The Normans Flashcards
1
Q
What did the normans change in England?
A
- More earls who had smaller earldoms
- Castles were built
- French became the language used in law and government
2
Q
What stayed the same?
A
- The anglo-saxon financial system- exchequer and minting system
- Religion was Christianity
- Peasants spoke English
3
Q
What were the links between Normandy and Anglo-Saxon England?
A
- After Aethlered’s death, his sons Alfred and Edward fled to Normandy.
- They were both Christian countries
- King Edward and Harthacnut were both kings of England and sons of Emma of Normandy
4
Q
What were the three things you needed to be king?
A
- A close blood link with previous king
- Post obitum (approval of kingdoms leading men inc witan)
- Novissima Verba (to have been designated by previous king)
5
Q
What were the strengths of the 4 claimants claims?
A
- Harold Godwinson- Post Obitum (he was the earl of Wessex and had the support of the other nobles)
- William- Novissima verba (he said Edward had promised him the throne earlier in his reign) Also cousin of Edward through Emma.
- Harald Hardrada- Powerful and willing to take the throne by force. Also history of vikings ruling England.
- Edgar Aethling- Closest blood tie to Edward and related through the male bloodline. Also support of many earls.
6
Q
What were the weaknesses of the 4 claimants claims?
A
- Harold Godwinson- Only had a weak blood tie to Edward ( his brother in law)
- William- Wasn’t English and didn’t have the support of the nobles
- Harald Hardrada- No blood tie with Edward and no support from nobles.
- Edgar Aethling- Never named as edward’s heir and was only 14.
7
Q
What were the strengths and weaknesses of William’s prep for battle of Hastings?
A
- He had the support of the pope so he could recruit men who wanted to fight for god.
- He built flat-pack castles so they could quickly defend their landing spot
- He took his whole army,leaving Normandy vulnerable to attack.
- Ships and men were gathered for a long period.
8
Q
What happened at the battle of Fulford gate?
A
- Edwin and Morcar vs Harald and Tostig
- Harald won and York surrendered to Vikings
- Hostages exchanged to secure their loyalty
- heavy losses for northern English army
9
Q
What happened at Stamford Bridge?
A
- Hostages were being handed over to Harald at Stamford bridge
- He left 1/3 of his troops at Riccall
- Harold’s army took the vikings by surprise and won
10
Q
Why did William win the battle of Hastings?
A
- Harold hurried to meet William, he could have waited for 20-30,000 extra troops
- William used the feigned retreat tactic
- The invasion happened in harvest season so many of Harold’s fyrds deserted him
- William was on horseback so had more control of his troops
11
Q
How did William deal with the powerful English lords?
A
- He ensured continuity from Edwards reign - stigand remained as Archbishop of Canterbury
- Earls who pledged loyalty to him were allowed to keep their lands
- William gave land to loyal normans so he had a network of normans around the country.
- In 1067 he returned to Normandy and took Edgar, Edwin and Morcar with him
12
Q
Describe the events leading up to and the Harrying of the North?
A
- 1068- rebellions in Exeter. William besieged the city and Edwin, Morcar and Edgar fled north
- 1069- Robert of Commines murdered by English rebels in Durham. Edgar attacked York
- Danish Viking’s invade and join up with English army. Capture the castle of York but William pays vikings to leave
- Harrying of the north
13
Q
How did Hereward the Wake rebel against the Normans?
A
- 1070- Exiled English rebel Hereward returned to England and found his lands had been given to normans
- Killed the Normans and laid siege to a monastry on the isle of Ely (east anglia)
- William built a bridge to the island but it broke. He hired a witch to terrorise the rebels
- Monks helped William and Hereward was defeated
14
Q
How did the Normans change the feudal system?
A
- Pre-1066 the Anglo Saxon king and earls ruled according to a system of land
- William divided land and titles between the barons in return for military service and loyalty
- Knights fought for barons and peasants worked for knights
- By 1096 virtually all landowners were Normans
15
Q
What stayed the same about the legal system?
A
- England was divided into shires which had a shire court
* Shires were divided into smaller areas called hundreds. Hundred courts dealt with local issues
16
Q
What did the Normans change about the legal system?
A
- Large Anglo-Saxon earldoms were replaced with smaller Norman ones
- Shire courts were replaced with honorial courts and jury’s were introduced
- They introduced primogeniture, murdrum fines and trial by ordeal
17
Q
What were the roles of the church in Norman England?
A
- Economy- church owned 25% of the land and collected tithes (tax)
- Law-church heard court cases for crimes on church land
- Education- only institution to produce books
18
Q
How did the Normans influence religion in England?
A
- Rebuilt churches and cathedrals in Romanesque style
- Got rid of corruption e.g pluralism (holding more than one position) simony (selling positions) and nepotism (jobs to friends and family)
- Replaced Anglo-saxon bishops and archbishops with normans
19
Q
What were the 4 main changes the Normans made to the church?
A
- Normans bishops and abbots
- Reorganised the diocèses and moved cathedrals to important towns and cities
- Introduced Benedictine rule
- Changed the fashions and trends of the churches
20
Q
What were the features of Benedictine rule?
A
- Monks made vows of obedience stability chastity and poverty
- Benedictine reforms made the church less corrupt and changed education in England (separate from church)
- New rules and laws
21
Q
What was the rebellion of the Norman earls?
A
- 1075- The English earls led by Ralph de Gael and Roger de Breteuil rebelled against William
- They were supported by English earl Waltheof and King Philip of France
- Lanfranc and Odo forced the rebels to retreat to Norwich
- Waltheof was beheaded and the rebels were blinded and murdered.
22
Q
Why did William need the domesday book?
A
- 1085- threat from Danish vikings so William called a war council.
- He needed to enforce a geld tax to pay for his army.
23
Q
What does the domesday book tell us?
A
- William owned 20% of the land and the church owned 25%
- Around 10,000 Norman settlers in 1086
- Population between 1.5-2 million
24
Q
What was life like for peasants in Norman times?
A
- Peasants has to pay a tax called a tithe to the church and work for free on church land
- The poorest peasants were called serfs and villeins and we’re not allowed to leave without the lords permission.
- Most peasants were farmers, millers or brewers.
25
Q
How did towns grow under the Normans?
A
- 21 new towns were created after the Norman conquest the biggest being London and Winchester
- The salt and wool trades were very important
- Burgesses were upper class town dwellers who had legal and administrative responsibilities
26
Q
How did the Normans change education?
A
- Schools became separate from monasteries
- Archbishops lanfranc and anselm promotes education and built libraries
- Grammar schools were built to produce clergy and lay people who were literate.
