The Normans - Unit 1 : The Conquest and Control Flashcards
Succession in 1066
- Post obitum (after death) - a nomination or request to become king after previous one has died
- Novissima Verba - king names a choice on his deathbed
- Witan (council of lords and churchmen) decide
- Anyone who successfully attacks or invades
Why there was a succession crisis in 1066
Edward the Confessor died without any male heirs to the throne
Main contenders to the throne in 1066
- Harold Godwinson - Anglo Saxon
- Harald Hadrada - Viking
- William Duke of Normandy - Norman
- Edgar Aethling - Anglo Saxon
Edgar - STRENGTHS
- Edwards nearest relative
- Named successor by Edward the Confessor
Edgar - WEAKNESSES
- Only 14 years of age
- No money, soldiers or military experience
Harald Hadrada - STRENGTHS
- Experienced ruler and seasoned warrior
- Had previous Earl of Northumberland Tostig Godwin’s support
- Many in England had Scandinavian roots = supported him
Harald Hadrada - WEAKNESSES
- Very harsh
- His claims to the throne were based on his own father being promised the throne
William Duke of Normandy - STRENGTHS
- Allies with Wessex = good relations with the English
- Had previously shown support of Edward when he had been faced with rebellion
- Harold Godwinson had sworn an oath to support William as the next King (claimed by the Normans)
William Duke of Normandy - WEAKNESSES
- Distant cousin of Edward but was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy
- Wasn’t the only one promised the throne
Harold Godwinson - STRENGTHS
- King’s brother in law
- from the most powerful family in England and richest man in England after inheriting the earldom
- In Edwards last year he acted as sub regulus and gained power
- skilled military leader
- had the power to stop invasions from abroad
Harold Godwinson - WEAKNESSES
Disliked by some in England
Edwards Successor
Harold Godwinson
- declared King of England on January 6th 1066a day after Edward died
- Popular with the English lords
- Married sister of the Earls Edwin and Morcar
Events of 1066
JAN - MAY
- William prepared army of 700 ships on Dieve Harbour in Normandy
- Harold had his base on the Isle of Wight
Harold had two types of soldier
1. HOUSECARLS : full-time professional army
2. FYRD : part - time troops recruited from every village
In summer of 1066, after awaiting Williams invasion, Harold decided to dismantle his army and return to London
Events of 1066
SEP : Battle of Stamford Bridge
The VIKINGS invaded the north of England and Harold reassembled his army and headed up north
- Saxons travelled 180 miles in 5 days
- Got lucky as : Vikings were unarmed and split by the river
- Once over the bridge, both sides formed a shield wall (locked shields)
- The Saxons won and Harold was still King (HARALD HADRADA KILLED)
Events in 1066
SEP : NORMAN PREPARATION
Problem with Norman Army = not big enough or strong enough to invade so he had to gather some from other nations
- He did this by : offering rich pickings and saying that it was a religious war backed by the Pope (carried the Papal banner)
- William had cavalry something Harold didn’t have
- Despite the south coast being vulnerable (Viking invasion) the wind meant that Norman’s couldn’t set sail until the 27th
- Ns landed in East Sussex, Pevensey whilst the A-S were in the north
- To provoke Harold, and establish control early, William began to burn and pillage villages on the coast
- Saxons went from up north to south
Events of 1066
OCTOBER - Battle of Hastings
Pt 1
Harold set up his shield wall along the route to London to prevent them getting to London and to force them into battle : the wall was about a mile long and he put archers at the front to weaken the enemy shield wall.
- Norman archers were shooting uphill so their arrows went over the wall
- In order to break the A-S shield wall, the foot soldiers ran towards it but the A-S didn’t move so William ordered in his cavalry in place of the foot soldiers
- Suddenly on the left of the Norman army they retreated and the A-S on that side followed which broke the wall and Harold couldn’t stop them as he was in the front line
Events of 1066
OCTOBER - Battle of Hastings
Pt 2
- Once both sides are on equal ground the AS were surrounded by the Normans as they were backed into a marshy area
- Normans kept staging retreats to break the shield wall and lure the Saxons to even ground
- FINAL TACTIC : William put every man that could still walk or ride into one solid mass and put the archers at the back so they could hit those behind the Shield wall
William was crowned 2 months later on Christmas Day in 1066
Extra info on events on 1066 - TOSTIG GODWINSON
MAY 1066
- Harolds brother Tostig argued that he had a legitimate claim to the throne despit his exile to Flanders in 1065. So he attempted to raid the Sussex Coast in May but was unsuccessful
Key Feature of Norman warfare - Castles
Built wooden ones to protect troops and control surrounding land (establish control)
They brought pre-made castles to England in order to save time.
Reasons why William won at Hastings
NORMAN STRENGTHS
- Combination of archers, soldiers, infantry and cavalry
- Religion - God was on their side
- Gained control pre - battle by burning and pillaging villages and building their temporary castles
- Lots of ships = lots of resources with them
- Archers = long distance attacks
Reasons why William won at Hastings
SAXON WEAKNESSES
- Harold killed = no morale left for the soldiers
- Just marched down from Stamford Bridge = tired
- Harold was fighting on foot
- Defence rather than offence
- Had inexperienced soldiers - Fyrd
Reasons why William won at Hastings
LUCK
- Wind changing direction allowing Normans to get to England quickly
- Tactic of luring the Saxons to even ground
How William Dealt with early rebellions
- Violence (e.g. Harrying of the North)
- Offer jobs and responsibilities to keep them happy
- Remove titles and land from the rebels
- Imprison and execute rebels
- Offer money to invaders
Rebellion 1
HARRYING OF THE NORTH
1068 - Edwin and Morcar (ex Saxon earls after William came into power)
Along with Edgar Æthling fled Williams court and went north. Edgar needed allies so King Malcolm gave his support to them
1069 - Norman Earl Robert of Commies was murdered by English rebels and Edgar attacked the City of York
+ Danish Vikings invaded and joined with the English Army with 249 ships = defeated Normans outside of castle of York and captured it
How William dealt with it
- He payed the Vikings to leave
- Laid waste to vast areas of land around York, burning and salting fields and killing any living creature. Thus was known as the Harrying of the North
