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History - Norman England > 1.1 The Succession Crises In 1066 > Flashcards

1.1 The Succession Crises In 1066 Flashcards

(44 cards)

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1
Q

Who was the first King to control all of England?

A

Aethelstan

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2
Q

When did Aethelstan rule?

A

924-939

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3
Q

Tell me about England before it United

A

It has been a collection of territories rule by angle or Saxon Chiefs

They started to unite under Alfred the great in the ninth century

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4
Q

What was England’s economy based on

A

Agriculture, also came from trade in wool and natural mineral resources sucks as iron, lead and copper

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5
Q

Why and when did the Vikings invade

A

England’s wealth made it attractive to Viking invaders who raided and then settled in the NORTH of England in the eleventh century

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6
Q

Where did the Vikings come from

A

Norway, Sweden and Denmark (Scandinavia)

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7
Q

Who were the Vikings/ what were they like

A

They were skilled sailors who travelled long distances to find natural resources that were scarce at home.

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8
Q

What was the Vikings inheritance system like

A

Meant that a mans land was divided between all his sons

This meant that holdings got smaller and smaller so the Vikings were looking for places to settle

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9
Q

What was Normandy like in the eleventh century

A

Was an independent country and ruled by a duke

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10
Q

What were the Normans like in 1050’s

A

They were descended from Vikings (Norsemen) who has settled in 911 due to its wealth of resources,

They gradually became known as Normans and established and settled a wealthy community and always trying to expand community.

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11
Q

Tell me about the Christian church in the 1050’s

A

Religious belief was very strong and the Catholic Church dominated Western Europe - priests among every village

Head of church was based in Rome and the pope has a huge influence over Europe - had strong political influence too

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12
Q

How do we know about Norman England?

A

The conquest was a significant event and was written a lot about - however not always accurate favoured William or hated him.

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13
Q

What key event happened in 1016

A

Aethelred the unready (English) dies and Canute (Viking) becomes king

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14
Q

What key event happens in 1017

A

Aethelreds widow Emma (English) marries Canute

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15
Q

What key event happened in 1035

A

Canute dies

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16
Q

What key event happens in 1035-1040

A

Harold harefoots reign

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17
Q

What key event happens in 1040-1042

A

Harthacanutes reign

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18
Q

What key event happens in 1042

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A

Edward the confessor becomes king

19
Q

What key event happens in 1051

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A

Godwin family is exiled

20
Q

What key event happens in late 1050’s

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A

Harold proclaimed sub-regulus

21
Q

What key event happens in 1066 - January

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A

Edward the confessor dies

22
Q

Was England a rich country - how so?

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A

Yes it has fertile farming land, rich mineral resources, wool trade farming, English towns good source of taxes, Christian country

^all this made it very effective for invaders

23
Q

How did England deal with constant raids from the Vikings

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A

They would pay the Vikings to leave

The payment were called DANEGELD

24
Q

How did the Normans keep some influence on England

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A

Richard the duke of Normandy forced Emma (aethelreds widow) to marry Canute

25
How did Canute marrying Emma benefit him
Marrying the previous kings widow was some way appeasing to the English
26
How did Canute divide England
Into 4 earldoms which were: Wessex, Northumbria, Mercia and east Anglia
27
What were the earls like under canutes reign
Most powerful men in country after Canute, the earl of Wessex (earl Godwin) was the most powerful of the four earls
28
What was Edward the confessors path to throne like
Canute died, his sons harefoot and harthacanute has short reigns - harthacanute was preoccupied with problems in Denmark or ill So he invited Edward (Emma's son and his half brother) to England Edward appointed harthacanutes successor and won support of earls, was crowned King on 3 April 1043
29
What was Edward like?
He had only been a child when Vikings invaded England, he had escaped to Normandy and raised in Norman court so respected the Norman ways of life
30
What were the relations like with edward and the Godwin family
Edward married earl godwins daughter Edith, but in 1051 the godwins rebelled but Edward survived with support of Northumbria and Mercia and exiled the Godwin family in 1051
31
Why was the Godwin family allowed to come back
The English advisors, the Witan encouraged Godwin and his army to come back, they forced Edward to expel Norman advisors from his court and to restore Godwin to his previous privileged position.
32
What did Edward turn out to be like as a ruler
A weake ruler, he took less interest year by year in goverining England , he preferred to focus on religion
33
Tell me 2 key point about 11 th century England's
Vikings, Normans, earls of Wessex all interested in ruling England (think about 1066!!) That when a king died it was not straight forward to who would be next kind
34
What did the English want in a King
A relative of a previous King Supported by English losers and church Wealthy and powerful enough to protect country from foreign attack
35
Who were the four men that believed they had s right to the throne in 1066
Edgar Aetheling Harald hardrada Harold godwinson William duke of Normandy
36
Why did Edgar Aetheling deserve the throne
He was the nearest relative and Edgar's grandfather was Edwards half brother Had been named Edwards successor in 1056 However only 14 in 1066 and has no money, soldiers, military experience
37
Why did harald hardrada deserve the throne
He was king of Norway in 1046+ King harthacanute made agreement with Magnus King of Norway if he died before Magnus did he would be King but when harthacanute died Magnus was too busy defending lands In Norway so Edward took the throne When Magnus died in 1046 harald became king of Norway and believed he should also be King of England because of agreement By 1066 hardrada was an experience ruler Had support of tostig godwinson (Harold godwinsons brother)
38
Why did William duke of Normandy deserve the throne
William was a distant cousin of Edward - but relationship flawed due to William being an illegitimate son Wessex and Normandy has been allies since 988, traded and helped each other face threats such as Vikings - relationship blessed by the pope When Edward has rebellion from Godwins William sent soldiers to protect Edward, in exchange it appears Edward said William would inherit throne Normans also clammed Harold godwinson had visited Normandy in 1064 and swore under oath to support Williams Claim to throne William was a capable ruler in Normandy
39
Why did Harold godwinson deserve Throne
Was Edwards brother in law Very powerful family however had previously tried to rebel against Edward Harold inherited fathers earldom in 1053 making him the richest man of England In final years of Edwards reign, Harold acted as sub-regulus Was a skilful military leader eg, so smiled when King gruffydd of Wales threatened he organised defence that gruffydd killed by his own men English lords supported him Edwards dying wish was for Harold to become log apparently he said "I commend all the kingdom to your protection"
40
What were the English customs to naming s successor
The English regarded the King dying wish / last words as more important than any other promise before Only way an earlier promise was stronger was if it was "kept" so has named successor and shared throne from that point on
41
What were the Norman customs to naming a successor
Any promise seen as final and could not be undone later even on deathbed
42
When did Edward the confessor die
5th January 1066
43
Who was first crowned king of England
Harold Godwinson
44
What made Harold seem insecure about England
He was hurriedly crowned - 1 day away Edwards death Haste reflected his insecure he felt He knew he would face challenges from other claimants

History - Norman England (2 decks)

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