The Vikings And The Saxons (c.790-1066)

Question 1

When was the first phase, what type of war was it and what was the response?

Answer 1

• 790-864
• raiding
• shocked

Question 2

Examples of battles in the first phase

Answer 2

• 844 - Redwulf, king of Northumbria, killed by viking raiders/major viking attack near modern day Plymouth
• 793 - Viking raid on Lindisfarne monastery on the Northumbrian coast. Many more attacks followed on the coast and inland.

Question 3

Impact on people during first phase

Answer 3

• people living on the coast were very vulnerable
• there was a psychological impact of fear of not knowing if or when a raid could happen.

Question 4

2nd phase - when, what type, reaction

Answer 4

• 865 - 990
• invasion/war between two countries
• fighting back

Question 5

Examples for 2nd phase

Answer 5

886 - Alfred the Great and Guthrum created a Treaty defining boundaries of kingdoms in order to establish peace. Wessex was in the West, while Danelaw was in the East.

Question 6

Attitudes and responses for 2nd phase

Answer 6

• late 800s - Alfred the Great (King of Wessex) built many burhs across southern England to protect Anglo-Saxons; gave them greater strength
• 895 - vikings stopped trying to conquer Wessex, as they believed they couldn’t defeat the burhs.

Question 7

Impact on people during 2nd phase

Answer 7

• direct, indirect, psychological, cultural
• many vikings settled in N. England, having children with Saxons; much Norse in English today e.g. glitter
• 927 - Anglo-Saxons were united and various kings swore allegiance to Athelstan of Wessex to create ENGLAND. This was after Athelstan conquered the last Viking Kingdom and became the first Anglo-Saxon ruler of the whole of England. After his death, he did not have a strong successor, so some Danes managed to retake parts of Danelaw again.

Question 8

Impact on government during 2nd phase

Answer 8

• Alfred/monarchy in general becomes stronger as the public are being protected, so they gain support.

Question 9

3rd phase - when, type, reaction

Answer 9

• 991 - 1066
• Conquest, between two countries
• negotiation

Question 10

3rd phase - example

Answer 10

• Battle between Dane and English monarchs, as it was just one country.

Question 11

3rd phase - impact on people

Answer 11

• some of the vikings became kings of England e.g. King Sweyn (1013-1014), King Canute (1016-1035)

Question 12

3rd phase - impact on government

Answer 12

• Ethelred the unready gets weaker, as he loses England to Sweyn.