Topic 2 The Battle Of Hastings Flashcards
What did he do that was important and why did he do it?
He gave Rollo, a Viking chief some land in Northern France so that they would stop attacking other parts of France
Who was the French King in the early 10th century?
Charles the Simple
What did the land become known as?
North mania, the land of the Northmen. It was later shortened to Normandy.
When did Edward the confessor, king of England die?
5th January 1066
What was Edward III also known as and why?
Edward the confessor, because he was very religious and spent a lot of time at church
He built Westminster Abbey
How long did Edward reign for?
23 years
Who were 3 candidates for the throne?
Harold Godwinson
Harold Hadraada
William of Normandy
Who were the Norman’s?
They were originally Vikings from Scandinavia who lived in Normandy in Northern France
What were the rules for selecting an heir to the throne?
A blood claim or in the absence of this whoever was first to grab it!
Name the two types of warrior in the Saxons army
Housecarls - professional full time soldiers
Fryd - part time soldiers called upon when needed
List 5 reasons why Harold Godwinson was a good candidate for the throne and who asked him to become king?
He was the Earl of Wessex and a powerful nobleman
He was Edward’s brother-in-law
He claimed that Edward gave him the crown on his death bed
He was an experienced warrior
He was English!
The witan asked him to become king
list 2 reasons why William, Duke of Normandy was considered a candidate for the throne?
William claimed that Edward had promised him the crown.
He also claimed that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support him in his claim to the throne.
List 3 reasons why Harald Hardrada was a candidate for the throne?
He was the heir of the Viking king, Cnut, who also ruled Denmark and Norway.
Hardrada’s family ruled England from 1016 - 1042 before Edward took the throne and he believed the throne should never have been given to Edward.
Hardrada was also the most renowned soldier of the age.
What was the witan?
The witan is an old version of parliament
Who owned the Saxon army
Harold Godwinson owned the Saxon army
How many soldiers were in the English / Saxon army?
10,000
When Harold Godwinson became king who planned to invade and why?
Both Harald Hadraada and William Duke of Normandy wanted to invade and claim the throne of England.
There were three types of soldiers in the Norman army what were they?
Spearmen
Calvary
Archers
These were full time professional soldiers
Who fought at the Battle of Stamford bridge?
Harald Hardrada and Harold Godwinson.
What did the English people think about this?
The English people thought it was a bad omen, that something terrible was going to happen or that the new king had committed a terrible sin.
What did the Norman’s think about this?
They thought it was a good sign, that victory would be theirs!
Who was Tostig?
Tostig was one of the commanding officers of Hardrada’s Army. He was the brother of Harold Godwinson!
When was the battle of Stamford bridge?
26th September 1066
What English City is near Stamford Bridge?
York
Who won the battle of Stamford Bridge and why?
Harold Godwinson won the battle mainly because Hardrada’s army were taken by surprise and were unprepared.
When and where did William arrive in England?
28th Sept 1066 in Pevensey
How many soldiers did William have?
Approx 7000
What two important people were killed at Stamford bridge?
Tostig and Harald Hardrada.
How many ships sailed back to Norway after their defeat?
Only 24 from approx 300 that arrived
What strange appearance happened in April 1066
Halley’s comet
When and where was William crowned?
Christmas Day 1066 in Westminster Abbey
What was William’s nickname?
William the conqueror
What famous buildings did he build?
The Tower of London and Windsor Castle
By the end of his reign over 80 castles were built
What changed in England under William’s rule?
Earls became less powerful
Introduction of the feudal system
What is the feudal system?
A hierarchy system already used in Normandy.
From the bottom the peasants, knights, barons, then king.
What is the Harring of the North?
This term was used to describe William’s harsh tactics of destruction and high taxes against the people
What is the Domesday book and when was it ordered?
This is the first ever census. It is a complete record of the people who lived in England and how much land, livestock and property they owned.
It was ordered in 1086
Why did William want this information ?
So that he knew how wealthy the country was and so that he could tax the people more heavily and make himself richer.
When did William die?
1087
Who became king of England after William?
His eldest son Robert became king of Normandy and his 2nd son William became king of England (William II).
He became known as William Rufus because of his red hair!
