Theme 1 - Anglo-Saxon England

What did Edward allegedly prophesize upon his deathbed?

-both Norman and Saxon accounts, in varying degrees of firmness, suggest his dying words was to appoint Harold as heir.

-Standards of the time suggest a mans dying word were the most solemn that could be spoken.

-5 Jan 1066 he died and buried in Westminster.

Who was Edgar the Aethling and how was he linked to the throne?

Edward's half-brother, Edmund ironside, killed by Canute, had a child called Edgar the Aethling meaning 'Man of royal descent'

-Ealdred, Bishop of Worcester tried to bring Edmung out of exile but failed.

-Edmund returned to court in 1057, only to die.

-Edgar was taken into the King's care in 1066, aged 15, with only strong bloodline claim to the throne.

Why did Harold Hadrada III of Norway have a claim?

-just over 2 metres tall & built like a bear, he had honed his marshal skills fighting for the Byzantine imperial guard in Constantinople.

Who (probably) attended the meeting to agree on Edward's successor?

national witan and leading magnates, clergy were present.

Why might the witan have agreed that Harold should be king?

-Harolds track record in gov as sub-king

-Harold was a warrior in his prime capable of protecting England.

-Harold also had the blessing of the outgoing king.

What does William of Poitiers (NORMAN source) suggest about Harold becoming king?

-Harold's coronation showed no signs of legitimacy

-represented the betrayal of is sacred oath to William.

-Crowned by Stigand Bishop of Canterbury and Winchester, thus condemned by the pope for pluralism.

What does the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle suggest about Harold becoming king?

-Harold was crowned by Archbishop Ealdred of York, who, unlike Stigand had a valid pallium from the pope.

What threats did Harold face upon becoming king?

-William and Hadrada.

-Tostig who was sheltered in the court of Flanders.

-Malcolm, King of Scotland.

What did Harold do to try and minimize the division in the north with Edwin and Morcar?

-Traveled North at Easter to warn of the dangers of a house divided

-Married Eadgyth, the sister of the 2 northern earls.

Battle of Fulford: Who did the 'first blow' come from of Harold's reign?

-From Tostig.

-Tostig had a joint invasion pact with Hardrada, Tostig appeared of the Isle of Wight in May.

-With a fleet of 50 vessels, he pillaged the south and east coast.

-But lost 12 ships.

Battle of Fulford: How did Harold respond to the threats?

-Intercepted the raid as a precursor to a full-scale Norman invasion.

-corresponded with intelligence he had received of a Norman fleet and as a result mobilised the fyrd and summoned elite housecarls.

Battle of Fulford: Why was Harold forced to demobilize?

-He had kept them out for 4 months and was running out of supplies and the economy wasn't coping well.

Battle of Fulford: Who blocked Tostig and Hardrada's march?

-Tostig promised Hardrada that the north would rally to their banner but at Gate Fulford, about 3km short of their target, Edwin and Morcar blocked the road.

-6000 men a piece, on foot.

Battle of Fulford: How did Tostig and Hardrada defeat Edwin and Morcar?

-Saxons fell back.

-Faced hardened warriors who were used to fighting together

-confined geography of the battlefield meant that any viking surge would have fatal results.

Battle of Stamford: What evidence is there that Harold responded efficiently to the Viking invasion?

-assembling his Housecarls in London, he commenced a forced march along the old Roman Road of Ermine street and covered 300km in 5 days.

-Reached Tedcaster, on 24 Sep, attacked Stamford bridge

Positive and Negatives of Harold's surprise attack:

-managed a suprise attack

-Vikings didn't have their protective mail on

-However, Harold's men tired from walking that far.

-his numbers swelled from local recruits

What were the 3 stages of the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

-STAGE 1: initial delaying action by a small group of Vikings

STAGE 2: main phase took place on the battle flats. Norsemen formed a traditional shield wall, A-S housecarls launched sustained attacks. Hardrada cut down by arrow to throat

-STAGE 3: Viking Reinforcements arrived from Riccall. Brought an initial boost but by dusk the Viking shield wall had disintegrated.

Reasons why Harold Won Battle of Stamford Bridge

-tactic of surprise worked, Hardrada couldn't form his army properly.

-Troops vulnerable as many had left their mail coats in Riccall

-Hardrada made a mistake of dividing his forces leaving most to protect his fleet

-A-S military system allowed Harold to mobilise and deploy a force on very short notice.

How is Northumbria described in Vita Edwardi?

- A wild and lawless kingdom, strangers had to travel in groups of 30 or more to avoid being attacked.

-Blood feuds endemic

-local nobles acted as crime lords.

When was Tostig appointed Earl of Northumbria?

-1055, attempted to bring the region under his control, but in doing so he acquired a reputation as a tyrant.

Why was Tostig heavily disliked as the Earl of Northumbria?

-He employed brutal tactics and funded his efforts by raising taxes.

-The fact he was a southerner ruling over the fiercely independent North.

What was the catalyst for the Northumbrian uprising?

- Tostig arranged the murder of 3 local magnates.

What did the rebels do during the uprising?

-Tostigs housecarls were slaughtered and his treasure plundered and Morcar, son of Earl Aelfgar, was installed as Earl.

rebels began to march south, sacking Lincoln and Nottingham.

-threatening the stability of England.

What did King Edward want to happen to resolve the uprising?

-Placed Harold in charge of finding a solution.

-he wanted rebels defeated and Tostig restored.

-Harold argued it would result in civil war.

What happened instead?

-King overruled & no army was raised.

-Oxford, in Oct, Morcar installed as Earl and Harold sent his brother into exile.

-Tostig fled to flanders.

What are the differing views regarding Harold's actions?

-acting for good of the country

-by not fighting hard for tostig, he may have been removing a rival for the throne

-Tostig charged Harold with fermenting the rebellion himself.

-Harold now had a dangerous enemy.

What 'formed the basis' for the Godwin family's power?

-Godwin son of an obscure sussex thegn.

-one of King Canute's chief advisors

-earnt the ancient earldom of Wessex

How did Godwin avert disaster to his own power when Danish control ended?

-Implicated in the brutal murder of Edward's half-brother Alfred, Godwin averted disaster by becoming king-maker.

What evidence is there that Godwin was well liked in 1043 and 1045?

-Godwin rewarded in 1043 when his eldest sons (Swegn & Harold) granted earldoms in Hereford and East Anglia.

-Married his daughter Edith to Edward, cementing his dominance over Edward.

How was Godwin's power reduced?

-Edward began bringing allies in from his time in exile in Normandy

-1051, backed by Earl of Northumbria and Leofric of Mercia, exiled the Godwin clan and sent Queen Edith to a nunnery.

How did Godwin react, demonstrating his immense power?

-1052, Godwin family pillages the South West and landing an army in London.

-Edward forced to banish most of his Norman advisors, who were publicly blamed for the trouble.

How were lands distributed after the death of Earl Godwin in 1053?

-1053- Harold became earl of Wessex

-1055- Tostig handed the province of Northumbria.

-Gyrth and Leofwine got East Anglia and Kent.

What evidence is there of the 'sheer wealth' the Godwin family had?

-Domesday book- family estates amounted to around £7000 in 1066, with Harolds share at £5000.

Godwins used their money to fund large bodies of housecarls and also to build up a network of supporters by granting land.

What evidence is there to suggest Edward had 'no choice' to allow Godwin's power?

-he knew very little of the English political system.

-had no entrenched supporters in court

-lands scattered, no power base.

-had to rely on Earl Godwin.

How did Gryff ap Llewelyn have an upper hand pre-1055?

-declared himself the first King of Wales, ending blood feuds between different principalities.

-defeated english forces in 1039, 49 and 52.

How did Harold prove himself in 1055?

-1055 formed an alliance with Aelfgar, the banished earl of of East Anglia.

-Harold refortified Hereford and reached a peace deal, whereby Aelfgar restored his earldom.

What happened in 1056 and 1058 to push the advantage back to Wales?

-June 1056 Gruffydd defeated the royal monk Leofgar, Bishop of Hereford.

-1058 Gruffydd launched further attacks. Allied again with Aelfgar, and Magnus the son of King of Norway.

-Harold bought off the both.

How did Harold deal with the Welsh between 1062-1063?

-Led a small cavalry force to try and capture the welsh king- fails as he escapes

-May 1063, Harold launched full-scale campaign, English fleet blockaded the Welsh coastline

-Tostig invaded North wales

-2 brothers met mid Wales and devastated the land.

Why was Harold's victory against the Welsh so significant?

-following Gruffydd's death Wales once again degenerated into warring principalities and so ceased seriously to threaten England.

-Personally delivered Gruffydd's head to the king and his rep stood at its peak.

What does William Poitiers suggest happened in Harold's trip to France?

-Harold travelling on Edward's behalf to confirm the offer of the throne to Duke William.

-In William's court, Harold took an oath of loyalty to William

-promised to Help William secure the throne.

Why is William of Poitiers account questionable?

- if Edward did want W1 has his successor, why did he not follow up Harold's trip by announcing it formally, summoning him to court and granting him land, or crowning W1 himself?

What inconsistencies are there between the Bayeaux Tapestry and William of Poitiers's?

-The commentary in the tapestry states 'where Harold made an oath to Duke W.' but is silent as to what the oath was about.

-reflects doubts on key parts of William of Poitiers story.

-tapestry places the oath in Bayeux, but Poitiers points it in Bonneville.

Why might the story have been made up about the oath?

-in order to justify Norman invasion

-Harold conveniently becomes a usurper, these were serious charges that W1 could use for papal support.

Why else might Harold have visited William at this time?

-ascertaining if William would support his own bid for the throne.

-trying to secure the release of his brother.

What evidence is there that the Anglo-Saxon economy was particularly strong?

-112 towns

-6000 watermills

-thriving industries such as lead mining in Derbyshire, pottery making in Norwich.

-Shrewsbury under Edward had 252 houses, rendering £7.16s 8d of rent a year.W

What was the Domesday Book?

-1068 William ordered the making of this book, detailed record of the state of the country before and after the conquest

-London and Winchester left out

How many pennies were in circulation by 1066?

-around 9 million

How did the monarchy control the coins in circulation?

-Dies were produced in London and silver pennies of standard design were then cast by royally licensed moneyers in 60 mints spread.

-Foreign coins forbidden

-every 5 years all coins in circulation ceased to be legal tender by royal decree and had to be exchanged for new design.

-for this privilege people had to pay 15% of the value of old coins.

What evidence is there that the Anglo-Saxon coinage system was particularly impressive?

-proved so strong it lasted until 1971 and the advent of decimalisation.

What factors show the development of A-S towns?

-10% of population lived in towns, Londons population was 10,000, and Norwich and York were 5000-10,000.

-Most major towns in England developed from fortified burhs

-in Wessex, nowhere was more than 30km away from the safety of a burh.

What evidence is there of a 'high degree of urbanisation' in Anglo-Saxon England?

-burhs were designed as places of trade and manufacture.

-law codes stated that all trade had to take place in urban markets

-these provided every day items that could not be bought outside of villages.

-some towns developed specialisms.

What trading partners did Anglo-Saxon England have?

-France, Spain and Scandinavia

-main A-S ports were Southampton, London, Lincoln, Cambridge, Norwich and York all idealy placed for continental trade

What examples of goods are mentioned?

Cloth, Pottery, Gloves, Wine, Amber and Millstones.

What was used to carrying out the system of taxation in ASE?

-a geld administered by the shires and hundreds.

-collected annually and amounted to 2 shillings per hide.

-usually raised £6000 and in times of emergency, much more.

-between 991 and 1021, £137,000 was paid to buy off Danish invaders.

What evidence is there of 'lavish personal wealth'?

-with a decline of viking threat, money no longer had to flow to Scandinavia.

-stayed in the hands of the nobility

-built lavish compounds with large wooden halls, private chambers.

THE KING: What was the Power of the King when Edward came to power?

-commander of the army & only one with the right to raise an army MOST IMPORTANT duty was the protect nation from internal/external threats

-controlled running of the church

-Chief arbiter of justice, had to settle disputes

-Made laws and decide on foreign/domestic policy

-mint coins make sure integrity of currency was maintained.

THE KING: How did A-S Kings exercise power?

-through institution of the Royal household

THE KING: Where was the 'capital' of England

Winchester, where the royal treasure was held.

THE KING: What was the Chancery and it's role?

-Household made up of King's immediate family

-there was a basic bureaucracy known as Chancery.

-staffed by literate royal clerks who issued royal writs (controlled provinces)

THE KING: Who were the 'housecarls'?

-formed the King's bodyguards and core of the royal army in times of war.

THE KING: Who were the thegns, earls and archbishops bishops and abbots?

-wider royal court, and they helped advise the king.

THE KING: Why was England different to other nations, such as France?

- the centralisation of power to the King, France was controlled by the Capetian royal line but authority was weak.

-England governed as a single entity rather than separate kingdoms.

THE KING: What evidence is there that A-S king actually had limited power?

-Edwards government basic. His household was itinerant, limiting its capacity.

-Various checks on the King's power, made him far from an autocrat.

-Edward had little authority in the North.

-the collective power of the A-S nobility far outstripped his own.

THE KING: What was the Witan?

Council of nobles to advice the King. Discussed and sanctioned laws, helped settle disputes.

THE KING:How did Edward Exert his power?

-dominated them by force of personality

-also win their support through power of patronage by granting land/titles

-Edward was largest single landowner and richest individual in England.

Local Government: What was the structure that implemented the Kings authority?

-hierarchical system. Directly below king: Earls, governed vast areas, acting in the King's name they were responsible for keeping peace in their territories, exercising justice and raising armies.

Local Government: Who was responsible for implementing the king's will in the shires?

-almost 40 shires.

-The Sheriff was responsible for implementing the Kings will.

-He supervised collection of taxes, justice and settled disputes.

-in national emergency he would draw from thegnly class.

Local Government: What were hundreds and Vill?

-shires were subdivided into villages known as hundreds.

-administered by Reeves.

-The Vill was below, overseen by reeves as well.

Legal System: What legal issues did the king preside over?

-disputes between earls or thegns.

Legal Systems: what were the shire courts and how often did they meet?

-met about twice a year, normally at Easter & Michaelmas

-were presided over by an earl or sheriff

-significant legal cases from across the shire would be heard

Legal System: What were the hundred courts and why were they significant?

-most of the routine legal cases heard here.

-as the lowest public court in the land, they dealt with local land disputes and issues of law and order

-important as for most people this was their main experience of royal government.

Legal System: How did A-S maintain law & order?

-late A-S kings became enthusiastic legislators.

-Edward did not pass any new codes of his own, instead relying on the rich body of laws inherited from his predecessors.

Was there a coherent system of justice across the country?

-Each region had its own legal customs and traditions.

-Canute's law code accepted that different laws existed in Wessex, Mercia and the old dane law and a code produced by Henry I.

-many people preferred to take matters into their own hands.

-E.g. in Northumbria, there was a lack of central control and blood feuds.

What was 'Dane Law'?

an area of northern and eastern england that had been under viking control from the 9th century

it had different laws from the rest of England.