The Norman Conquest Flashcards
1
Q
Who was Edward the confessor?
A
The king who reigned before 1066 and died with no heir
2
Q
Who was William duke of Normandy?
A
Distant cousin of Edward
Norman
Experienced leader
Contendor to throne in 1066
3
Q
Who was Harold Godwinson?
A
Contendor to the throne in 1066
Saxon
Earl of Wessex
Skilfull military leader
4
Q
Before 1066, what was England’s connection with the vikings?
A
Vikings raided lots until 1013 when Vikings invaded and Canute killed King Aetherled and most his family then reigned over England for 20 years
5
Q
Why did Edward never enjoy full power?
A
Due to Godwin family
6
Q
When did the Godwin family rebel against William? What happened?
A
1051, they were exiled but returned in 1952
7
Q
Who was interested in taking the throne from Edward when he died with no heir?
A
Earl of Wessex
Vikings
Normans
8
Q
Who was Harald Hadrada?
A
Viking Ruthless warrior Supported by Tostig Godwinson Contender to the throne in 1066 Supported by people in north of England with scandinavian roots
9
Q
Who was Edgar Aetheling?
A
Nearest blood relative to William
14-16 years old, no money, no military, no experience
English
10
Q
Why did William of Normandy think he had a claim to the throne?
A
He was promised the throne by Edward under oath
He had strong blessings from the pope
He had before helped Edward defend himself against threats from Earls (incl. Godwinson)
Said Godwinson did an oath to support him in 1064
11
Q
Why did Harold Godwinson think he had a claim to the throne?
A
He said Edward promised the throne to him on his deathbed
12
Q
Why did Harold Hardrada think he had a claim to the throne?
A
His father - Magnus was going to take English throne but he was busy so Edward the confessor took it instead
Was supported in North of England
13
Q
What happened when Edward died? (Before battles)
A
Harold Godwinson declared King 6th Jan 1066
He married sister of Earl Edwin and Morcar
14
Q
When did Godwinson do an oath to support William?
A
1064
15
Q
Who was Hardrada’s Father?
A
Magnus, was lined up to take throne from King Canute but he was busy so Edward took it
16
Q
Who did English lords like?
A
Harold Godwinson
17
Q
Why was Harold G seen as insecure?
A
He got crowned King 1 day after William’s deaths showed he knew he was going to face challenges
18
Q
Who was Tostig Godwinson?
A
He claimed he had a right to the throne and was exiled in England in 1065
Harold Godwinson’s brother but he supported Hardrada,
19
Q
Who did housecarls belong to?
A
Saxons
20
Q
What were housecarls?
A
Full time, professional soldiers
21
Q
Who were thegns?
A
Saxon lords
22
Q
Who were the Infantry?
A
Saxon foot soldiers
23
Q
Who were the calvary?
A
Norman men on horseback
24
Q
Who were the archers?
A
Norman men carrying bow and arrows
25
How long did Harold's army wait along Sussex coast for William's norman army invasion?
3 months
26
Why did William's army not turn up in those 3 months Godwinson's army waited?
They were being assembled and trained
27
When did Harold's army leave the coast of sussex? Why?
8th September, to get resources
28
What happened mid September 1066?
Harald Hardrada invaded the North of england near York
29
How many ships and soldiers did Harald Hardrada invade England with?
300 ships
| 8,000 soldiers
30
How long did it take Harold Godwinson to march up north when he learned of Hardrada's arrival? How many miles?
180 miles in 5 days
31
When did the battle of Stamford bridge start?
25th September 1066
32
What happened when Godwinson's army arrived at Stamford bridge?
They caught the viking army off guard with no armour on, Vikings were split up by the river derwent which was only crossable by a small bridge
33
What did both armies create at the battle of Stamford bridge?
Shield walls
34
What was there said to be on the bridge on the river derwent? (BOSB)
A giant viking with an axe who killed 40 saxons, he was killed by saxons floating under bridge and stabbing him in the legs
35
How did the saxons win the BOSB?
They created a chink in the shield wall so they could go around and behind the Viking army
36
What was the result of the Battle of Stamford bridge?
Harald Hardrada and Tostig were killed and Godwinson was still king
37
When did the Norman army leave Normandy?
27th September 1066
38
Where did the Normans land when they arrived in England?
Pevenesy Bay
39
Why was the south coast of England vulnerable when the Normans arrived?
As Saxon army was near york and had just fought the Battle of Stamford bridge
40
What did William do when he arrived in England to provoke Godwinson to come to battle?
By burning and pillaging villages near pevensey bay
41
What did William have on his army that Godwinson didn't?
Calvary
Archers
Up to 3000 horses
42
How many ships did the Vikings return with compared to how many they came with?
25 out of 300 ships
43
Where did the Saxons arrive on the 13th of October?
Senlac Hill, they camped overnight as they were exhausted. Normans met them there in the morning
44
How many men were on Saxon army compared to Norman army?
They both had between 6,000-7,000
45
What was a saxon advantage at the beginning of the battle of hastings?
They were on the top of the hill
46
When was the battle of hastings?
14th October 1066
47
What was the saxon's position at the battle of hastings?
On top of the hill
Housecarls formed shield wall
Behind were Fyrd who were less experienced soldiers
48
What weapons did the fyrd carry?
Iron studded clubs and heavy axes
49
What did the Norman strength of the army having archers, foot soldiers and men on horseback mean for William in winning the battle of hastings?
It gave him a range of soldiers to use in battle.
| He had advantage as saxon army had less
50
What did the Norman trick at retreating mean for William in winning the battle of hastings?
Helped bring saxons down to even ground and break the saxon shield wall
51
What did William's belief that God was on his side mean for William in winning the battle of hastings?
Meant William wasn't afraid of dying or being defeated so he fought harder and took more risks
52
Why did William believe God was on his side?
As Pope supported him
AND
Godwinson had broken his oath to William
53
What did the Saxon weakness of Harold relying on foot soldiers rather than archers or calvary mean?
Meant Saxon's didn't have a wide range of soldiers
54
What did some of Harold's best soldiers dying at the battle of stamford bridge mean for the battle of hastings?
Meant Harold had a rushed and hastily put together an un-prepared army compared to William's experienced well trained army
55
What did the long walk after fighting BOSB down to the south mean for Harold's army at the battle of hastings?
They were un-prepared and tired which was contrast to Normans
56
What happened at the battle of hastings when Harold was killed early in the battle?
Saxons had lost their leader so they lost motivation to carry on
57
What did the luck that the wind changed so William crossed the channel when Harold was in the North mean?
It meant that saxons had to come down from North so they were tired and unprepared so William had an advantage as his men were very prepared as they had been waiting
58
When was William crowned King?
25th December 1066
59
Who crowned William as King?
The Archbishop of York
60
How did William respond to many English lords wanting Edgar Aetheling to be King?
He marched through kent attacking towns and forcing surrender.
In each place he went he built a castle and left a garrison
61
What is a 'garrison'?
A group of his soldiers
62
What years did William face serious rebellions?
1067-1071
63
What did William let English keep/do so they'd support him?
Continued to use English for royal writs (royal writs=instructions from King)
Encouraged them to marry Normans
Allowed lords who pledged loyalty to him to keep their land - even Edgar Aetheling
Allowed Stigand to remain archbishop
64
When was the harrying of the North?
1069
65
What did the harrying of the North start out as?
Revolt against William's new earl, Lord Cumin
66
When did William feel confident enough that he could return to Normandy?
1067
67
Who did William bring to Normandy as he didn't want a risk of a revolt while he was gone?
Earls Edwin, Morcar and Waltheof
Archbishop Stigand
Edgar Aetheling
68
Who did William leave in charge when he left for Normandy?
His half brother Odo, bishop of bayeux
| William Fitz Osberne - became Earl of Hereford
69
What did William to do those Saxons who had died at battle of Hastings?
Seized their land and gave it to Normans who fought for him
70
Why did William seize the land of the men who fought against him?
To establish Norman control
71
Why did Edgar, Morcar and Edwin submit to William without a fight?(4)
They believed the reason he won may be because of God
England's best warriors died at BOH
They couldn't decide
William had control of royal treasury so they'd have little to offer their supporters
72
How did William respond to revolts in Kent?
With violence, built a castle
73
What did William charge the English taxes to do?
Build castles
74
What did Earl of Cumin allow his men to do as they travelled north? (Started harrying of the north)
Loot and kill towns up to Durham
75
Who fought back against Earl of Cumin's army?
The norththumbrians
Edgar Aetheling
Locals
76
Where did the harrying of the north revolt take place?
York
77
How did William respond when the sheriff asked William for help to avoid surrender?
Quickly - he built a second castle in York
78
Who did William put in charge after Harrying of the North?
William Fits Osbern - One of his most trusted men
79
What were the advantages of Castles?
Quick to build as they were made of wood
William could use and chatge locals to build castles
The Keep had good view of attackers
Good defence
80
What were the disadvantages of Castles?
Wood can rot, be set alight, Can't hold large amount of troops
81
What was the 'Bailey' in a castle?
Enclosure below the Motte with kitchens, stop rooms, garrisons and stables. Place where local people would live during in attack
82
What was the 'Gatehouse' in a castle?
Controlled access to castle
83
What was the 'Keep' in a castle?
Strong wooden tower place at a lookout point
Elevated attack position for archers to attack
Final layer of defence
84
What was the 'Ditch' in a castle?
Dug around castle for defence
| Could be filled with water
85
What was the 'Motte' in a castle?
Large mound of earth, typically 6-7meters high
| Imposing large structure to intimidate English
86
What was the 'Drawbridge' in a castle?
Lifted up and down to allow entries
| Provided defence
87
What was the 'Palisade' in a castle?
Made up of strong timbers driven deep into ground
| Sometimes double fence with earth in-between
88
When did Normans start building stone castles? Example?
After 1070, pickering castle
89
When did William the conqueror die?
9th September 1087
90
How did William die?
From his injuries from Battle of Mantes
91
What were positives of William's legacy? (What he had left behind)
Taxes
Built a lot of castles - established group and security
Stable country - no threat from Earls/Lords or tribes
92
What were negatives of William's legacy? (What he had left behind)
```
The terrorising
Pillaging and harrying
Seizing land
The violence he used against uprisings
Taxes he charged people to build Castles
```
93
Who were the 2 Monarch's after William's death in 1087?
```
William II (Rufus)
Henry I
```
94
Who was in line when William died but who did William want the throne to go to?
His oldest son Robert but William wanted the throne to go to his 2nd son - Rufus
95
Who was Rufus crowned by and when?
September 26 1087 by Archbishop Lanfranc in Canterbury cathedral
96
Who plotted a rebellion against Rufus in 1088?
Bishop Odo of Bayeux
| Supported by 6/10 Norman barons
97
How did Rufus put down the 1087 rebellion?
By promising Baron's things and reminding them of their loyalty
98
Who wanted the throne from Rufus?
His brother 'Robert'
99
What did Rufus do in 1091?
Went to Normandy to challenge his brother Robert
100
What happened when Rufus visited Robert?
They agreed on terms
101
Why was Robert kept away from England?
He was involved in the first crusade from 1096
102
How did Henry I claim the throne?
After Rufus was shot by arrow and killed
103
What did people suspect about Henry?
That he plotted to kill Rufus so he could take the throne
