Normans Flashcards
What was England’s economy like before 1066
Lots of natural resources so enabled trade links with other countries
Wealthy so a target for foreign invaders like vikings
What was the geography of England like before 1066
2 million people lived in England
Majority lived in south
South covered in thick dense forest
What was religion like in England before 1066
Central to their lives
Church was powerful
Church owned large areas of land
Made rules on everything
What was England’s government like before 1066
Divided into earldoms
Ruled by king edward since 1042
What was England’s society like before 1066
Political hierarchy
King - earls - clergy - peasants
What was England’s defence like before 1066
King and Earle’s commanded 2500-3000 housecarls
Had right to call on peasants to fight
When was king Edwards death
5th January 1066
Died childless
What were the Anglo Saxon rules of inheritances
Family ties
Post obitum - king could name a successor to take over when he dies
Novissima verba - king could name a successor on his deathbed
The witan
Force
What was Harold Godwinsons claim to the throne
Edwards brother in law
Edward promised him throne on death bed- novissima verba
Had support of English nobles and witan
What was Edgar the aethelings claim to the throne
Great nephew of Edward
Only 15 so lacked experience
What was William duke of normandys claim to the throne
Cousin of king Edward through Emma
Claimed Edward promised him the throne in 1051
Claimed Harold Godwinson has sworn to support Williams claim over holy relics
What was Harold Hadradas claim to the throne
Related to king Cnut
Strong and powerful warrior
When was the battle of fulford
20 th September 1066
What happened at the battle of fulford
Hadrada and Tostigs army had around 7000 men
English lead by Edwin and morcar has around 3500 men
Hadrada won and the English army fled
When was the battle of Stamford bridge
25 September 1066
What happened at the battle of Stamford bridge
Marched his troops 190 Miles in 4 days
The Anglo Saxons launched a surprise attack on the vikings
Harold won and destroyed the Viking threat
What happened at the battle of Hastings
At 9am the Anglo Saxons formed a shield a wall. The normans fired arrows that failed to hit the Anglo Saxons
The normans launched a feigned retreat on the Anglo Saxons
William changed tactics and moved the archers to the front. The arrows hit the Anglo Saxons
The normans launched another feigned retreat and The Anglo Saxons shield Wall was Brocken apart
The normans killed the normans and Harold Godwinson
William won
Why did William win the battle of Hastings
Luck - the weather delayed Williams invasion, Williams army had time to rest before the battle, hardrada had invaded at the same time as William forcing Harold to fight at two ends of the country
Harold’s mistakes - Harold left his army because of the harvest, his army were tired from walking
Williams tactics - normans were well organised, he had Calvary
What happened at the Edwin and morcar rebellion
They led a rebellion in London immediately after the battle of Hastings but was put down by the normans.
They forced to swear an oath of loyalty to William and he allowed them to keep their lands
What happened at the revolt in Kent
Eustace, count of Boulanger attacked Dover castle.
He was easily defeated by the knights at the castle and made peace with William
What happened at the Exeter rebellion
Exeter rebelled in 1068
William besieged the city for 18 days
When Exeter surrender her built a castle and left his half brother in charge
What happened at the revolt of the Norman earls
1075
Led by Ralph de Gael and roger de breteuil and waltheof
Bishop lanfranc put down the rebellion with force
Waltheof was beheaded and the other rebels were blinded and killed
Roger was imprisoned
What happened at the harrying of the north
William ordered slaughter of all livestock, burning of all crops and salting of the land so nothing could grow
As a result many peasants starved and many lived in fear
