NORMANS Flashcards
(25 cards)
How were the vikings external threats when King Edward the Confessor died in 1066
In the 10th century, Engalnd’s wealth attracted viking raiders. The first Viking invasion was led by Svein Forkbeard in 1013. In 1016 Svein;s son Cnut succeeded in deposing the English king AEthelred the father of Edward the Confessor. Cnut and his sons went on to rule England for 26 years. Althoug the Vikings lost control of England in 1042 they still saw it as a valuable prize
How were the Normans external threats when Kind Edward the Confessor died in 1066
After the death of his father, Edward the Confessor was raised in the Norman court by his uncle, the Duke of Normandy. When he become King of England after the death of Harthacnut, Edward kept good relations with the Norman rulers. These connections led to the threat from Normandy
Why was England such a prize
1) it was wealthy, it had valuable rescources and booming trading
2) its kings had much stronger central control than other European rulers, thanks to an efficient administration
3) its efficient administration made it easy to collect taxes, thereby increasing the king’s wealth
For each claimant to the throne what did the Witan think of each
1) Edgar / Rejected
2) Harold G / Accepted
3) Harald H / Ignored
4) William / Ignored
Which to claimants stated that Edward chose them to rule
1) Harold Godwinson, claimed that Edward chose him on his deathbed
2) William, claimed Edward promised him the throne in 1051
How did William prepare for battle
1) Got the Papal Banner from the Pope
2) Gather 7000 soldiers including archers and cavalry
3) Built many ships to get across the channel
4) Built pre fabricated castles to take to England so they could be quickly assembled
How did Harold prepare for battle
1) He first assembled a navy
2) Then gatherd an army (7000)
Who gurarded the North of England for Harold
Edwin and Morcar (loyal earls)
What were the problems Harold faced
1) his soldiers wanted paying
2) they were hungry
3) he was running out of rescources
4) the fyrd were needed at home to bring in the harvest
Why was Tostig important
Tostig had been an earl of Northumbria but had lost his position and been sent into exile. Angry, Tostig went to Harald Hardrada to persude him to invade Engalnd
Battle of Fulford
Hardrada and Tostig’s fleet of 300 ships landed at Riccall, near York, and then their soldiers marched torwards the city on 20 September 1066. Edwin and Morcar were defeated and Hardrada now had the city of York
The Battle of Stamford Bridge
1) After hearing about Hardrada’s arrival, Harold regathers his army and marches north / 200 miles in a week
2) More troops join on the way
3) Harold expects to attack York, but he finds Hardrada, Tostig and their army have left
4) Hardrada and Tostig are caught by surprise at Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066 / Vikings not even wearing their chain mail
5) Fighting lasts all day and thousand are killed including Hardrada and Tostig. Vikings then surrender
What were the positives of Stamford Bridge
1) It was good for morale
2) England was safe from Viking invasion
What were the negatives of Stamford Bridge
1) It may have made Harold complacent
2) Engalnd was unprotected against the Normans
3) Having to move north and back would have tired Harold’s troops
4) The many dead and wounded were losses Harold could not afford
What were the positves of Williams army before the Battle of Hastings
1) he had 7000 men
2) the Norman soldiers were well rested
3) William’s army consisted of knights on horseback, archers and infantry
4) the Normans fought with swords and wore chain mail
What were the negatives of Williams army before the Battle of Hastings
1) William’s troops stood at the bottom of the hill
What were the positves of Harold army before the Battle of Hastings
1) 7000 men
2) Harold chose a ridge near Hastings, with a forest behind it / this gave him a strong defensive line
3) his foot soldiers formed a deep line, protected by a wall of shields
4) the thegns fought with swords and javelins
5) the fyrd carried weapons like axes, clubs, scythes and pitchhforks
What were the negatives of Harold army before the Battle of Hastings
1) other soldiers were trying to join him and if he had waited he might have 14,000 men
2) many of the men who had fought at Stamford Bridge were tired or wounded
3) the forest would make retreat difficult
4) Harold had no horseman or achers
what is a housecarl
trained soldiers who were also bodyguards to their lord
what is fyrd
working men, mainly peasants, who were called to fight for their king in times of war
what is a shield wall
making a defensive wall with sheilds to protect the army’s line
what is the feigned retreat
pretending to retreat to tempt the enemy to follow so that they could be surrounded and killed
what is a mercenary
soldiers who fought for whoever payed them
Positives of a Norman knights
1) They were highly trained, heavily armoured and rode horses. They could launch devistating charges using their height to beat down foes
