Britain: Migration, Empires and the people. 790-Present Day

From what time period did tribes from Denmark and Northern Germany invade and settle in England?

AD400 onwards

What were the early settlers from Denmark and Northern Germany called?

Angles, Saxons and Jutes

Who were the Vikings?

Seagoing Scandinavian raiders from Sweden, Denmark, And Norway who disrupted coastal areas of western Europe

When did the Vikings begin to invade Britain?

Around the 790s

What did the Vikings initially invade?

Monasteries (Lindisfarne in Northumbria)

Why did the Vikings invade Britain?

- knew of wealth and resources in Britain bc of trade w anglo-saxons

- better farming land as Norway was hilly and Denmark had sandy soil

- opportunities for younger brothers who did not inherit land in Scandinavia

- Scandinavia = overcrowded

Who inherited land in Viking Scandinavia?

The oldest son

When did Alfred the 'great' become king and how old was he?

871 at the age of 22

Why was Alfred 'great'?

He became king of the Anglo-Saxons as he fought the Vikings and helped to bring peace to the country

What area of England did Alfred the great control?

Wessex

What was the Danelaw?

A part of England which had kept Danish laws instead of Anglo-Saxon laws

What happened in 876?

After conquering Northumbria, East Anglia and most of Mercia, the Vikings turned their attention to Wessex and began a series of attacks

After early success where was King Alfred and his army pushed back to?

Forced to hide on the isle of Althelny in the somerset marshes

What happened May 878?

King Alfred beat the Vikings at the battle of Edington and the two sides sat down to agree peace terms.

What did the two sides agree after the Viking defeat at the Battle of Edington (878)?

The Viking leader, Guthrum, had to become a Christian and agree to never attack Wessex again

After the battle of Edington (878) Vikings were to live in?

North and East of the country (Danelaw)

What did Alfred do during his reign to stop raids on Anglo-Saxon territory?

Strengthened defences across the country to make his land more secure

What did the Danelaw allow?

Peaceful living between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons even inter-marriages

What did other kingdoms in England acknowledge Alfred as?

'Overlord'

What did people begin to call themselves under Alfred's reign?

Angelcynn (English)

After Alfred's death what did his descendants do?

Recaptured parts of the Danelaw however the Viking presence was still strong

What did King Edgar the peaceful manage to do?

Re-conquered much of the land held by Vikings

When did King Aethelred come to power?

978

What was Aethelred considered to be by his advisors?

A poor judge of character and was therefore taken advantage of by his advisors

What happened in 991

A huge Viking Army led by Sven Forkbeard and Olaf Tryggvason arrived at Folkestone with over 90 ships

What battle did the Vikings defeat the British at in 991

Battle of Maldon

What did Aethelred do after the defeat at the Battle of Maldon (991)?

Paid the Vikings to leave

What is Danegeld?

Aethelred agreed to pay the Vikings to leave after defeat to Viking army led by Forkbeard

What is Danegeld literally translated as?

Money for the Danish

How much did Danegeld cost?

£1.8 million in today's money

How did Aethelred pay Danegeld?

Raised taxes which greatly angered the English

What was Aethelred's plan to stop paying Danegeld

He made a deal with the Norman's which stated that they would support each other against their enemies. This meant that the Vikings could no longer use Normandy as a base to launch attacks on Britain.

What did Aethelred do in November 1002

Carried out mass killings of all Viking men, Women and children that he could find south of the Danelaw.

What were the mass killings of Vikings carried out by Aethelred called?

St Brice's day massacre

Who was angered by the St Brice's day massacre?

Sven Forkbeard

Why was Sven Forkbeard mad?

His sister was killed.

What does Forkbeard do in 1013?

Summons a huge army and conquers England (Aethelred flees)

When does Forkbeard die?

1014

Who succeeded Forkbeard?

His son Cnut

What did Aethelred do when Cnut came to power?

Returned to England and forced Cnut of the throne

What happened from after Aethelred returns to the throne until 1016?

Cnut's supporters rebel against Aethelred including his own son

When does Aethelred die?

April 1016

Who succeeds Aethelred?

His son Edmund

What happened in October 1016?

Battle of Assandun in Essex. Cnut gets the better of Edmund. They both agree that one will run Wessex and the other will run the rest of the country. When one of them died the other would inherit their land.

How long after the agreement does Edmund die?

About a Month and Cnut becomes king of all of England

What did Cnut view Britain as?

His main domain despite it being part of his Danish empire. This was because it was his richest kingdom

What was Britain a part of under Cnut's reign?

The North Sea Empire

Who was Emma of Normandy originally married to?

Aethelred

Who did Cnut marry to show an improved relationship with the Norman's?

Emma of Normandy

What did Emma of Normandy do?

She was a strong leader and was listened to when Cnut travelled his empire and also improved relationships with the Church.

What positive effects did Cnut have on Britain?

1. It was a peaceful time as there were no Viking raids

2. He brought back the popular laws of Edgar the peaceful

What negative effects did Cnut have on Britain?

1. He was tough with those who he thought might rebel

2. Ordered the execution of many powerful Anglo-Saxons

3. Transferred riches back to Denmark

4. Danish nobles were given land

Why was there a race for the crown in 1066?

Edward (Son of Emma of Normandy) died without any children

Who wanted to be king in 1066?

William Duke of Normandy

Harold Godwinson

Harold Hadrada

Who were the Witan?

Important Earls and Bishops who advised the king

What was William Duke of Normandy's claim to the throne?

Claimed both Edward and Harold Godwinson had agreed he should take the throne

What was Harold Godwinson's claim to the throne?

He was the most powerful man in England ; The witan supported his claim to the throne

What was Harald Hardrada's claim to the throne?

Viking ruler of Denmark - Claimed as Vikings had conquered England he should be king.

What did the Witan do a day after Edward's death?

Crowned Harold Godwinson as King

What happened in September 1066?

Harold Hadrada was defeated by King Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge

What happened on the 14th October 1066

Battle of Hastings - King Harold was defeated by William Duke of Normandy

When was William Duke of Normandy crowned?

Christmas Day 1066

How did William Duke of Normandy control England?

1. Gave Normans land in return for loyalty and support

2. Norman Barons and Lords had Knights to keep the peace

3. Giving supporters top jobs in the Church

4. Norman barons built castles to control all of England

How did England change under the Normans?

1. French customs were introduced

2. French became the language of those in power

3. The Normans built hundreds of new churches, cathedrals and monasteries

When did William Duke of Normandy die?

1087 and the Norman kingdom was divided between two of his sons

What did his youngest son (Henry) do?

Got given England when one of his brothers died and then conquered his other brother and re-united the Norman empire.

What did William's son henry become?

Henry I of England and Duke of Normandy - United the Norman kingdom

Who did Henry want to rule when he died?

His daughter Matilda

Who did Henry marry his daughter, Matilda, to?

Geoffrey of Anjou (Powerful French lord)

Who seized the throne when Henry I died?

A powerful noble called Stephen - Many people thought he had a claim to the throne

When did Henry die?

1st December 1135

What did Matilda do in response to Stephen claiming the throne?

Fought back and there was a war for 19 years

What did Stephen and Matilda agree on in 1153?

Stephen could keep the throne but when he died Matilda's son Henry would come to the throne

When did King Stephen die?

October 1154

When was King Henry II crowned?

Late 1154

Why are King Henry II and his brothers known as the Angevins?

After their Father Geoffrey of Anjou

How did Henry II build his empire?

Inherited land through his Mother and Father, Marriages and invasions

Who did King Henry II marry?

Eleanor of Aquitaine

When did Henry II marry Eleanor of Aquitaine?

1152

When did King Henry invade Ireland?

1166

Who asked King Henry for help against another 'King' in Ireland?

'King' Dermot of Leinster

How did Henry II acquire Ireland?

Henry sent an army over to assist Dermot the 'King' of Leinster but the Knights and Barons who went used it as an opportunity to gain land for themselves.

How much of Ireland did England control by the mid-1170s?

More than half

What did Henry use his control of Ireland to do?

Strengthen and build new fortifications and developed Dublin into a centre of vast trade. This gave Henry extra money and defences to defend against invading forces.

How did Henry II's belief that his royal courts had the right to try clergymen accused of crimes affect his relationship with the Church?

It caused conflict because both Church and monarch claimed the same powers

When did Henry II die?

1189

Who replaced Henry II when he died?

His son Richard I

What happened in 1193?

Phillip II of France invades Normandy and Anjou

What did King Phillip do during his reign?

Spent long periods in France or on Crusades.

What are the Crusades?

Holy wars

When did King John become king?

1199

Why does the Angevin empire crumble under King John?

Due to bad decisions and because he runs out of money at a crucial time

What King John become known as?

'Softsword'

Why did King John become known as 'Softsword'?

Because of his poor military reputation.

What territories did John lose?

Brittany, Normandy, Anjou and Maine

When did King Phillip claim Brittainy, Normandy, Anjou and Maine?

1202-1205

What was the Angevin empire reduced to?

Only control of Gascony

What did people in England have to do after John lost land?

They had to pay high taxes to fund attempted invasions of territories they had lost

Why were the Barons angered by King John?

John did not listen to them

How did the Barons get King John to agree to their demands?

The Barons raised an army and occupied London and John needed their support to stay in power do he agreed to their demands