Anglo-Saxon England: c. 1000-1066
- Created by: xTheGhostCatx
- Created on: 28-08-19 12:55
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- Anglo-Saxon England: c.1000-1066
- 1. People at the top of society held power
- King was chosen by Witan
- The Earl of Wessex owned the most land and was often made king
- King's job was to defend the people, raise armies and produce laws
- Relations between the king, nobles, and churchmen were important to the successful running of Anglo-Saxon England
- 2. Anglo-Saxon England had a strong system of government
- The king gave land and influence to nobles, and they gave him loyalty and troops
- By 1000, Anglo-Saxon England had efficient administration and trade was prosperous
- England was divided in shires, and the shires were subdivided into hundreds which would provide the king with an army
- Thegns (lesser nobles) carried out administration for king (tax collecting)
- By 1000, Anglo-Saxon England was famous for its coinage
- 3. Vikings threatened peace
- Kings defended against Vikings by offering Danegeld (Money) - advised by Witan
- Alfred the Great brought stability and allowed Vikings to settle in North and East England
- By 980 Vikings started attacking the coasts of England again
- 4. Trouble at the end of Aethelred's reign
- Lord's did not believe Aethelred could protect England
- Witan told him to pay Danegeld to Vikings in 991, but they returned in 994 for more money
- In 1002, he ordered that all Danes living in England should be killed- unpopular with nobles with Danish subjects
- In 1013, Sweyn Forkbeard invaded England and Aethelred went into Exile
- 5. England changed under Cnut and Edward
- Sweyn died in 1014 and nobles wanted Aethelred back
- Aethelred died in 1016, and by October Sweyn's son Cnut had conquered England
- Aethelred died in 1016, and by October Sweyn's son Cnut had conquered England
- Cnut executed several Anglo-Saxon nobles and gave their land to his followers
- Cnut divided England into the earldoms Northumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, and Wessex
- During Edward the Confessors reign, Godwin, Earl of Wessex was a porblem
- He and his son were exiled in 1051 for trying to overthrow Edward
- They returned in 1052 and forced Edward to back down - Godwin effectively became king
- Edward died without an heir and the Witan chose Godwin's son, Harold Godwinson, to be king
- They returned in 1052 and forced Edward to back down - Godwin effectively became king
- He and his son were exiled in 1051 for trying to overthrow Edward
- Sweyn died in 1014 and nobles wanted Aethelred back
- 1. People at the top of society held power
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