1.1 how defensible was Wessex in 871?

Question 1

What’s a fyrd?

Answer 1

A form of military, mostly voluntary that can be called upon when needed.

Question 2

Shires meaning?

Answer 2

Local districts with their own councils to run them, reported to the king.

Question 3

Ealdormen meaning?

Answer 3

Very high rank in society, basically nobles. Large land holders.

Question 4

Thegn meaning?

Answer 4

High rank, below ealdormen and reeves, owned land and led armies for ealdormen and the king.

Question 5

How is England divided? What were the 4 key ones. Overall, England…

Answer 5

Kingdoms, Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex and East Anglia. …doesn’t exist yet.

Question 6

How were there struggles between kingdoms?

Answer 6

Mercian supremacy had been established by Offa, but after he died, Mercia fell into a decline.

Question 7

How did Wessex maintaining their borders for many years benefit them?

Answer 7

Wessex was one of the wealthiest Southern Kingdoms.

Question 8

How was the economy evolving fast?

Answer 8

Coinage is developed in many kingdoms, particularly under Offa.

Question 9

What does coins being found in Mercia indicate?

Answer 9

They participated in global trade. There were no cities, but coastal ministers provided sites for markets.

Question 10

Most artistic developments are associated with…?

Answer 10

The Church

Question 11

What was known for being made of gold and gemstones? Where were they produced?

Answer 11

Illuminated manuscripts, produced at monasteries.

Question 12

What 3 factors impacted Wessex’s defensibility?

Answer 12

Alfred himself, the enemy, Wessex itself

Question 13

How many siblings did Alfred have? Who were the key ones?

Answer 13

5: Aethelbald, Aethelwulf, Aethelred.

Question 14

What happened to Alfred between 853-855? What does this suggest? (2)

Answer 14

He was sent to Rome to have a spiritual experience. He’s intelligent, but not as valuable.

Question 15

Who was originally meant to inherit after Alfred’s father? How likely was Alfred to become King?

Answer 15

Aethelwulf, very unlikely.

Question 16

What did Aethelbald do in 855 when Alfred and his father went to Rome?

Answer 16

Schemed to stop his father.

Question 17

What happened as a consequence to Wessex after Aethelwulf’s death?

Answer 17

Wessex would be permanently split.

Question 18

Aethelbald inherited but died in in 865, what was Alfred worried would happen when his brother Aethelred became king?

Answer 18

He would be side-lined.

Question 19

What did Alfred ask Aethelred for? What did he say?

Answer 19

A fair share of their fathers property, Alfred should gain all of their fathers possessions once Alfred became king.

Question 20

What would happen if Alfred outlived his brother? Why?

Answer 20

Cause Alfred considerable challenges to his authority - the surviving brother is to pass the position of King to his own children (not nephews-children of brother who died first is to be looked after by surviving brother).

Question 21

What future problems would challenges to Alfred’s authority cause?

Answer 21

Aethelred and Aethelbald would oppose Alfred - KINGS RULE BY CONSENT.

Question 22

What battle did Aethelred and Alfred fight in 871? What was the outcome?

Answer 22

Battle of Ashdown, won but at a bad cost.

Question 23

Geographical strength of Wessex itself?

Answer 23

Fryds belonged to different shires which were led by individual ealdormen.

Question 24

Military strength of Wessex itself?

Answer 24

Alfred successfully fought at a battle at Edington with fyrds drawn from Somerset, Wilshire and Hampshire. Raised 4000 warriors.

Question 25

Political strength of Wessex itself?

Answer 25

Alfred was left as sole ruler after Aethelred’s death, united defence>easily coordinated.

Question 26

Geographical weakness of Wessex itself?

Answer 26

Wessex was a divided territory after Aethelwulf dies in 858. This leads to an inevitable divided defence.

Question 27

Political weakness of Wessex itself?

Answer 27

Lack of previous unity>forced Alfred to look for better methods for running his kingdom, defined Anglo-Saxon history long after his death.

Question 28

Military weakness of Wessex itself?

Answer 28

Fyrds belonged to shires, shires had localised conflicts. Would often strike deals with opponents to avoid taking too much damage e.g. in Wiltshire during a Viking attack.

Question 29

What were Viking’s considered as before 865? How did their strategy change? E.g?…

Answer 29

Pirates, obtaining as much wealth (at minimum risk) to gaining territory. E.g they targeted churches (wealthy and no defence) to attacking Northumbria first.

Question 30

What happened between 865-868? Why is it hard to know the full details? What does this make difficult?

Answer 30

Every kingdom EXCEPT WESSEX came under control of the Danes(vikings), kingdom left no records -hard to understand why Anglo-Saxons found it hard to defend themselves from Vikings.

Question 31

What was important for the success of Viking raids? (2)

Answer 31

Horses and ships

Question 32

What did the Viking ships make it possible for them to do? Why did this help in winter?

Answer 32

Landing on islands, they could defeat them.

Question 33

Why was the Vikings ability to carry horses advantageous?

Answer 33

They could go straight to the islands.

Question 34

Why was the Vikings “hit and run” tactic effective?

Answer 34

The anglo-saxons weren’t able to organise and defend themselves in time. They were slow and had no permanent military.

Question 35

What caused a change in the “hit and run” tactic? What was this designed to be?

Answer 35

The Great Heathen Army 865 (anti-christian). Designed to be highly mobile and unpredictable.

Question 36

Who had the Vikings previously targeted? Why did the Vikings struggle to attack here after 862?

Answer 36

Kingdom of West Frankia. King Alfred built bridges, fortified towns and abbeys.

Question 37

Which 2 kingdoms did the Great Heathen Army attack first?

Answer 37

Kent and East Anglia

Question 38

What did the Great Heathen Army get from King Edmund of East Anglia? (3) Why was one of these a bad decision? This leads to the Vikings now being more?…

Answer 38

Food, money and horses. Horses=they’re more mobile. Vikings are now more powerful.

Question 39

Why was Mercia vulnerable to the Vikings? (2)

Answer 39

Civil war, Ealdorman got more powerful.

Question 40

Why was Wessex more fortunate? What did Wessex do, that other kingdoms did not, to survive? (2)

Answer 40

Conquest of Northern England (they targeted north to south). Built buhrs, taxed their people more.