Late Anglo-Saxon England 1053-66

The power of the English monarchy

1. Powers/responsibilities: commander of army; seen as divinely appointed so in charge of church; chief judge; right to mint coins; sole right to make laws

2. Royal household: constantly on move, made up of close family, chancery (who produced writs), housecarls, leading advisers

3. Highly centralised monarchy: Anglo-Saxon kingdoms fused into one kingdom to fight Vikings

4. Limits to king's power: very basic, no authority in North, had to cooperate with Anglo-Saxon nobility through witan, relied on personality + patronage to keep them obedient

Earldoms and shires

King's authority transmitted downwards through hierarchical system

1. Earldoms: 4 earls controlling huge areas of land on behalf of king: Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia

2. Shires: 40 shires where day-to-day govt took place - sheriff (usually one of 5k thegns) responsible for tax collection + courts + raising armies

The legal system

1. King presided over disputes between earls/criminal cases like murder due to King's peace.

2. Shire courts met twice a year, presided over by sheriff/earl for theft, family disputes etc.

3. Royal writs/charters read at shire courts, hundred courts for routine cases (land disputes)

4. A-S Kings became legislators- produced legal codes to maintain law + order.

5. Each region had its own legal customs/traditions e.g. Canute's law code accepted that different laws existed in the earldoms like Danelaw (Edgar granted autonomy to Danes)

The system of taxation

1. Geld administered by shires/hundreds- collected annually at 2 shillings per hide (could get 6k).

2. East England- 'Wapenstakes' unit of tax assessment for maintaining law and order.

3. Ability to raise large sums at short notice underlines strength/wealth of kingdom.

Royal mints and the silver penny

1. Stable currency on silver pounds/shillings/pence, 9 million pennies by 1066- widely trusted

2. Royal control was absolute- silver pennies cast by royally licensed moneyers in 60 mints

3. Foreign coins forbidden + every 5 years coins were exchanged (resulting in profit for King)

Urbanisation

1. Stable currency/politics + network of trading contacts + reliable food sources = return of towns

2. High degree of urbanisation by 1066- 10% population

3. Towns developed from King Alfred's fortified burhs- built to be places of trade, law codes stated that all trade had to occur in urban markets

Coastal towns and trade

1. Complex European trading system: exotic spices from trade routes opened by Vikings- England exported more than imported

2. Became a net importer of silver making thegnly class wealth

3. Main ports were London, Southampton, York- well-placed for continental trade.

Earl Godwin

1. King Canute's chief advisor, son of Sussex thegn and earl of Wessex.

2. Survived after Canute's death by ensuring A-S nobility supported Edward

3. Gave sons earldoms of Hereford/East Anglia + arranged for Edward to marry his daughter Edith--> cemented Godwin dominance over King

4. Edward introduced a Norman faction in court to reduce Godwin's power

5. In 1051 exiled Godwin + family - redistributing their lands to Normans and sent Edith to a nunnery- returned next year, pillaging South West

6. Edward forced to capitulate as army refused to fight Godwin - banished Norman advisors - Godwins back in charge

The rise of Harold

1. Godwin died- Harold got Essex, Tostig Northumbria, Gyrth and Leofwine East Anglia and Kent.

2. 1060s= only Mercia not under Godwin control, estates worth £7,000 compared to Kings £5,000.

3. Edward knew little about English politics so relied on them as he had no entrenched supporters.

4. Realised that Godwin strength ensured stability--> developed strong relations w/Harold + Tostig.

The campaign against the Welsh

1. Harold earned his formidable warrior reputation in Welsh wars.

2. Major threat to England's security= Gruffyd ap Llewelyn who formed alliance with Aelfgar earl of East Anglia and invaded Herefordshire in 1055

3. Harold sent to refortify region and reached peace deal which ended their alliance.

4. 1056- Gruffyd defeats bishop who raided Wales so Harold concedes more terms/recognises him as King, soon after Gruffyd allies with Aelfgar again.

5. 1063- Harold launches full-scale campaign and ravages Welsh coastline.

6. Wales disintegrated into warring principalities due to Harold's complex land/sea operation.

Harold's embassy to Normandy

- Accounts (Norman) suggest that Harold visited Normandy in 1064 and swore an oath renewing the King's (Edward) promise to William of the throne and giving William his loyalty

- Other accounts (Saxon) claim Harold went to Normandy to recover hostages

The Northumbrian uprising 1065

1. Wild and lawless region where Tostig was earl- tyrannical rule with brutal tactics/taxes.

2. Arranged murder of 3 local magnates so Northumbria revolted, installing local noble Morcar installed as earl

3. Rebels marched South, sacking Northampton, Derby, threatened Kingdom's stability.

4. Edward wanted to restore Tostig but Harold overruled him- sent Tostig into exile but fled to Flanders.

Edward's death and claimants to the throne

1. No son in attendance as Edward died - Norman and Saxon accounts seem to suggest Harold Godwinson was given throne- dying man's words of great importance.

2. Edgar: Ed's closest bloodline (strong hereditary principle but no fixed laws to ensure it).

3. Harald Hardrada: father Magnus had been promised throne in 1035/ancestor of King Cnut.

4. Harold Godwinson: served as Ed's sub-regulus/Earl of Wessex/promised thorne at death?

The witan and the coronation

1. Witan decided on Harold - strong leader and warrior, crowned by Archbishop Ealdred

2. Normans: said it was illegitimate, was a coup d'etat, crowned by corrupt Ealdred who held 2 positions.

3. Harold issued coins w/peace inscription and image of himself- royal authority.

4. Married Eadgyth the sister of powerful northern earls Edwin and Morcar

Battle of Gate Fulford

1. Joint invasion pact of Tostig/Hardrada, pillaged South East coast so Harold raised fyrd.

2. Winds kept William of Normandy away so Harold stepped his troops down

3. Same winds allow Hardrada to sale to northern England and join Tostig in York.

4. English earls defeated- inexperienced earls/troops (lost 1,000, including housecarls)

Battle of Stamford Bridge

1. Harold assembled housecarls in London/commenced march covering 300km in 5 days.

2. Risking tiring men but wanted to prevent Hardrada from consolidating his position/surprise attack.

3. Hardrada's men didn't have protective mail coats on so surprise attack worked.

4. Vikings lost due to vulnerable in close combat without mail coats, Harold marched fast, numerically inferior, reinforcements tired by marching in full kit,

5. Hardrada died early in battle on so low morale,