The Normans Conquest And Control Flashcards

1
Q

When did Edward the confessor die??

A

5th January 1066

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2
Q

When was Edward the confessors funeral

A

6th jan 1066

One day after his death

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3
Q

Why was there a succession crisis

A

Edward had not produced a son

He had promised the throne to multiple people

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4
Q

Who were the four candidates for the throne

A

Edgar ætheling
Harald hardrada
Harold godwinson
William of Normandy

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5
Q

What was the reason Edgar was a candidate

A

He had royal blood, he was edwards nephew

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6
Q

Why was Edgar unfit for the throne

A

He was 15 at the time of the crisis
This meant he had little reputation or credibility for the throne
He was inexperienced

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7
Q

Why was harald hardrada a candidate for the throne

A

He claimed to be a descendant of king Canute, who ruled England in 1035
He was the king of Norway so a strong ruler already
He had a good trading relationship with some of Britain’s trading partners
Had thousands of warriors and a strong navy with him

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8
Q

Why was harald not a good candidate for the throne

A

He was of Viking heritage
Had not been promised the throne
His claims seemed more opportunistic- as if he saw it as a chance to gain land and power in England

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9
Q

Why was Harold godwinson a candidate for the throne

A

He was one of Edward’s most trusted advisors
He was married to Edward’s wife
Allegedly Edward had asked him to be king on his deathbed
Highly support3d by the witan

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10
Q

Why was Harold godwinson a bad candidate for the throne

A

He didn’t technically have royal blood

That’s about it

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11
Q

Why was William of Normandy a strong candidate for the throne

A

He had a strong backing from the pope and Rome
When Harold visited Normandy in 1066 he was aid to have sworn allegiance to William as the next king of England
He had a very strong army in Normandy
He was an established ruler

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12
Q

Why was William not a great candidate for the throne

A

He was French
The channel would be difficult to cross and there would be language barriers
He had little to no influence or support in England

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13
Q

What was Tostig role in the crisis

A

Practically none lol
Some say he supported harald hardrada but other than that he was in exile after the 1065 rebellion and had little to no military or any kind of support

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14
Q

What day was Harold coronation

A

6th jan 1066

Same as Edward’s funeral

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15
Q

What was Harold military defence against other claimants

A

None against Edgar
An army up south in York for harald
An army down south for William as well as the navy being positioned on the channel

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16
Q

By when had Harold’s north army (fyrds) disbanded to go look after their property

A

In September 1066, leaving him vulnerable

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17
Q

When did harald hardrada try to attack

A

Mid September 1066, egged on by tostig

18
Q

How many ships and soldiers did harald bring

A

200 ships, thousands of soldiers

19
Q

When did the battle of fulford gate take place

A

20th September 1066

20
Q

What were harald actions upon arriving in England

A

He marched to Yorkshire
He was met by the earls of Northumbria and Mercia but they were out numbered, out skilled and then outflanked (surrounded and defeated)

21
Q

What was Harold’s response to this

A

He now had to march north

22
Q

What was the name of the battle once Harold arrived

A

The battle of Stamford bridge

23
Q

When did the battle of Stamford bridge take place

A

25th September 1066

24
Q

What happened during the battle

A

The northern army was caught off guard, they were unarmed and defenceless, one berserker Viking held back the entire English army for over 40 mins
However they were eventually defeated and harald was killed
They fled back to Scandinavia after a deal to not attack was struck between Harold’s son and Harold

25
Q

When did William invade

A

28th September 1066

26
Q

When did the battle of Hastings take place

A

14th October 1066

27
Q

Why did Harold not think William would invade in 1066

A

Bad weather conditions made it difficult to travel the channel

28
Q

Where did William land in England

A

Sussex, pevensey

29
Q

What happened at the battle of Hastings

A

The English tried a surprise attack, it failed the Norman’s saw them coming
However the English gained the ‘upper hand’ eg the top of the hill
After 8 hrs though the English defence system of a shield wall began to fail bc the English army were so tired
The Norman’s tried an attack called the feigned retreat, tricking the English soldiers down the hill where they were trapped and defeated
Harold was killed and William became the new leader of England

30
Q

How was Harold drawn down south

A

Williams army began ransacking, burning and destroying English villages in the south to get his attention

31
Q

Why were the English thought to have an advantage by being on top of the hill

A

Better vantage point
Infantry or horses going up the hill get more tired and are way more susceptible to javelin or arrow attacks
However the Norman archers were very talented and their arrows reached further than the javelin attacks from the English

32
Q

What prompted the idea that the English had a lack of discipline

A

After the Norman’s feigned retreat, many broke ranks, leaving their other soldiers vulnerable

33
Q

What were some of the major difference between the Anglo- Saxon and Norman armies??

A

William utilised cavalry a lot whereas most of the English soldiers fought on foot
The English used a shield wall, a very effective defence tactic

34
Q

Who was seen to be the better leader and tactician

A

William

35
Q

What were the most trained members of the English army called and what were their weapons

A

Housecarls and axes

36
Q

What were the most trained members of the English army called and what were their weapons of choice

A

Housecarls and axes

37
Q

What did most English foot soldiers use as weapons

A

Knives

38
Q

List some reason William won

A

Better trained army
He was a better leader and tactician
They had better battle tactics
The English were tired from fighting harald

39
Q

What was Williams first action after winning the battle of Hastings

A

Marching to London, pillaging towns along the way

40
Q

Where did William take a break and why

A

Instead of marching straight into London, William paused at berkhamstead, meanwhile Edgar ætheling was appointed king
He did this as his soldiers were tired and many fell I’ll with dysentery

41
Q

What was it called when Edgar and the earls surrendered

A

The submission of the earls

42
Q

Why did the earls surrender

A

Edgar was weak and lacked support
The English military was weak, many had been killed in battle
England was vulnerable (esp London will William camped just outside)
William had captured Winchester, the location of the royal treasury