Normans Unit 1 Flashcards
What is succession?
The process of inheriting the throne
How did succession work in 1066?
Only male relatives could be kings - not necessarily the oldest male
What were the 5 ways that a successor could be chosen in 1066?
- Post orbitum
- Novissima verba
- Witan
- Invasion or attack
- Primogeniture
What was post orbitum?
A nomination or request to become king after the death of the previous one
What was novissima verba?
When the king named the next successor on his deathbed
What was the witan?
A council of lords and churchmen who made decisions
Why was there a succession crisis in 1066?
Edward the Confessor died with no male heir to the throne
Who were the 4 contenders to the throne?
Harold Godwinson
William Duke of Normandy
Harald Hardrada
Edgar Aethling
Why was Edward the confessor popular?
Helped stabilise England after a Viking invasion
England was quite prosperous during Edward’s reign
Where was Edgar Aethling from?
Anglo Saxon
What were Edgar Aethlings claims to throne?
King Edward’s nearest relative
His grandfather (Edmund Ironside) was Edward’s half brother
Named as successor by Edward the Confessor in 1065
What were reasons why Edgar Aetheling shouldn’t have gotten the throne?
Only 14 in 1066
Lack of experience
No soldiers, no money and no military experience
Where was Harald Hardrada from?
Viking
What were Harald Hardrada’s claims to the throne?
He was a strong and experienced leader - King of Norway for 20 years
Ruthless and successful warrior - Hardrada means hard ruler
He was supported by many people in the north of England and also Tostig Godwinson (Harold Godwinson brother)
What were reasons why Harald Hardrada shouldn’t have gotten the throne?
He’d never been to England
Vikings hadn’t ruled in England for a long time
Where was William of Normandy from?
Norman
What were William of Normandy’s claims to the throne?
Distant cousin of Edward & good relations with previous monarchs - helped Edward against threats from earls - already experienced leader
Promised the throne by Edward under oath
Supported by the pope
What were reasons why William of Normandy shouldn’t have gotten the throne?
There were claims he was illegitimate
Where was Harold Godwinson from?
Anglo Saxon
What were Harold Godwinsons claims to the throne?
He was Edward’s brother in law
Already an experienced earl, was sub regulus (one below the king) and a skilful military leader
His family were the most richest and powerful family in England
Given Novissima Verba by the Edward
What were reasons why Harold Godwinson shouldn’t have gotten the throne?
He was disliked by some people
He had one tried to overthrow Edward the confessor
Who was chosen to become king after the death of Edward the Confessor?
Harold Godwinson
When was Harold Godwinson declared king?
6th January 1066 - 1 day after Edward’s death
What soldiers did the Saxons have?
Housecarls
Thegns
Fyrds
Who were the Housecarls?
Full time, professional soldiers
Were trained
There weren’t many of these though
Who were the Thegns?
Lords who fought
They weren’t highly trained or skilled
Who were Fyrds?
Part time soldiers
They were untrained and mainly peasants
Most of the Saxon soldiers were fyrds
They fought for 2 months in a year
What types of soldiers did Norman’s have?
Cavalry
Infantry
Archers
Who were cavalry?
Men who fought on horseback
They were highly skilled
Who were infantry?
Soldiers who fought on foot
They were highly skilled and trained
Who were the archers?
Men who carried bows and arrows
What was Harold Godwinsons role whilst Edward was still alive?
He ran most of the country
He was the sub regulus
He drove out invaders and kept law and order
Why did people think Harold Godwinson was the natural choice to be king?
People thought he was charming and charismatic
Once Harold became king, what did he do immediately?
Gathered troops and went to the south coast - to prevent Norman invasion
Where did William of Normandy prepare his army? How many ships?
Dives in Normandy - 700 ships were prepared
Where did Harold Godwinson have his base?
Isle of White
What was the main Saxon tactic?
Locking shields and building a shield wall
What decision was made by Harold in the summer of 1066? Why?
He dismantled his army and then went back to London - the Norman’s didn’t end up invading
What were weaknesses of Harold’s army?
It was only made up from infantry - no cavalry or archers
What happened in September 1066?
The Vikings had invaded the North of England near York
What did Harold do once he found out the Vikings had invaded?
He began a long march north - travelled 180 miles in 5 days
What did the Saxons realise when they arrived at Stamford Bridge?
The Vikings were unprepared - weren’t wearing any armour
Describe the events of the Battle of Stamford Bridge
- The Saxons arrived and caught the Vikings unprepared for battle
- Some Vikings chose to hold off the Saxons and others crossed the bridge that was over the river Derwent
- Once both sides crossed the bridge, they formed a shield wall
- The Anglo Saxons won as they had armour and the Vikings didn’t but also they made a chink in the Vikings defence wall and annihilated them
What were the issues with the Norman army?
They weren’t organised
Why did nobles fight for William of Normandy?
Told them that it was religious to help him and that he was backed by the pope - made them have a guaranteed spot in heaven
He also fought under the papal banner
Why was the South Coast of England vulnerable after battle of Stamford Bridge?
There was no one guarding it - all Saxons were fighting Vikings
When did William’s fleet leave Normandy? Why was this?
Left 27th September 1066 - as the direction of wind changed
When was the Battle of Stamford bridge?
25th September 1066
How many ships did the Vikings arrive with to invade England? How many did they leave with?
Arrived in 300 ships
Left in 24 ships
How many soldiers died during the battle of Stamford bridge?
5000 men
How many men and ships did the Vikings have at the beginning of the battle of Stamford bridge?
They had 300 ships and 7000 men
Where did the Normans land when they arrived in England?
Pevensey
What did the Normans do once they arrived in England?
They burned and pillaged nearby villages
Set up a castle
How many miles did the Saxons have to travel to meet the Normans? How many Saxon soldiers were there?
Travelled 250 miles with 7000 soldiers
Where did the battle of Hastings take place?
In Battle
Where did the Saxons position themselves in the Battle of Hastings? Why?
On the ridge - gave them a height advantage
How long was the Saxon shield wall?
1 mile long
Where did William position his archers? Why?
At the front of the army - would soften the Saxons shield wall so cavalry and infantry could break through shield wall
When did the Battle of Hastings begin?
14th October 1066 at 9am
What was the original issue with the Norman archers and infantry?
Archers - they were walking uphill so their arrows went over the Saxons heads
Infantry - not strong enough to break through the shield wall
What did the Saxons do when the Norman’s began to run up the hill towards them?
They picked up anything they could and threw it at the Norman’s
Who did William order in to support the infantry and archers?
His cavalry
What happened on the left side of the Norman army?
Some of the Norman soldiers ran down the hill and some of the Saxons chased them - broke their shield wall
What tactic did William use?
Feigned retreat
What was the feigned retreat?
- Normans would run down a hill
- The opposing army (Saxons in the case of battle of Hastings) would then follow the Norman’s
- Would get them on equal ground to kill them
What did the feigned retreat show?
That the Norman’s had good tactics
What do many historians argue about the feigned retreat tactic?
Some say it was a tactic as there’s evidence they had used it before but some think it was because the Norman’s got scared and ran away
What happened after the Saxons ran down the hill after the Norman’s?
Shield wall broke and now both sides were on equal ground
Why could Harold not control his men better and stop them from pursuing the Normans?
He was on foot - William was on horse which gave him an advantage
What happened once both sides were in equal ground?
The Norman’s surrounded the Saxons and killed them
What was Williams final tactic?
Put all of the Norman soldiers in one solid mass with the archers at the back - told them to shoot upwards so arrows fell on Saxons
How did Harold Godwinson die?
An arrow was shot in his eye
What happened after Harold’s death?
Soldiers lost morale
When was William crowned king of England?
Christmas Day 1066
What was the name of the hill that the battle of Hastings took place on?
Senlac Hill
What happened as a result of Harold wanting to get to Senlac Hill faster?
He lost out on the opportunity of having an extra 13,000 men fighting for him
What are the 3 reasons why William won the Battle of Hastings?
- Saxon weaknesses
- Norman strengths
- Luck
What were Saxon weaknesses at the battle of Hastings?
They had fought at the battle of Stamford bridge where 5000 men died - some of these were experienced Saxons & lost out on opportunity of having an extra 13,000 men
Harold was on foot - couldn’t command his army well
They weren’t prepared to attack, only to defend and they lost morale when Harold died
What were Norman strengths at the battle of Hastings?
William was on horse - commanded army better and had good tactics
They had cavalry and archers - unlike the Saxons
They were fighting under the papal banner - gave soldiers morale
What luck was there at the battle of Hastings?
Harold by chance was shot in the eye and killed
The feigned retreat worked by chance
The wind changed direction - allowed William to cross the channel
What were the 4 early rebellions William I had to deal with?
- Rebellion of York
- Rebellion of the Welsh border
- The rebellion of the South west and Exeter
- The rebellion of the Norman earls
Describe the events of the rebellion of York
- Edgar Aethling wanted support for his claim to the throne and was supported by Edwin and Morcar
- They rebelled in the north: a Norman earl was killed and the bishops house was set on fire
- Edgar and his supporters joined forces with the Vikings - the north became the most rebellious place and the Vikings and Saxons defeated Normans
What did William to do deal with the rebellion of York?
Paid the Vikings off
Harrying of the North - burnt all of the crops - lead to a famine - over 100,000 died
What was the Harrying of the North an example of?
Terror - scared the Saxons and others into being fearful of the Norman’s and not rebelling
Describe the events of the Rebellion of the Welsh border?
- 1067, Edric the Wild started a revolt - he had the support of the Welsh princes and a number of English follower
- He managed to steal property along the Herefordshire/welsh border
- Edric failed to take control but he launched another attack in 1069
When was the rebellion of the Welsh border?
1067
How did William deal with the rebellion of the Welsh border?
William led his forces personally into battle with Edric and his supporters
Describe the events of the rebellion of the South West and Exeter
- 1068 - the city of Exeter rebelled against William for 18 days
- They were forced to surrender when William built a huge castle on the highest ground
- 3 of Harold Godwinsons sons arrived on the Somerset coast to kill William - they were unsuccessful
When was the rebellion of the south west and Exeter?
1068 lasted for 18 days
How did William deal with the rebellion of the south west and Exeter?
Besieged the city with an army of Norman’s and Saxons
Suppressed Bristol and Gloucester
Built a castle in Exeter at the highest point
Made Robert of Mortain be in charge of Exeter
Describe the events of the rebellion of the Norman earls
- 1075 - Ralph de Gael (reason: William forbid Ralph’s marriage) led the rebellion with Roger de Breteuil (reason: didn’t have the same power as his father under William)
- King Filip of France encouraged the rebellion - he didn’t want Norman England to be as powerful as France
When was the rebellion of the Norman earls?
1075
How did William deal with the rebellion of the Norman earls?
The rebels were blinded and murdered
Roger de Breteuil was arrested
Ralph de Gael retreated to Brittany
Dealt with by Lanfranc
What were the 7 key areas of a Norman Motte and Bailey castle?
Drawbridge
Gatehouse
Bailey
Palisade
Keep
Motte
Moat
What was a drawbridge?
A bridge that could be lifted up and down to allow entry to the castle and provided defence
What was a gatehouse?
A building that controlled access to the castle, the people here would be able to see who had arrived to the castle
What was a Bailey?
The enclosure below the motte with kitchens, store rooms and stables
During attacks, local people and livestock would live here
What was a palisade?
A fence made of strong timbers and driven deep into the ground
It was strong and quick to build
What was a keep?
A strong wooden that provided a lookout point and an elevated attack position for archers to defend the whole castle
What was the motte?
A large mound of earth typically 5-7 metres high which was built by local people, they were quick to build and provided a sense of the Saxons being under constant surveillance
What was a moat?
A ditch dug around the castle as an additional form of defend which was often filled with water
What were the advantage of motte and Bailey castles?
They were made of wood - quick to build
Used locals to build them - didn’t require expertise but also showed who was controlling them now
They were intimidating and provided a good defense
Disadvantages of motte and Bailey castles?
Wood could rot with rain and be set on fire
They couldn’t hold a lot of troops
Some were overwhelmed with attacks or abandoned
Where were motte and Bailey castles built?
They were often built in vulnerable areas where there posed a threat of invasion
Often by rivers - provided opportunities to trade and for communication
Built in towns that had rebelled previously - stopped them from rebelling again as castles were intimidating
How did castles help William keep control over England?
They reminded the Saxons who was now in control
They were large and intimidating structures - helped stop rebellions
They were useful for housing troops - could defend from invasions
What were Burhs?
The Anglo Saxon version of a castle
They were fortified towns with walls surrounding them - they were public areas and became centres of commerce and local government
What are the main differences between motte and Bailey castles and Burhs?
Motte and Bailey castles - smaller and were there to intimidate, were form of defence
Burhs - fortified a whole town, were a place of gathering and community
What are the 2 interpretations that historians have on motte and Bailey castles?
- They served military purposes and the building of castles rose after 1066 due to rebellions
- They were just there for appearance and a public display of luxury and power
When did William the Conqueror die?
9th September 1087
How long was William I king for?
21 years until he died aged 51
How did William I die?
At the Battle of Mandes - he fell of a horse and his himself with his saddle
Why did William have a positive legacy?
Left and created castles - still used today
Brought better tactics to England along with other types of soldiers
Country was stable - although there were rebellions, they were mostly controlled by
Helped the economy
Why did William I have a negative legacy?
He used terror to take control - stole land from people and did things like the Harrying of the North
He took taxes from people to build himself castles
Often used violence to put down rebellions
Who were the 2 monarchs after William’s death?
- William II
- Henry I
THEY WERE BOTH HIS SONS
What is William II also known as? Why?
William Rufus - he had red hair
How many sons did William I have?
3
What did William I do with his son Robert? Why?
Made him the Duke of Normandy - William thought Robert was useless
When was William II crowned king?
September 1087 - after William I died
When did William II gain control of Normandy whilst also being King of England? How?
1089 - laid claim to Normandy and waged a war against Robert (his brother) and won
Did William II have good relations with the church? Why?
No - often argued with the Archbishop of Canterbury and many speculated that he was homosexual as he didn’t have a wife or kids
When did William II die? How?
He was murdered in August 1100 by an arrow
What do many historians believe about the murder of William II? Why?
Many believe it was an assassination ordered by Williams younger brother Henry - so that he could become king
When did Henry I become king?
Crowned himself king a few days later after William II death in August 1100
Rank the sons of William I in order from oldest to youngest
Robert
William
Henry
How did Henry I buy support?
Granted favours and abolished abuses
Secured northern border by marrying Edith - the sister of the king of Scotland
How did Henry I become ruler of Normandy? When?
Henry invaded Normandy in 1106 and captured Robert (his brother) and held him prisoner for life - then became the ruler of Normandy
What happened after Henry I died? When?
He died in December 1135 - there was a succession crisis which led to a civil war as the English barons didn’t want to be ruled by a woman (Henry I only had a daughter after his son died)
3 main consequences of the harrying of the north?
- Refuge - people fled elsewhere to survive leading to a refugee crisis
- Fear - scared of the terror - gave more control to Norman’s
- Ruin - domesday book recorded many towns around York as trash - 20 years later were still ruined
When was harrying of the north?
1069-1070
