Anglo - Saxons and Normans (Topic 1)

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  • Created by: cowsgomoo
  • Created on: 07-06-18 19:05

People

Edward the Confessor - King from 1042 to 1066. Respected, religious and powerful

Earl Godwin of Wessex - Made Earl by King Cnut in 1018. Died in 1503 and had 8 children.

Harold Godwinson - Became Earl of Wessex in 1053. 1st wife= Edith of Mercia 

Tostig Godwinson - Became Earl of Northmbria in 1055. Defeated Llywelyn in 1063 with bro.

Edith of Wessex - Married Edward the Confessor in 1045.

Leofwine Godwinson - Became Earl of Kent in 1057

Gyrth Godwinson - Became Earl of East Anglia in 1057

Wulfnoth Godwinson - Given to Edward as a hostage in 1051

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Normandy Embassy and Tostig

Embassy to Normandy -1064

  • Landed in Ponthieu where Count Guy of Ponthieu took him prisoner
  • William of Normandy rescued Harold who then spent time in Normandy, helping William with two military campaigns
  • Harold made an oath to William swearing to support William's claim to the English throne
  • Shows Harold was a trusted advisor and Normans used this embassy to portray Harold as an oath breaker when he became King

The rising against Earl Tostig - 1065

  • Northumbrian thegns rebelled against Tostig
  • The rebels invited Morcar, brother of the Earl of Mercia, to be their Earl
  • Tostig was exiled in November 1065
  • Reasons for uprising: he was a southerner, people felt he abused his power, taxed them heavily and didn't defend them from an attack by Scotland
  • Harold agreed Tostig pushed Northumbria too far and Edward was forced to accept the rebels' demands
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Death of Edward & succession crisis

  • Died on the 5th January 1066
  • Bayeux Tapestry shows Edward on his deathbed reaching out to Harold
  • The Witan met quickly and crowned Harold on the same day as Edward's burial, 6th January 1066

Rivals to the throne:

  • Harold Godwinson - appointed by Edward on his deathbed. Brother-in-law and proven military success
  • William Duke of Normandy - apparently made an agreement with Edward in 1051, confirmed during Harold's embassy in 1064
  • Harald Hardrada - claimed he inherited the throne from previous viking kings like Cnut. Supported by Tostig
  • Edgar Aethling - Edward's nephew and rightful heir but was seen as too young to rule
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Harold's coronation & reign

The Witan feared an attack by William so Harold was crowned quickly.

Challenges faced by Harold:

  •  Challenges from powerful Earls including the old rival the Earl of Mercia
  • The North may not accept Tostig's brother as their new King
  • Tostig was looking for allies in Europe
  • There were reports that Willaim was preparing to invade.

Harold met with Witan members in York (Northumbria's main city) to get their support. He then went south to place an army along the coast, expecting an invasion by William. They left when the invasion hadn't come by September.

Tostig sailed to England in May 1066 but was deterred by Harold's strong defences. A fight with the Mercians at Lincoln left him with only 12 ships.

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3 battles (1&2)

Battle of Gate Fulford - 20th September 1066

  • Hardrada and Tostig attacked but were blocked just outside of York by Morcar and Edwin (Earls of Northumbria and Mercia respectively)
  • Morcar and Edwin lost as they fought outside the city walls
  • Harold heard about the invasion and marched North and he must have been confident William was not going to attack the south in the near future.

Battle of Stamford Bridge - 25th September 1066

  • Harold surprised Hardrada and Tostig at Stamford Bridge. Both Hardrada and Tostig were killed
  • Harold won because he had the element of surprise and the vikings had left their armour on their ships. Hardrada and Tostig had also fought at Fulford 5 days before while also under the impression that the English hated Harold (which wasn't true)
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3 battles (3)

Battle of Hastings - 14th October 1066

  • After leaving York, Harold stopped in London for roughly 5 days to gather troops. He then continued south and met William at Senlac Hilll near Hastings.
  • Harold's shield wall began to break down and a rumour went around that Harold was dead. To prove this was not true he rode around without his helmet and showed his face.
  • Harold Godwinson, Gyrth and Leofwine held their position on top of the hill until they were killed. However, their housecarls continued to fight until they too were killed.

Why did William win?

  • He used cavalry to break up the shield wall and tricked the English by pretending to retreat
  • He delayed his invasion until Harold had disbanded the southern fyrd
  • Horses were specially bred and shipped over for battle 
  • Normans stole food and destroyed houses to force Harold into battle
  • He adapted an Iron Age fort into a castle
  • Harold's men were tired and poorly disciplined
  • Harold didn't have the element of surprise
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Army

Norman Knights

  • Could charge at the enemy
  • Mounted knights could strike downwards
  • Well-trained on horseback
  • The saddle held the soldier firmly in place so they could use their arms freely
  • Horses were vulnerable to attack
  • More difficult to charge uphill
  • Cavalry and archers were only effective once the shield wall was weak

Anglo-Saxon Housecarls

  • Shield wall was hard to break
  • Heavy axes took down horses and caused severe injuries
  • Well-trained
  • A strong shield wall needed discipline and endurance
  • The shield wall was no longer effective when broken
  • Most of Harold's army were ordinary soldiers
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