Part 1 - Conquered and conquerors up to Cnut and north sea empire Flashcards
(21 cards)
1
Q
The anglo saxons?
A
- around ad400 onwards - tribes from modern-day denmark and northern germany invaded - later settled in britain
- collectively known as anglo-saxons
- set up number of different kingdoms - led by lords and chieftains
2
Q
Why did vikings invade Britain?
A
- knew how wealthy some of anglo saxons had become
- better farming land - norway very hilly - denmark sandy soil
- opportunities for younger brothers who did not inherit land in scandanavia
3
Q
Wessex and the vikings?
A
- in 865 - vikings invaded england - one by one defeated Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, - only Wessex undefeated
- 878 - defeated vikings at the Battle of Edington
4
Q
Results of battle of edington?
A
- viking leader guthrum had to become christian and agree to never attack wessex again
- boundary created between anglo-saxons and vikings - vikings to live in north and east of country in danelaw
5
Q
Peace?
A
- alfred strengthened defences across country - built fortified towns called burhs to make land more secure
- many vikings in danelaw settled down - lived fairly peacefully with anglo-saxons
- people travelled and traded between wessex and danelaw - intermarriage
6
Q
Identity under alfred?
A
- other kingsdoms acknowledged alfred to be overlord - anglosaxons called themselves “Angelcynn” under his rule
- translated books from latin to english
- had new coins produced which called him ‘King of the English’ - people started to think of themselves as being English for first time
- called ‘the Great’ - he saved Anglo-Saxon England from Viking domination - began to forge new english identity
7
Q
Alfreds death?
A
- after his death - his descendants manages to recapture parts of danelaw
- by time alfreds great grandson - edgar the peaceful - became king in 959 - country was settled as it had been for generations
8
Q
What happened under edgar and his death?
A
- in 10th century - english re-conquered much of land held by vikings - under kingn edgar - country became calm and stable
- when he died in 975 - became unstable
- 978 - aethelred became king - supporters murdered his half brother edward - aethelred considered poor judge of character - taken advantage of by advisors
9
Q
What happened in 991?
A
huge viking army led by Dane Sven Forkbeard and Norweigan Olaf Tryggvason arrived at folkestone in fleet of over 90 ships
10
Q
What was the danegeld?
A
- vikings defeatead english at battle of maldon in 991 - aethelred paied them to leave
- taxes raised to pay for this known as danegeld
- cost a fortune
11
Q
What deal did aethelred make to stop paying the danegeld?
A
- to stop paying danegeld - aethelred made deal with normans - states they would support each other against enemies
- meant vikings could not use normandy as base to launch attacks on britain
- did not stop vikings from attempting to conquer britain
12
Q
What happened in november 1002?
A
- aethelred carried out mass killing of all viking men, women and children he could find south of danelaw
- St Brice’s day massacre
13
Q
What happened in 1013?
A
- Sven forkbeard - king of denmark - angered by massacre - sister was murdered
- summons large army and conquers england - aethelred flees
14
Q
What happened in 1014?
A
forkbeard dies - is succeeded by young son Cnut
- aethelred returns to england - forces Cnut back to denmark - aethelred back on throne
15
Q
What happened in 1014-16?
A
Cnuts supporters in england rebel against aethelred - aethelreds own son joins rebellion
16
Q
What happened in april 1016?
A
aethelred dies - son edmuns becomes king
17
Q
What happened in october 1016?
A
- cnut defeats king edmund at battle of Assandun in Essex - cnut and edmun make agreement
- wessex to belong to edmund - rest of country run by Cnut
- when one dies - other inherits land
- one month later edmund dies - cnut king of england
18
Q
How did england change under Cnut for the good?
A
- trustworthy english nobles left to rule own areas
- peaceful time free from viking raids
- brought back popular and fair laws laws of edgar the peaceful
- helped church – using wealth to regularly make donations
19
Q
What was the north sea empire?
A
- cnut also ruled norway, denmark and part of Sweden- england became part of north sea empire
- cnut paid viking army to protect all parts of his empire - encouraged trade across North Sea
- people from empire migrated to england to work as farmers or craftsmen
- made england even richer country
20
Q
Who was emma of normandy?
A
- sister of duke of normandy - widow of aethelred the unready
- married cnut in 1017
21
Q
Effects of cnut marrying emma of normandy?
A
- helped Cnut gain support of many English people
- meant that north sea empire developed closer links and more trade with normandy
- improved relations between Cnut and Church
- brought lands with her marriage to cnut - expanding north sea empire
- she was strong leader who was listened to when cnut travelled his empire
