all topics

what was the Domesday book (book of Winchester)

it recorded who owned the land, what it was used for and how much it was worth

how did the Domesday Book help William the Conqueror?

helped find out who to charge more tax to and worked out who had the most land

designed to show that the Normans had the legal right to the land

land changes after TNC

the English lost their land to Normans. William rewarded those who supported him with land

1086 - 4/180 tenants in chief were English

William also spread out any land owned by English

previously the Saxon thegns would divide up their land but now it went to the oldest son

new laws after TNC

the Book of Rochester was written by a monk in 1120s which tells us about the Norman laws

trial by ordeal continued and trial by combat was also introduced

if a Norman was killed, the locals had to pay Murdrum until the murderer was found

changes to language after TNC

French was spoken by the wealthy and educated and those in court and government, people stopped speaking English and Latin was the written language

changes in the church after TNC

more monasteries were built, Stigand was removed and replaced with a Norman, a closer relationship to the Pope was made and more Norman cathedrals were built

social changes after TNC

lots died as a consequence of rebellion

the farming mostly didn’t change but free peasants fell radically and Norman lords demanded high rent

the peasants were no longer allowed to fish or collect firewood and had to build castles

however slavery died out

changes in trade after TNC

trade with Normandy meant some towns grew, some also shrunk

houses were destroyed for Norman castles

Normans took over the markets and charged traders a lot

why did the succession crisis happen

Edward the confessor died with no heir so there was debate about who should become the next king

what happened after Edward the confessors death

Harold was crowned the next day but William the conqueror planned an invasion

what was Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne

some say that Edward nominated him on his death bed but it is debated. he was also the most important person in the country at the time that Edward died

why did the earls of Mercia and Northumbria support Harold Godwinson

because Harold promised to marry their sister

what was Edgar Aetheling claim to the throne

he was the great nephew of Edward the confessor

how old was Edgar Aetheling in 1066

14

what was Harald Hardrada’s claim to the throne

there had been a deal between the previous King of England, Harthacnut and Magnus of Norway which said that if Harthacnut died before Magnus, Magnus would become King. this did not happen but Harald Hardrada believed as Magnus’ successor the deal should transfer to him

who did the Witan support in 1066

Harold Godwinson

what was William of Normandy’s claim to the throne

it is rumoured that in 1051 wen William visited Edward, Edward promised that he should succeed him as king of england. he was also a distant cousin of Edward the confessor

who was Edward the Confessors wife

Harold Godwinson’s sister

who did the pope support in the succession crisis

William (even gave him a papal banner) because the pope hated Stigand, who crowned Harold

who was Tostig

Harold Godwinson’s brother

why was Tostig angry at his brother

he lost his earldom due to his brother

who did Tostig team up with

Harald Hardrada

when was the battle of Fulford

20th September 1066

who fought in the battle of Fulford

the northern earls of Mercia and Northumbria (called Edwin and Morcar) fought Hardrada’s army

who one the battle of Fulford and why

Hardrada because he had 4000 more soldiers

when was the battle of Stamford bridge

25th September 1066

who fought in the battle of Stamford bridge

Harold and Hardrada

what did Hardrada do after the battle of Fulford

captured the city of York

who won the battle of Stamford bridge and why

Harold Godwinson because Hardrada and Tostig both died

when was the battle of Hastings

14th of October 1066

who fought in the battle of Hastings

the Normans and Harold Godwinson

when did William the Conqueror land at Pevensey

28th of September 1066

who won the battle of Hastings

William the Conqueror and the Normans

why did William win the battle of Hastings → skill

during the battle a group of Normans turned and rode away from the battle, causing the English to break the defensive line

• this had always been a popular Norman tactic

why did William win the battle of Hastings → placement/tactics

William chose to fight in a ridge near Hastings with a forest behind, and William stood at the bottom of the hill giving him a strong defensive line

why did William win the battle of Hastings → wind

William’s army was meant to attack England in June but they were delayed due to weather conditions. by the time they arrived, Harold’s army had already fought another battle and had to trek across the country

why did William win the battle of Hastings → Harold’s army were tired

Harold forced his troops to move rapidly across the country after the previous battle and they also had little food remaining

who did the Witan choose after the battle of Hastings

they chose Edgar Aetheling

how did William try to take control directly after the battles → land

he claimed all English land and redistributed the land of those who died to his supporters. earls and thegns could buy their land back

what happened after Edgar Aetheling was selected as king in 1066 (after the battles)

William marched through England building castles, including London and Edgar Aetheling surrendered the kingdom to William

how did William take control directly after the battles → army

he led an army through East Anglia (an area with strong Danish links)

how did William take control directly after the battles → castles

he forced the English to build motte and bailey castles for the new Norman lords

how did William try to take control directly after the battles → dividing the country

he put William FitzOsbern in charge of East Anglia. he put Odo of Bayeux in charge of the south east

who was William FitzOsbern

close counsellor to William

who was Odo of Bayeux

William’s half brother

how did William try to take control directly after the battles → hostages

he took Edgar Aetheling, Edwin and Morcar to Normandy with him

when was Edric the Wild’s uprising

August 1067, but he carried on for years

what did Edric the Wild do

joined with Welsh princes, raided Norman land and destroyed Hereford

how much of a threat was Edric the Wild to William

not much

who was Edric the Wild

a powerful English thegn

who was Gytha

Harold’s mother

Gytha’s rebellion explanation

she sent Harold’s sons to Ireland to gather an army, contacted the Danish king and took over the city of Exeter

what was Williams original response to Gytha’s rebellion

tried to win her over, asked her to swear an oath of loyalty (she refused)

what was William’s second response to Gytha’s rebellion

gathered an army and besieged the city

what happened after William besieged Exeter in 1067

Exeter surrendered in 18 days but William pardoned them. he took Gytha’s lands and built a castle

when was the northern rebellion of Edgar Aetheling, Edwin and Morcar

summer of 1068

what was Williams response to the northern rebellion of Edgar, Edwin and Morcar

he gathered an army, and then built a castle in Warwick (in the middle of Edwin’s lands and another in Nottingham → Edwin and Morcar surrendered. William went on to build castles in Lincoln, Huntingdon and Cambridge in his way home

what happened when Harold’s sons tried to invade from Ireland in 1068

the people of Bristol fought them off

who did William appoint as earl of Northumbria in 1068

Robert of Comines

what happened to Robert shortly after he was made early of Northumbria

he began attacking rebels in Durham and looting and killing. when Robert and his men took shelter the people of Durham set them on fire and they died

what did Edgar Aetheling do in 1069

attacked York

how did William the conqueror respond to Edgar Aetheling in 1069

William retook York in battle, built a castle and appointed William FitzOsbern

what happened when Harold’s sons attempted to invade again in June 1069

they were driven off again

when did the Danes invade and with how many ships

September 1069 with 250 ships

what happened in York in 1069

the citizens of York tried to protect the city from the Danes using fire but the whole city burned down

how did William respond to rebellion in 1070

sent for his crown to wear, the harrying of the north and removed any church members who sympathised with the rebels

what was the harrying of the north

violent military campaign of William the conqueror in order to assert dominance. he destroyed crops and animals

how can we see the affects of the harrying of the north

we can see depopulation due to famine in the Domesday books

who did William replace Stigand with in 1070

Lanfranc from Normandy

how did William respond to the Danish invasion in 1070

he paid the Danes to leave

what did the Danes do after William paid them to leave

they took the money and then didn’t leave

where did the Danes capture in 1070

Ely → the locals didn’t resist because they didn’t like William

who did the Danes join forces with in 1070

Hereward the Wake, another rebel

who joined Hereward’s group of rebels in 1070

Edwin and Morcar joined him as well as other rebels from all over the country

who left Hereward’s rebellion in 1070

the Danes finally accepted William’s bribe and left

how did William respond to Hereward in 1071

returned to England with an army and sent ships to block supplies to the rebels

where did William build his very first castle in England

Pevensey

key features of motte and bailey castles

• smaller

• taller

• few soldiers

• usually wood, occasionally stone

what type of castles did the Normans build

motte and bailey

number of castles across England between 1071 and 1087

went from 35 to 500

key events of 1066

• Edward dies

• battle of Fulford

• battle of Stamford bridge

• battle of Hastings

• Edgar Aetheling gave up the kingdom

• William the conqueror crowned

key events of 1067

• Edric the Wild

• Gytha’s rebellion (William besieged Exeter)

key events of 1068

• rebellion of Edgar, Edwin and Morcar

• Harold’s sons tried to invade from Ireland

• Robert of Comines appointed as earl of Northumbria

key events of 1069

• Edgar Aetheling attacked York

• William retook York in battle

• Harold’s sons attempted to invade again

• the Danes invaded

• York burns down

key events of 1070

• William sends for his crown

• harrying of the north

• Stigand replaced with Lanfranc

• William paid the Danes to leave

• the Danes capture Ely

• Danes join forced with Hereward

• the Danes leave

• Edwin and Morcar join Hereward

key events of 1071

• William returns

• William defeats Hereward the Wake

when did Edward the Confessor die

5th January 1066

when did William become Duke of Normandy

1047

when was William the conqueror crowned

Christmas day 1066

when was Stigand replaced with Lanfranc

when was the rebellion of Edric the Wild

when was Gytha’s rebellion

when was the rebellion of Edgar, Edwin and Morcar

when was Robert of Comines appointed as earl of Northumbria

when did Harold’s sons invade

when did Harolds sons invade for the second time

when did the Danes invade England

when did the Danes leave England

when was Ely captured by the rebels

Norman castles vs Anglo-Saxon burhs

1. burhs were for protection, castles were for control

2. burhs were to protect everyone, castles protected those inside