All

Question 1

When was Edward the Confessor king of England?

Answer 1

1042 - 1066

Question 2

Who was Edward the Confessors father

Answer 2

King Ethelred the Unready

Question 3

Who was Edward the Confessors mother

Answer 3

Emma of Normandy

Question 4

Who did Edward the Confessor marry

Answer 4

Edith Godwin

Question 5

Why did Edwards death cause problems

Answer 5

He died with no children to succeed him

Question 6

How was Edward the Confessor connected to Normandy via his family

Answer 6

His mother was Norman.

Spent most his life in exile in Normandy before becoming king

Question 7

What was Edwards connection to Normandy via culture

Answer 7

Spoke Norman French

Closest advisors were Norman

Question 8

How did the Godwin family link to Edward via power

Answer 8

Earl Godwin was the most powerful noble as he controlled Wessex which was the wealthiest province.

Godwin had lots of military force which Edward relied on

Question 9

How did the Godwins link to Edward via rivalry

Answer 9

Earl Godwin involved in the murder of Edwards brother Alfred in 1036 on a trip to England from Normandy, while Dane’s were ruling England.

Earl Godwin became most powerful English Earl by supporting the danish kings

Question 10

How did the Godwin family link to Edward Confessor via family

Answer 10

Edward married Edith, Earl Godwins daughter.

Political arrangement made by Godwin to secure his families power

Question 11

What are the two speculations as to why Edward had no children

Answer 11

Very religious so took a vow of celibacy

Edward refused to have children with Edith backseat he hated Earl Godwin

Question 12

When did Edward the Confessor die

Answer 12

5th January 1066

Question 13

Who was Harold Godwinson

Answer 13

Earl of Wessex

Question 14

Who was William

Answer 14

Duke of Normandy

Question 15

Who was Harald Hardrada

Answer 15

King of Norway

Question 16

Who was Edgar Atheling

Answer 16

Great Nephew of Edward

Question 17

Harold Godwinson family ties to Edward

Answer 17

Harold was Edwards brother in law

No blood connection

Question 18

William family ties to Edward

Answer 18

William was Edwards cousin

Edwards mother Emma was Williams great aunt

Question 19

Harald Hardrada family ties to Edward

Answer 19

No direct blood ties to English royal families

Question 20

Edgar Atheling family ties to Edward

Answer 20

Edgar was great nephew of Edward

Last Anglo Saxon prince alive after his father who was killed in 1057

Question 21

Promises to Harold Godwinson

Answer 21

Edward did not have Harold as much as he hated his father (who died in 1053)

Edward likely did promise Harold the throne some point after 1053 and Harold stated it was promised on the kings deathbed

Question 22

Promise to William from Edward

Answer 22

William claimed Edward had promised him the throne while Edward was in Normandy.

William claimed that in 1064 when Harold Godwinson made a trip to Normandy he too promised he would support William as king

Question 23

Promises to Harald Hardrada

Answer 23

Harald succeeded Magnus I of Norway in 1046 (his father)

Magnus has been promised the kingdom of Denmark by Harthacnut, who was king of England 1040-1042.

Harald claimed the kingdom of Denmark as part of the legacy of Magnus. In 1064 Harald gave up on Denmark and switched to trying to claim England.

Question 24

Promises to Edgar Atheling

Answer 24

Edgar and his father, Edward the Exile, has been invited back to England from their exile in Hungary by Edward the Confessor in 1057.

This it is possible Edward wanted an Anglo Saxon prince to succeed him

Question 25

Political realities - Harold Godwinson

Answer 25

Succeeded his father as Earl of Wessex in 1053 Had control over all of southern England Recognised as the most powerful man in England after Edwards death Became sub-regulus to Edward in his later years, giving him more power and control

Question 26

Political realties - William Duke of Normandy

Answer 26

Ambitious and powerful ruler in Normandy Wanted to expand his power so the Norman’s could have a great empire like their Viking ancestors

Question 27

Harald Hardrada

Answer 27

Famous Viking warrior and skilled commander Had a secure control over his own land

Question 28

Political realties - Edgar Atheling

Answer 28

Closest blood relative to Edward but only 14 when Edward died. Not considered strong enough to hold the kingdom together in 1066

Question 29

Who did the Witan decide to become king of England when Edward the Confessor died in 1066

Answer 29

Harold Godwinson

Question 30

What was the relationship like between Harold Godwinson and Edward the Confessor

Answer 30

They had a good relationship. Edward thought Harold a more honest leader than his father. Harold was a loyal follower and not influenced or controlled by his father

Question 31

Who was the Witan

Answer 31

A council made up of the most powerful men in England Their priority was to ensure England remained safe from civil war and foreign attack.

Question 32

Why did the witan choose Harold as the next king

Answer 32

He had proved himself a strong leader with great military and diplomatic ability. Had already been ruling England for many years as Edwards sub-regulus One blood claimant, Edgar, they believed was too young

Question 33

How did Harold Godwinson establish himself as king

Answer 33

Crowned same day Edward was buried Married the sister of two powerful earls, Edwin and Morcar Held alliance with northern earls so did not need to worry about civil war and could focus on fighting foreign powers

Question 34

When was King Harold II crowned king

Answer 34

6 January 1066

Question 35

Who did Harold marry

Answer 35

The sister of Earls Morcar and Edwin and in return the earls agreed to defend the North from Hardrada threat

Question 36

Where were Edwin and Morcar earls of

Answer 36

Edwin was Earl of Mercia and Morcar was the Earl of Northumbria

Question 37

When was the Battle of Fulfurd Gate

Answer 37

20th September 1066

Question 38

Who was Tostig Godwinson

Answer 38

Half brother of Harold Godwinson. Forced into excile in 1065 because people of Northumbria refused to accept him as their Earl. Hated for his harsh rule

Question 39

How did tostig respond to excile

Answer 39

Did not go quietly and travelled to Scotland, Normandy and finally Norway to gain support for his bid to return to power in England

Question 40

Who did Tostig ally with

Answer 40

Tostig and Harald Hardrada assembled an army of 10,000 Norwegians

Question 41

Who led the English resistance to Tostig and Hardrada

Answer 41

Earls Edwin and Morcar Two armies met a Fulford in York on 20 September 1066

Question 42

How many soldiers did each side have in Fulford Gate

Answer 42

English had 5,000 Norway had 6,000 plus 4,000 reserve soldiers

Question 43

How many casualties did each side have on battle for Fulford Gate

Answer 43

1,000 English casualties 600 Norway casualties

Question 44

Who won battle of Fulford Gate

Answer 44

Norwegians

Question 45

Why was battle of Fulford gate a massive disaster for Harold Godwinson

Answer 45

He expected northern earls to defeat Hardrada while he waited on the south coast for William Duke of Normandy. Harold had to finish the job himself

Question 46

When was the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 46

25th September 1066

Question 47

Who was the battle of Stamford bridge between

Answer 47

English (Harold Godwinson) and Norwegian (Hardrada)

Question 48

How many men did Harold have battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 48

15,000 Roughly 3,000 housecarls

Question 49

How many miles did Harold and his army have to travel to get to Stamford bridge and how long did it take

Answer 49

185 miles Took him 4 days

Question 50

How many troops did Hardrada have for battle of Stamford Bridge

Answer 50

9,000 soldiers

Question 51

Who won the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 51

King Harold II

Question 52

How did Harold surprise Hardrada in the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 52

The Norwegians were waiting for the English for a prisoner exchange and so left their armour on there ship and some troops. Harold surprised them with an attack

Question 53

What happened to Tostig and Hardrada in the battle of Stamford bridge

Answer 53

They were killed during the battle

Question 54

When are where did William and the Norman’s land on British shore

Answer 54

28th September 1066 on Pevensy bay in Sussex

Question 55

What was the first thing William did upon arrival in England

Answer 55

Built a motte and Bailey castle

Question 56

What did William and the Norman’s do while waiting for Harold and his army

Answer 56

Raided the south of England to provoke Harold and the south was where his family historically controlled

Question 57

What was the immediate disadvantage Harold had before the battle of Hastings

Answer 57

His troops were tired from fighting in Stamford bridge and tired from travelling up and down the country

Question 58

How many ships did the Norman’s have

Answer 58

700

Question 59

When was the battle of Hastings

Answer 59

14th October 1066

Question 60

Where did Harold and his army take position at the start of the battle of Hastings

Answer 60

The high ground - Senlac Hill (later named that by Norman’s) Defensive position

Question 61

What tactic did the English use in the battle of Hastings

Answer 61

Formed a shield wall - defensive

Question 62

What 3 types of troops did William have for the Battle of Hastings

Answer 62

Infantry Archers Cavalry

Question 63

Why was the shield wall good (2 reasons)

Answer 63

1. When the Norman’s rode out they were forced back 2. When arrows were fired at them directly they were not hurt

Question 64

What tactics did William use

Answer 64

1. Feigned retreats to lure the less experienced soldiers from the shield wall 2. Firing arrows into the air so they landed down on the Saxons

Question 65

Why did William NOT invade in the summer, like Harold had expected him to

Answer 65

The winds stopped William travelling across the channel

Question 66

Why did Harold II’s death contribute to Williams victory in the a battle of Hastings

Answer 66

If he survived the battle may have just continued to the next day