GCSE History Notes: Anglo-Saxon and Norman England

Anglo-Saxon Society

Based on land ownership.
- More land = more power.
- Landowners rented land to peasants, receiving rent and taxes in return.

Social Hierarchy

King
- Responsibilities: Protecting the country, allocating land, creating laws, levying taxes, and controlling coinage.
Earls
- Duties: Administering regions for the king, supplying armies, and retaining one-third of collected taxes.
- Examples: Godwin of Wessex, Siward of Northumbria, Leofric of Mercia.
Thegns
- Roles: Managing local areas for the king and pledging military service.
Peasants
- Ceorls
  - Freely moving peasants working for different lords, while also required to fight.
- Slaves
  - Bound to the land, paying rent and providing unpaid labor, and serving in the fyrd (army).
Slaves
- Comprising roughly 10% of the population, lacking land and rights, and treated as property.

Government

The King:
- Enacting laws, with enforcement by Earls and thegns.
The Witan:
- A council including lords and bishops, advising the king and participating in the selection of a new king.
- The king retained the power to disregard the Witan's advice and control its composition and meetings.

Local Government

Earldoms subdivided into shires with law courts, administered by shire reeves (sheriffs) who enforced laws and raised the fyrd.
Burhs:
- Fortified towns serving as trade centers and offering protection.
- Positioned approximately 15-20 miles apart.
- Around 10% of the population lived in burhs.
- Taxation on trade conducted within burhs.
Shires divided into hundreds, and hundreds into tithings, further divided into hides with $10 hides = 1 tithing$ . Each group of five hides provided one man for the fyrd with equipment, serving for 40 days.
Villages:
- Composed of scattered houses.
- Thegns resided in manor houses with attached churches, forming village centers.

The Danelaw

Region with distinct Viking laws.
- e.g. allowing men to have two wives.
Preferred northern Earls familiar with their laws.
Lower taxes in exchange for defense against Scottish and Viking invasions.

Power of the King

Relied on leading armies and the concept of Divine Right.
Edward the Confessor depended on Earls for protection.
Kings maintained loyalty through land grants and confiscations.

Law and Order

Wergild:
- Fines for causing harm, varying by social status.
- e.g., $3,600$ shillings for an earl, $1,200$ for a thegn.
Blood Feuds:
- Family-based retribution.
Punishments included mutilation for minor crimes.
Community responsibility for law enforcement through groups of 12.
Hue and Cry:
- A public call for assistance in catching criminals.
Trials:
- Juries or trial by ordeal (fire or water).

Religion

Christianity was prominent.
Regular church attendance was common.
Archbishops overseeing bishops.
- Archbishop of York (North) and Archbishop of Canterbury (South).
Bishops who controlled churches.
Ordinary priests who were often uneducated, married, and part of the local community.

Anglo-Saxon Economy

England was rich, trading wool and cloth.
Western regions specialized in sheep rearing.
Eastern regions grew crops.
Organized farming, with mills for grinding grain.
International trade, importing millstones and wine.

The Last Years of Edward the Confessor and the Succession Crisis

The House of Godwin

Political power originated in 1018 during King Cnut’s reign.
Godwin made Earl of Wessex in 1030.
Harold Godwinson became Earl of Wessex in 1053.
By the mid-1060s, the Godwins controlled almost all of England.
- Tostig Godwinson: Earl of Northumbria in 1055.
- Gyrth Godwinson: Earl of East Anglia in 1057.
- Leofwine: Earl of Kent.

Power of the Godwins

Most powerful family after King Edward by the mid-1060s.
Controlled many Earldoms.
Wealth derived from land taxes.
- The Godwins earned £ $8,500$ per year, while King Edward earned £ $6,500$ .
Commanded thegns, housecarls, and the fyrd.
Appointed bishops loyal to the family.
Strategic political marriages, including Edith Godwinson’s marriage to King Edward.
Military successes against Aelfgar of Mercia and the Welsh King Llywelyn.
Tensions between Godwin and Edward came to a head in 1050 due to Godwin’s refusal to punish the people of Dover.
- Godwin was exiled but returned and had his earldom restored in 1051.

Harold Godwinson’s Embassy to Normandy

Harold traveled to Normandy in 1064 on a mission for King Edward.
Shipwrecked and captured, he was rescued by William of Normandy.
Harold spent time with William, assisting in military campaigns and receiving gifts.
He swore an oath to William on holy relics.
William claimed the oath was a promise to help him become King of England, which Harold later denied.
Significance: Showed Harold was Edward’s most trusted adviser, boosted William’s claim to the throne, and portrayed Harold as an oath-breaker.

The Rising Against Tostig

Tostig Godwinson became Earl of Northumbria in 1055.
Caused anger as some wanted Siward’s son, Waltheof, to be Earl.
Northumbria important due to its size, border security, and history of Viking attacks.
Tostig upset Northumbrians through heavy taxation, inaction against Scottish attacks, unjust laws, and murder.
Rebellion in 1065: rebels marched on York, killed Tostig’s followers, and declared Tostig an outlaw, inviting Morcar as Earl.
King Edward sent Harold to negotiate, leading to Tostig's exile, Morcar becoming Earl, and Harold marrying Morcar’s sister.
Harold’s motivations: to appear strong, unite the kingdom, and eliminate a rival.

Death of Edward the Confessor

Edward died on January 5, 1066, without children, leading to a succession crisis.
Harold Godwinson was chosen by the Witan and crowned on January 6, 1066.

The Rival Claimants for the Throne

Harold Godwinson

Saxon chosen by the Witan.
Supported for being Saxon and a proven leader.
Brother-in-law of King Edward.
Claimed Edward wanted him to be king on his deathbed.
Coronation on January 6 to secure his position before William could invade.

William, Duke of Normandy

Distant cousin of Edward the Confessor.
Claimed Edward promised him the throne in 1051.
Harold supposedly promised to help him become king in 1064.
Successful ruler with a strong army but not English.

Harald Hardrada

Viking king of Norway and a powerful soldier.
Supported by Tostig Godwinson.
Claimed the throne through Magnus, who was promised England by Harthacnut.

Edgar Aetheling

Nephew of Edward the Confessor and last male member of the English Royal family.
Strongest claim by blood.
Only 14 years old with little power, making him an unlikely choice given threats of invasion.

King Harold's Actions

Harold Went to York to meet with Witan member who hadn't been present in London to ensure he had their support.
Gathered a large army and fleet to defend against invasion.
Disbanded the army and fleet on September 8 due to lack of invasion.
The army and fleet were levied from the fyrd.

Battle of Gate Fulford

Tostig and Harald Hardrada invaded.
Saxon earls Edwin and Morcar raised the fyrd and met the Vikings near Fulford Gate on September 20, 1066.
Despite being outnumbered, they had the advantage as they were protected by marsh and the river Ouse.
Vikings managed to cross the river.
Hardrada’s troops managed to cross the river and defeated the Saxon troops.
The Saxons surrendered York to Harald.
Harold Godwinson marched north to stop Harald Hardrada and Tostig.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge

Harold Godwinson reached the north in five days.
Harold Godwinson surprised the Vikings on Monday, September 25, 1066.
The Vikings had left their armour on their ships as they didn’t think they would need it.
Harold promised Tostig Northumbria and a third of England if he surrendered.
Harald was killed by an arrow, and Tostig also died.
The remaining Vikings returned to Norway, with only 24 of 300 ships surviving.
Harold Godwinson had destroyed the threat of the Viking invasion.
William of Normandy arrived in England on September 28, 1066.

The Norman Invasion

Battle of Hastings

Harold rushed south after the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
The battle took place at Senlac Hill on October 14, 1066.
The sources are taken from the Bayeux Tapestry.
Harold’s army was vastly outnumbered.

Tactics

The Saxons began to gain the advantage and after about fighting part of William’s army began to retreat. Some of Harold the shield wall to chase after the retreating normans and during William’s horse was killed. The Saxon troops, led by Harold’s brothers Leofwyne and Gyrthe, killed many Norman and French soldiers disorganised and feared their leader was dead.
Harold used the traditional Saxon tactic of creating a shield wall with experienced housecarls.
William’s archers were ineffective against the wall initially.
After failing, William’s soldiers broke through the shield wall and killed the English King, Harold.
The sources are taken from the Bayeux Tapestry.
William only been thrown to the ground when his horse died.
Many housecarls were killed during William’s counter- attack. This meant that the Saxon shield wall was now mostly made up of inexperienced fyrd soldiers. William ordered his archers to attack again, this time firing behind the shield wall and killing many Saxon soldiers, including Harold’s brother Leofwyne and Gyrthe. The Saxon shield wall began to break up.
William took off helmet, counter-attacked, and killed pursuers.
During the second attack of the Norman archers, legend has it that Harold was struck by an arrow in the eye, however some historians question this. Whether this was true or not William’s soldiers broke through the shield wall and killed the English King, Harold. With their leader dead many Saxons fled but the loyal housecarls continued to fight until they were finally killed.

Establishing Control

The Submission of the Earls

After William took over the throne, the Witan met and decided that Edgar Aetheling would be king.
Edgar had other important supporters such as Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ealdred (Archbishop of York) and the two Anglo-Saxon Earls Edwin and Morcar.
William needed to get all of those people on his side.
William marches to Dover.
This is the closest crossing between England and France and means he can get more soldiers and supplies across from Normandy. He also sent men to Winchester to capture the royal treasury.
William starts to burn and destroy homes so that towns surrender to him out of fear.
If they surrender he leaves them untouched.
The leaders of London, Edgar the Aethling, Earls Edwin and Morcar submit to William as Berkhamstead. William promises to be a ‘gracious lord’. 2.
Having successfully dealt with the challenge of the Earls, William was crowned by Archbishop Ealdred of York.

Rewarding Followers and Controlling Wales

William used land to reward his followers, punish Saxons and Normans who disobeyed and used it as a tool to keep people loyal to him.
When William became King he passed a law saying all land belonged to him. This meant he could give it to his followers and make people pay to keep it. In particular, he seized all of the Godwinsons’ old land for himself.
He also raised a heavy geld tax (main tax) from the people of England, and used it to pay and reward soldiers who had fought with him at Hastings.
When William gave you a large piece of land to look after you became his tenant-in-chief.

Marcher Earls

Wales had been a threat to Edward the Confessor’s rule and William wanted the border between England and Wales to be made secure.
To do this, William established three new earldoms, called the Marcher Earldoms, centred on Hereford, Shrewsbury and Chester.

Castles

William built over 1,000 castles under his rule as King of England (for example the Tower of London, built in 1078).
William built castles called Motte and Bailey castles.

Anglo-Saxon Resistance

Revolt of Edwin and Morcar

Edwin (Earl of Mercia) and Morcar (Earl of Northumbria) were brothers who had been powerful Saxon earls.
However they had lost lots of land when William took over, even though they were allowed to carry on as Earls.
William had promised Edwin he could marry William’s daughter but Edwin had been waiting for almost two years for this to actually happen.
During this time William had increased the geld tax, using this money to improve Normandy and not England. William had upset Morcar by making his earldom smaller.
To make matters worse Normans (particularly Odo of Bayeux and William FitzOsbern) were stealing Saxon land.
There had also been reports of Normans raping Saxon women without being punished by the Norman lords.

Edgar and Rebellions of the North

Robert Cumin is sent up by William to be Earl of Northumbria after the last earl (Gospatric) had rebelled against William.
People got angry, attacked Cumin and his men and burnt him alive
There was another revolt against the Norman rulers of York. Edgar and his Scottish ally Malcolm III joined this rebellion.
King Sweyn of Denmark gathered a fleet of 300 ships to attack England. He was joined by Edgar the Aethling and Malcolm King of Scotland.
The Danes sailed back to Denmark and William gave them money so they promised not to return. He chased after the remaining rebels but they split up so William couldn’t catch them. He launched the Harrying of the North to get rid of the rebel threat and punish the rebels in the North.

Hereward the Wake and Ely

Hereward was a Saxon thegn whose land had been taken by the Normans.
Hereward joined forces with the forces of king Sweyn of Denmark and together they launched an attack against the Norman controlled cathedral in Ely.
Hereward wanted to take the valuables of the Church to protect them from the Normans.
At a late stage of the rebellion Morcar joined the rebellion as well.

Legacy of Resistance

Harrying of the North

Late 1069 William took his army north to Yorkshire.
Destroyed houses, burnt land, slaughtered inhabitants
Marched into Lancashire and did the same.
Over 100,000 died.
The land was so badly destroyed that people couldn’t farm it.

Reasons for the Harrying

Earl Robert Cumin and his men had been slaughtered and thousands more Normans were killed at York, for which William wanted revenge.
The northern rebels were refusing to meet him in open battle, scattering as he advanced, then launching attacks on his men as soon as he went away to deal with rebellions elsewhere.
William’s response was to make it impossible for anyone, rebels included, to be able to stay in the area.
William had perhaps not previously realised how different the North was from southern England.
The Rebellions in the North were triggering rebellions elsewhere in the country.
The threat of Danish invasion was very serious and threatened everything William had achieved in England.

Long-term Impact

The Domesday Book in 1086 showed that Yorkshire, the centre of the Harrying, had not recovered nearly 20 years later.
Removing large numbers of Anglo-Danes from Northumbria had a lasting impact on the chances of Danish invasion.
For William and Norman control of England, the Harrying of the North was a turning point.
he Harrying of the North was widely criticised, including by the pope.

Changes in Land Ownership

Between the years 1066 and 1087 the Normans replaced the Anglo – Saxons as key landholders in the country.
When William took land from those who rebelled he gave it to his loyal followers such as Odo of Bayeux, however he made sure not to give too much land to anyone.
These left the Anglo – Saxons with less land than before. Norman Sheriffs were notorious for this.

Maintaining Royal Power

The main way William maintained his power as king was through military strength. He ruthlessly crushed rebellions.
He continually stressed that he was the legitimate successor and that Edward the Confessor had promised the throne to him.
William also instituted a new custom of being seen wearing his crown three times a year, at which point he also discussed the business of the kingdom with the important men of his kingdom.
William also took control of the minting of coins.
Finally, oaths were taken very seriously and William made men swear to serve him loyally.

Revolt of the Earls

Causes:

Roger de Breteuil: less land and power than his father.
Ralph de Gael: also received less land than his father.
Waltheof: Saxon earl with Viking links, but mistrusted.

Events:

Wedding plot to overthrow William and divide England.
Waltheof informed Lanfranc.
Lanfranc excommunicated Roger.
Norman castles helped troops gather.
Saxons and Normans loyal to William stopped the rebels.
Vikings arrived too late and raided York instead.

Effects:

William distrusted his earls.
Roger imprisoned, Ralph escaped, Waltheof executed.
Anglo-Saxons supported Normans.
William cracked down on Anglo-Saxon rebellion.
End of Viking threat.

Feudal System and Church

Feudal System

William gave his followers privileges (land) in return for services.
Tenants-in-Chief: Land held directly from the king.
powers: military service, social events etc.
Knight service: The duty to provide a knight and horse to a lord.
Rich and powerful knights (and their sons) would fight for their king as part of his royal court or as leaders of other bands of knights.
Rich and powerful knights (and their sons) would fight for their king as part of his royal court or as leaders of other bands of knights.

Norman Church Power

Social and government roles.
Bishops and abbots advised the king.
Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury.

Comparing Archbishops

Stigand (Saxon) vs. Lanfranc (Norman).
Lanfranc’s responsibilities: Head of the Church, reorganization, Norman rule, religious reform, Church rebuilding.

Changes to the Church:

King controls bishops.
Archbishop is leader of English Church.
Priests get own law courts.
New laws for priests (celibacy).
Saxon bishops replaced by Norman ones.
Norman churches help control land.
New position of Archdeacon.

Extent of Anglo-Saxon Change

Continuity vs. change in society and economy.
Village life remained the same.
Normans demanded a Geld Tax from the Anglo-Saxon people, just as the previous Anglo-Saxon and Danish kings had.
Change in Castle building and rebuilding of churches and cathedrals in stone.
Stopped Anglo-Saxon trade with Scandinavian countries and changed other roles etc.

Norman Government

Land

Before William, England had a system for working out how much tax each area should pay. A hide was an area of around 120 acres.
After William continued to use Anglo-Saxon measurements such as the Hide, Shire and Hundred to measure the land and calculate how much tax people should pay.

Economy

Before William, the Anglo-Saxon treasury (where royal money was kept) was well-organized at Winchester.
After William continued to use Anglo-Saxon silver pennies and kept the royal treasury at Winchester.
William continued to use the Anglo-Saxon role of the sheriff to help him to collect the geld tax.
Sheriffs could keep some of the money that they collected for the king, encouraging them to collect as much as possible.

Decisions

William kept using the Witan (although he may not have called it this) when he needed advice on decision-making from powerful landholders. For example, in 1085, England faced invasion from the Danes
William also used a new system of regents

Forest Land

When a law was passed to make an area a forest it meant the land was outside the rest of society and was not for their use.
These laws made the Saxons unhappy as it meant Saxons were losing more land to the Normans through having it ‘grabbed’ off them.

The Domesday Book

At Christmas 1085, William ordered a survey of England.
His men were sent to see what the landholdings of each shire: who held what land, what taxes they owed the king and whether they could pay any more.
The Domesday Book includes many cases of Anglo-Saxons claiming that land of theirs had been taken from them.

The Aristocracy

Culture

Wealth shown by hunting and building huge buildings.
Very religious.

Language

Most Normans did not learn English.
Aristocrats spoke in French but English was spoken by ordinary common people.

Career of Odo

Significant advisor and follower of William.

William I and Sons

William the Conqueror

Tough, excellent soldier, brutal leader, religious.
Loved and trusted his wife Matilda.

Robert Curthose

Eldest son, amazing soldier, but lacked judgement.

William Rufus

Preferred son, smarter and more cunning.

Death of William I

Died on September 9th, 1087.
Robert Curthose got Normandy, William Rufus got England.
William Rufus and the defat of Robert and Odo.
*In 1088 bishop Odo launched a rebellion against him. Eventually captured them ending the rebellion