harold Godwinson had split his army in two and the northern army did well and began to defeat the vikings
However as more and more vikings arrived, the Saxons found themselves outnumbered and re-treated

Question 6

Who won the battle if Fulford Gate and why

Answer 6

Because Godwinson had split his army as he believed that William would attack first ( which he did not) it meant Fulford Gate was won by the vikings

Question 7

Explain what Williams claim to the throne

Answer 7

A successful but ruthless military leader, William had been Duke of Normandy since the age of 7
He was a distant cousin of King Edward
William claimed that Edward had promised him the throne when William had busted England 7 years before

Question 8

Explain what Harold Godwinsons claim to the throne of England was

Answer 8

After the death of his father (Earl Godwinson), Harold had become an extremely important figure in Edwards government. He became ‘sub regulus’ acting as a ‘deputy king’ from 1060 onwards.
He was also Edwards brother in law
He had shown loyalty to Edward, even over his own brother Tostig
Harold had claimed that Edward had promised him the throne on his deathbed.
He had support of the English nobles and witan

Question 9

Who were the sides fighting the battle of Fulford gate

Answer 9

The Viking and Saxons

Question 10

What preparations did William make before he invaded England

Answer 10

Made flat bottomed boats to sail across from Normandy in France to England
William previously had no navy so these boats had to be built from scratch which took considerable time
Boats were filled with Norman soldiers, horses from Norman cavalry and flat pack castles ready to assemble when William arrived

Question 11

Who did the people of the north support

Answer 11

The vikings

Question 12

What were the names of the two battles that took place in the north before the battle of Hastings

Answer 12

Fulfils gate and Stamford bridge

Question 13

Who was involved in the first rebellion against Williams rule where was it and where was William at the time

Answer 13

Edwin and Morca
London and France

Question 14

Where were revolts against William Williams region common

Answer 14

Welsh and Scottish Borders

Question 15

What was the last rebellion against Williams rule in 1075

Answer 15

Norman earls

Question 16

Name three people who were involved in the Harrying if the north in 1069

Answer 16

Danish Viking
King Malcom of Scotland
Edwin Edgar
Waltheof

Question 17

What caused the rebellion in the north in 1069

Answer 17

Killed the Norman’s earl of Northumbria

Question 18

Name three things William did to punish the rebels of the north

Answer 18

Burnt and salted their fields killed any living creature took houses and possessions animals butchered and murdered people

Question 19

Increased Norman control of Yorkshire

Answer 19

English people were on happy with a new king, strong local rivalries and alliance in the north of England pose a threat to his authority
The first rebellion in the north was led by Edwin Walker summer of, 1068
To increase its authority in Yorkshire, William march through Edwin since land built Warwick Castle
William continue to York retook the city building, York and Nottingham Castle before returning South
Another rebellion 1069, William travelled north York for a second time built a second castle left his most experience commander William FitzOsbern in charge

Question 20

Leading up to the harrying of the north

Answer 20

Alton 1069, a Danish fleet arrived plus uprising of local Northumbrian nobles helped by soldiers sent by Malcolm of Scotland
Third time in 18 months at William to deal with the north
Troops will order to destroy the economic infrastructure, much of the region been systematically plundered its field, so with salt and its people killed

Question 21

Background on the harrying of the north

Answer 21

Cause-Norman owes Northumbria were killed and rebels could take York lots of rebellions after Williams rule, didn’t want him as a king

Date? -1069-70

Why the north- there were a combination of Viking in English families, living their border of Scotland, vulnerable for attacks

Who? -Edwin and morcar , Malcolm, King of Scotland, Danish king’s swein. This made the rebellion much more serious.

Question 22

No economic effect on the harrying of the north

Answer 22

Accounts from the time may have been exaggerated
Misunderstanding of the term waste -intended to rain failure to find out the value of an estate
Historians question how widespread the Norman devastation was, it was a limited geographical area, not the whole of Yorkshire
William didn’t have a time all the manpower to reduce vast areas of land to waste
Domesday book -lack of information rather than a physical destruction of Yorkshire. Land may not have been written off due to a lack of tenants, population movement or poor, crop yield

Question 23

Economic affects on the harrying of the north

Answer 23

Decline in Yorks prosperity
Williams troops ordered to destroy the economic infrastructure of the North
Plundered houses, sown fields with salt and burnt, people and animals slaughtered
1068 Domesday book, describe the area as waste . Proof of Williams, killings, high death rate, no population resources or value.

Question 24

No increase of Norman control of Yorkshire

Answer 24

After Harrying of the North control of Yorkshire was still not complete. It did not end the violence as there were to be further invasions by Danish and Scottish forces
Northumbria and Cumbria remained vulnerable to attacks from Scotland. Malcom still wanted to expand his kingdom
Further raids by King Malcom in 1075 and 1079. 1080 another rebellion violently suppressed by Williams brother Odo
Scottish raids continued into the region of William II (1087-1100) with another rebellion occurring in 1095

Question 25

Increase in castle and church building

Answer 25

Built two motte and bailey castles on land that be seized in the city which was owned by the Northumbrian rebels guarding the approach to York
These castles were intended to intimidate the local population as well as prevent any invasion force approaching from the North Sea
York was the only town where two castles were built, which shows both its importance and the strength of local resistance to his rule
York Minster was rebuilt in the Norman style, new chapels and churches such as St Helens, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen’s chapel
Land confiscated from the old earls or Northumbria was given to the new Benedictine St Mary Abbey

Question 26

The development of the city of York

Answer 26

York- chapel of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria and important for control of Northumbria .
Main transport corridor between the south of England and Scotland. The fertile agricultural lands contributed to its continued prosperity
The city was developed by building two motte and bailey castles on land that William seized in the city which was owned by the Northumbrian rebels, guarding the approach to York by river from the coast intended to intimidate the local population as well as prevent any invasion force approaching from the North Sea
William created royal forests and crown estates enlarged in the rural areas surrounding York
The Norman reconstruction and development of York= large new stone buildings across the city, including churches,a new labour reusing Roman walls, streets and gateways. A deliberate attempt to claim that they were the natural and legitimate heirs to the ancient cathedral city

Question 27

The battle of Hastings

Answer 27

Began at 9am
Saxons formed their shield wall and the Normans were unable to break through
Norman arrows flew over the head of the English frontline or hit the shield. Calvary proved useless against Saxons
A number of failed attacks, until a group of Normans ran back from the line. Sensing victory some Saxons broke the wall and gave chase. Became trapped in the marshlands, Saxons were slaughtered
William ordered more feigned retreats and the Saxon line began to be worn down
William changed tactics during a break, and put his archers to the front and ordered them to fire into air . The arrows landed on top of the Anglo Saxons, behind the shield wall causing chaos
William made one final push as afraid of more Saxons coming, a combination of the feigned retreats, constant arrow fire and cavalry attack meant that by afternoon the Saxon wall was almost gone
As the Saxon wall fell, Saxons were killed by the Normans
At some point during the battle Harold was killed with an arrow through his eye.

Question 28

Harold’s mistakes

Answer 28

Harold marched straight to the battle of Hastings after fighting at Stamford bridge, without resting his men or gathering more troops.
Harold had disbanded his army because of the harvest
Aware of the feigned retreat tactic but still let his men fall for it
Was on foot with his men. Showed them that he was willing to fight alongside them, but limited his ability to command his army

Question 29

Williams tactics

Answer 29

His men believed God was on their side- they were fighting under the Papal Banner
Normans were well organised with clear communication around the battlefield and William could see by his men
William had archers and cavalry
William chose the battle site

Question 30

Luck- battle of Hastings

Answer 30

The weather delayed Williams invasion
Hardrada had invaded at the same time as William, forcing Harold to fight at two ends of the country
William army had time to rest before the battle

Question 31

The revolt of the Norman Earls

Answer 31

1075 led by Ralph de Gael and Roger de Breteuil
It was a serious threat to William but he left it to his allies to put down
Bishop Odo and Lanfranc put down the rebellion with brutal force. Waltheof was beheaded while other rebels were blinded and killed .
Roger was imprisoned but spared more serious punishment

Question 32

Hereward the wake rebellion in Isle of Ely

Answer 32

Attempt 1. William ordered the building of a wooden bridge to cross the marshland
Failed- the causeway was not strong enough for the sheer number of Norman soldiers who tried to cross it and it collapsed

Attempt 2. William built a siege tower and according to some account, a local witch to stand at the top of the tower and shout abuse and curse the rebels
Failed- Hereward set fire to the area and the tower burnt down

Attempt 3. William convinced the monks of Ely Abbey to reveal a secret route to Hereward base
Succeeded- William reached the abbey and arrested most of the rebels, including Morcar, Hareward however he escaped

Question 33

Norman feudal system

Answer 33

First William allowed most Saxons to keep their earldoms
He split large areas that were without an east into smaller areas and appointed Norman govern them
Gradually replaced other English earls with Normans and gave them their lands to create a Norman aristocracy
As Saxon earls died and rebelled he replaced them with Normans
By 1076 only 2 earldoms were still held by Saxons

Question 34

The domesday book- why is was commissioned 

Answer 34

To help collect taxes accurately and to ensure that William got as much money as possible
To make sure feudal lords were not hiding their wealth that could be used to threaten his position
To record and settle arguments over land that existed after the invasion
To make it clear that all land was held by permission of the King 🤴

Question 35

Justice and legal system
Shire courts

Answer 35

Shire courts before- met 2 a year when the sheriff would hear cases in olivine land disputes, crime, taxes and rebellion
Norman change- castles were built in shire towns and all administrations happened in them
Importance decline due to honourable courts, where tenants could appeal directly to lord. Royal households officials were sent to courts to oversee everything

Question 36

Justice and legal- punishments

Answer 36

Tended to be brutal with execution and mutilation relatively common
The ordeal system- based on the judicium Dei. The accused was put through a painful ordeal such as ordeal by fire to test their guilt. It was believed that god would save the innocent

Norman change- most Saxons punishment were maintained with the addition of ordeal by combat
This involved the accuser and accused fighting usually to death
The winner would be presumed to have been telling the truth about the crime

Question 37

Justice system and legal system forest laws

Answer 37

Prior to the Norman invasion, people had been allowed to hunt animals in the forest to supplement their diets

Norman change- William was a keen hunger and unwilling to allow ordinary people to hunt of his lands. He introduced forest laws that banned the activity
Punishment for breaking these laws included fines, mutilations and execution