Normans

Question 1

What was England’s economy like before 1066

Answer 1

Lots of natural resources so enabled trade links with other countries
Wealthy so a target for foreign invaders like vikings

Question 2

What was the geography of England like before 1066

Answer 2

2 million people lived in England
Majority lived in south
South covered in thick dense forest

Question 3

What was religion like in England before 1066

Answer 3

Central to their lives
Church was powerful
Church owned large areas of land
Made rules on everything

Question 4

What was England’s government like before 1066

Answer 4

Divided into earldoms

Ruled by king edward since 1042

Question 5

What was England’s society like before 1066

Answer 5

Political hierarchy

King - earls - clergy - peasants

Question 6

What was England’s defence like before 1066

Answer 6

King and Earle’s commanded 2500-3000 housecarls

Had right to call on peasants to fight

Question 7

When was king Edwards death

Answer 7

5th January 1066

Died childless

Question 8

What were the Anglo Saxon rules of inheritances

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What was Harold Godwinsons claim to the throne

Answer 9

Edwards brother in law
Edward promised him throne on death bed- novissima verba
Had support of English nobles and witan

Question 10

What was Edgar the aethelings claim to the throne

Answer 10

Great nephew of Edward

Only 15 so lacked experience

Question 11

What was William duke of normandys claim to the throne

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What was Harold Hadradas claim to the throne

Answer 12

Related to king Cnut

Strong and powerful warrior

Question 13

When was the battle of fulford

Answer 13

20 th September 1066

Question 14

What happened at the battle of fulford

Answer 14

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

Question 15

When was the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 15

25 September 1066

Question 16

What happened at the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What happened at the battle of Hastings

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Why did William win the battle of Hastings

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What happened at the Edwin and morcar rebellion

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What happened at the revolt in Kent

Answer 20

Eustace, count of Boulanger attacked Dover castle.

He was easily defeated by the knights at the castle and made peace with William

Question 21

What happened at the Exeter rebellion

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What happened at the revolt of the Norman earls

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What happened at the harrying of the north

Answer 23

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