1
Q
When did Edward the confessor die
A
5th January 1066
2
Q
What as the problem with edward the confessor’s death
A
He left no heir, causing a succession crisis
3
Q
What is meant by a succession crisis
A
Multiple people believing they shoud be king
4
Q
What was the problem with edwards leaving no heir
A
It meant instability and opportunity for invasion
5
Q
Who were the main claimants to the throne
A
Harold Godwinson, William the conquerer, Harald Hardrada, Edgar the Aethling
6
Q
What was Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne
A
Chosen by the Witan ( anglo-saxon council), Edward allegedly promised him the throne on his deathbed
7
Q
What were Harold Godwinson’s strengths as a claimant
A
He was considered the most powerful noble, an experinced military leader meaning he could defend against invasions, He was in england and could therefore act quickly
8
Q
What were Harold Godwinson’s weaknesses as a claimant
A
It wasn’t heredity and therefore the legitimacy of claim was challanged
9
Q
What was William the Conqueror’s claim to the throne
A
Said Edward had promised him the throne in 1051, claimed Harold had sworn an oath to support him
10
Q
What were William the Conqueror’s strengths as a claimant
A
He had strong army which included cavalry, he was backed by the pope
11
Q
What was significant about William the Conquerer getting support from the Pope
A
Made the invasion seem more justified and legitamite, gave religious motivation to the soldiers
12
Q
What were William the Conqueror’s weaknesses as a claimant
A
He was a foreign ruler which made the claim les natural in the eye of the English people
13
Q
What was Harald Hardrada’s claim to the throne
A
His predecessor in Norway, Magnus, had made an agreement with Harthacnut, a previous Viking king of England.
The agreement said that, if Harthacnut died before Magnus, then Magnus would succeed him as king of England.
14
Q
What were Harald Hardrada’s strengths as a claimant
A
He was an experienced warrior king, had a large viking army, he was the successor to the previous king that was promised the throne
15
Q
What were Harald Hardrada’s weaknesses as a claimant
A
His claim was outdated, many people didn’t want a viking king, Harald had no other ties to England, he was only seeking out the throne due to encouragement by Tostig Godwinson
16
Q
What was Edgar the aethling’s claim to the throne
A
He was the closet blood relative to Edward the confessor
17
Q
What were Edgar the Aethling’s strengths as a claimant
A
Strongest hereditary claim, His father( Edward the Exile) had been nominated to succeed Edward the Confessor, Edgar had been brought up by Edward the Confessor
18
Q
What were Edgar the Aethling’s weaknesses as a claimant
A
The Witan thought he was too young to lead England since he was only 15, Edgar had no military experience, and no wealth, There was no law that said that the throne should go to the previous king’s closest male relative
19
Q
How did the Edward the confessor’s death lead to the connquest
A
There were multiple claimants which led to tension and conflicts like the battle of hastings
20
Q
Who was Edgar Aetheling?
A
Edgar Aetheling was the great-nephew of Edward the Confessor. As Edward’s closest male relative, he was a contender for the throne in 1066, and was later involved in rebellions against the Normans.
21
Q
Who was Harald Hardrada
A
Harald Hardrada was the King of Norway. In 1066 he invaded England in an attempt to take the throne.
22
Q
Who was Harold Godwinson
A
Harold Godwinson was the Earl of Wessex and the most powerful noble in England at the death of Edward the Confessor. He became King Harold II of England but lost the Battle of Hastings to William, Duke of Normandy.
23
Q
Who was William the Conqueror
A
William was the Duke of Normandy, and became King of England after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. By the time William conquered England, he had survived numerous assassination attempts as a boy and had years of military experience.
24
Q
What was the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
A
The Battle of Stamford Bridge was fought on 25th September, 1066, between Hardrada and Tostig’s Viking invaders, and Harold Godwinson’s Anglo-Saxon army.
25
What happened at the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
The Battle of Stamford Bridge was a victory for Harold's Anglo-Saxon army.
Harold and his army launched a surprise attack on the Vikings from behind a small hill overlooking Stamford Bridge.
Hardrada and Tostig were both killed, and it was reported that only 24 Viking ships (out of the original 300) returned home.
26
Why did Harold win the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
The Vikings had left their armour on their ships as it was a hot day, along with around a third of their men.
Harold took Hardrada and Tostig completely by surprise, as they had not expected him to arrive in the north so quickly.
Hardrada's army had recently fought a battle, and were not expecting another so soon.
27
How many miles did Harold march in 4 days to get to Stamford Bridge
185-200 miles
28
Why was the battle of Stamford sigificant
Ended the viking threat, removed a claimant, weakened Harold Godwinson’s army right before the Battle of Hastings, contributed to Godwinson’s defeat in the Battle of Hastings
29
What was the Battle of Hastings?
The Battle of Hastings took place between the armies of William, Duke of Normandy and Harold Godwinson, king of England.
30
Who won the battle of Hastings
The Normans
31
When was the Battle of Hastings?
The Battle of Hastings took place on 14th October, 1066.
32
What happened at the Battle of Hastings?
Anglo-Saxons had the high ground.
The Anglo-Saxons formed a shield wall at the top of the hill, which the Norman archers, foot soldiers and cavalry could not break
At one point, a rumour went round the Norman troops that William had been killed. He lifted his helmet to show his face and rally them.
Harold's shield wall was weakened when some Anglo-Saxons broke ranks to chase the retreating Normans. The Normans continued to reduce the shield wall until the remainder was broken.
33
How did the Battle of Hastings end?
With the shield wall broken, the Norman cavalry charged the Anglo-Saxons. Harold Godwinson, his brothers Gyrth and Leofwine and most of their housecarls were killed. The remaining troops fled.
34
What sort of army did Harold Godwinson have
Harold led about 6,000-7,000 soldiers, some of whom were housecarls mixed with some inexperienced peasants that were recruited
35
How did the Anglo-Saxons use the shield wall at the Battle of Hastings?
The shield wall at the hilltop protected the Anglo-Saxon army from arrows and Norman cavalry. It was hard to break while disciplined, formed by overlapping shields and spears through gaps.
36
What were the advantages of the higher ground in the Battle of Hastings?
Holding the higher ground was an advantage for the Anglo-Saxons. The Norman cavalry could not charge uphill at the strength needed to break the shield wall, and archers struggled to shoot up at Harold's troops.
37
How did the different sorts of soldiers help William in the Battle of Hastings?
The Norman troops had a variety of skills and tactics, while the Anglo-Saxons tended to fight in a similar way every time. This meant that William could try different methods of attack until he found one that worked.
38
Why were the archers an advantage in the Battle of Hastings?
Once the shield wall was broken and the Norman archers could get closer to the Anglo-Saxon troops, they were able to cause great damage from a distance. Harold may have been killed by an arrow to the eye.
39
Did discipline make a difference in the Battle of Hastings?
The discipline of the Norman troops meant that they continued to form co-ordinated attacks using a variety of tactics, while the lack of discipline in the Anglo-Saxon army led to the breaking of the shield wall.
40
What was the feigned retreat tactic that William used at the Battle of Hastings?
During the battle the Normans feigned (faked) a retreat, causing the fyrd to break the shield wall and run down the hill to give chase. William's cavalry then doubled back and cut them down. This happened three times.
41
How did experimenting with battle tactics help William in the Battle of Hastings?
After his cavalry and archers' attacks on the Saxon position failed, William was able to use the feigned retreat to weaken the shield wall. Once it was weakened, he then deployed his archers and cavalry to break it completely.
42
What were the reasons for Harold Godwinson's defeat in the Battle of Hastings?
Poor discipline of troops.
Poor timing of defenses.
Unreadiness for battle.
Decision to leave London and confront William at Hastings.
43
How significant was luck in the Battle of Hastings?
Harold was killed, possibly by an arrow in the eye, a random event that led to William's victory.
Harold faced Viking attacks before the Normans arrived, exhausting his troops.
Bad weather damaged the English fleet, misleading Harold about William's intentions, but it didn't stop the Normans from sailing.
44
What tactics did the anglo saxons use
Shield wall ( strong defensive position), infantry based army which included housecarls and part-time peasant soldiers, close combat fighting
45
What tactics did the normans use
Combined arms strategy ( archers, cavalry, infantry), increased mobility due to horses, feigning retreat
46
What were norman castles typically made from
Wood but were later converted to stone
47
What were the first type of norman towers built
Motte and bailey castle
48
What is a motte
A raised hill with a tower ( keep)
49
What is a bailey
An enclose courtyard
50
Why were castles significant
Allowed normans t take control of rebellious areas, showed norman power to intimidate the anglo saxons, a good defensive strategy
51
Who were house carls
Full time professional soldiers that were highly trained ad loyal to the king
52
How effective was William's leadership in the Battle of Hastings?
William's leadership made the Norman chances of victory stronger. His strengths included discipline, timing, preparation, brutality, and intelligence.
53
How much preparation did William the Conqueror make for the invasion of England?
The Normans took pre- made pieces of a castle over the Channel with them, and used it to transform an old Roman fort in Hastings into a defensive castle
William organised for the transport of the Norman destriers using flat-bottomed ships, as the Norman horses had been especially bred for battle.
William had excellent information from his spies, who told him what Harold was doing in England, which allowed him to meet the Anglo-Saxons at Hastings.
54
How did William encourage Harold to come fight him?
William allowed them to loot and destroy English villages. This tactic enraged Harold and encouraged him to leave London.
55
How did spies help William's invasion?
William had good information from his spies about the actions of Harold and the Anglo-Saxon army, and used it to make good leadership decisions.
The Normans were not surprised by Harold's Anglo-Saxon troops, as he had hoped, and were instead able to sneak up on them early on the morning of the battle.
William's knowledge of the Anglo-Saxons before the invasion allowed him to time the voyage after Harold had disbanded the fyrd.
56
When was William crowned king of England?
William was crowned in Westminster Abbey by Archbishop Ealdred of York, on Christmas Day 1066.
57
What powers did William I have?
He controlled coins and the currency.
He made all the laws.
He could raise taxes
He owned all the land, and could grant it and take it away.
He had military power, made up of knights provided by the tenants-in-chief.
He could appoint important churchmen.
He would call a meeting of the Witan to advise him.
He issued laws and instructions by using royal writs.
He held oath-taking ceremonies to gain the loyalty of his landholders.
58
How did William's military power help him?
He was able to win the Battle of Hastings and crush rebellions.
It won the respect of the Anglo-Saxons, who admired great warriors. Many joined his side against the rebels.
People at the time believed that his victories were a sign that he was favoured by God.
59
How did William prove his legitimacy as king?
He stressed that he was the rightful heir because Edward had promised it to him, because he was related to Edward, and because Harold had broken his oath.
At his coronation he promised to uphold Edward's laws, and protect the Church.
He was crowned by Ealdred, the Archbishop of York. Normally the Archbishop of Canterbury crowned the king, but Archbishop Stigand was corrupt, and therefore was not considered appropriate.
He made sure that images of his portrait were put onto coins so that everyone could see he was the king.
60
What kind of leader was William
He was decisive, ruthless, strong military leader, used castles to control england, rewarded loyaly (feudal sstem), replaced anglo-saxon nobles with normans for control
61
What parts of the government did William continue to
The shire system, sherrifs, use of writs
62
Why was continuity important
Less resistance since people were used to it which meant William could control england effectively
63
What was the feudal system
The feudal system was a strict, hierarchical structure of land ownership and social control introduced to England by William the Conqueror after 1066 to secure his power
64
How did the feudal system work
William owned all the land which he gave it to barons/ tenants-un-chief then the Barons gave land to knights. In return, the Barons and knights were loyal and provided military service
65
Why was the feudal system important for William
Created a clear chainof control, ensured William always had an army ready, it kept nobles dependent on Willam
66
What were key features of law and order during William’s rule
Shire courts, sherrifs, murdrum fine, forest laws, tithings, harsh punishments,
67
What was the murdrum fine
If a norman was murdered, the local community had to find the murderer or pay a fine
68
What were forest laws
Large areas were declared royal forest and only kings could hunt there
69
What was a titihing
A group of 10 men responsible for each other, if one broke the law, others had to bring him to court
70
Why did William’s law and order matter
Protected normans, reinforced William’s authority, showed the laws favoured the conquerors
71
How did William the conquerer establish control 1067-1075
His response to the revolts, Harrying of the North, use of force and fear
72
What challanges did William the Conqueror face in controlling England
Anglo saxon resistance, northern rebellion, danish threat
73
What happened during the 1067 revolts
William left for Normandy which gave the opportunity for a revolt due to resentment.
74
How did William respond to the 1067 revolts
William returned and used military force to assert his authority ,placed the marchers lords along the welsh border and took potential leaders ( like Edgar) to Normandy
75
What was the significance if the 1067 revolts
Led to the creation of marcher earldoms, forced return of William, shift in land ownership to Normans
76
What happened during he 1068 revolts
Early Anglo-Saxon uprisings against William the Conqueror, led by Edwin and Morcar and Edgar the Ætheling, triggered by lost power, land losses, and excessive taxes
77
What was the significance of the 1068 revolts
Proved to william that english nobles couldn’t be trusted, expansion of castle building north, it was the first major rebellion against william
78
How did William respond to the 1068 revolts
Rapid castle building, the siege of Exeter, He went north with his army and built castles as they marched.
79
What was the Harrying of the North?
'Harrying' means to devastate a place. In 1069, William decided to deal with uprisings in the north with an event that became known as 'The Harrying of the North'. Norman soldiers stormed villages, killing many people, burning fields, and destroying livestock and food stores.
80
When was the Harrying of the North?
The Harrying of the North began in the winter of 1069 and continued into 1070.
81
What was the importance of the Harrying of the North?
The Harrying of the North was important because it marked a turning point in William's strategy for dealing with rebellions. The consequences made it difficult to continue resistance against William.
82
Why did the Normans harry the north?
Many Normans, including the Norman earl Robert Cumin, had been killed by rebels.
The guerrilla tactics of the rebels meant that William was unable to meet them in open battle. Instead, they took refuge in nearby villages. The Harrying of the North made this impossible.
The Danish heritage of Anglo-Saxons in the north meant that their loyalty might be swayed by Danish invaders.
83
What were the short-term effects of the Harrying of the North?
The effects of the Harrying of the North in the short-term were horrific. An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people were either killed, died of starvation in the resulting famine, or were displaced as refugees to other parts of the kingdom.
84
What were the long-term effects of the Harrying of the North?
There were no further uprisings in Northumbria.
16 years later, the Domesday Book showed that one third of Yorkshire remained wasteland, and that there were as many as 150,000 fewer people in the area.
William decided to replace the remaining Anglo-Saxon nobility, rather than trying to work with them any more.
The Harrying was widely criticised, including by the pope. William gave a lot of time and money to the Church as penance (to make amends) for his actions.
85
How many people were killed in the Harrying of the North?
estimates range between 80,000 and 100,000 people.
86
When did William die?
1087
87
How did William die
In July 1087, William led a raid in France but was thrown from the saddle of his horse. By this time he was very fat, and it caused serious internal injuries.
88
Who succeeded William I?
He decided that his eldest son, Robert, should inherit the dukedom of Normandy.
He wanted his favourite son, William Rufus, to be king of England, but decided to leave it in the hands of God.
William Rufus left for England before his father died, with a letter from William to Lanfranc. Lanfranc crowned him William II in September
89
What was the Earls' Revolt?
In 1075, William faced another rebellion. This time, however, the rebels were his own men - the Normans.
90
What were the aims of the Earls' Revolt?
The leaders of the Earls' Revolt planned to overthrow William and divide England into three parts, shared between them.
91
What were the causes of the Earls' Revolt?
They resented the loss of their lands, privileges and power.
William was away in Normandy at the time, leaving Archbishop Lanfranc in charge.
They had powerful allies in the form of the Danes, the French and the Bretons.
They believed that the Anglo-Saxons were prepared to rebel.
92
What problems did the leaders face in the Earls' Revolt?
The Anglo-Saxons did not support them.
Waltheof changed his mind and informed Archbishop Lanfranc, who sent men to East Anglia and Hereford to find out what was going on.
William returned to England.
The Danish fleet of 200 ships arrived too late to help the rebels. Instead of facing William in battle, Cnut raided the east coast and then returned home.
93
How did William react to the Earls' Revolt?
He tricked Waltheof into returning to England after he fled abroad, then imprisoned and executed him, despite his role in informing on the rebels.
He had supporters blinded or banished,
He imprisoned Roger de Breteuil for life.
94
Who was involved in the Earls' Revolt?
Ralph de Gael, Earl of East Anglia - a Norman.
Roger de Breteuil, Earl of Hereford - a Norman.
Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria - an Anglo-Saxon.
A fleet of Danish invaders, led by Sweyn's son Cnut, was assembled to help the rebels.
Brittany and France, rivals of Normandy, were both prepared to help the earls in the revolt.
95
What was the importance of the Earls' Revolt?
It showed that William now had to watch his own supporters for treachery.
Anglo-Saxons supported William rather than the rebels.
William had Waltheof executed after the rebellion, which showed that he was still ruthless about Anglo-Saxon rebellion.
The failure of Cnut's Danish invasion marked the end of the Danish attacks on England. At the time, however, William saw it as a serious threat.
96
Who were angry with the succesion and why
Robert Curthose ( William’s oldest son) was angry as he believed that England was rightfully his under the Norman tradition of the oldest son inheriting everything.
Many barons owned lands in Normandy and England and suddenly found they had to swear loyalty to both the King of England and the Duke of Normandy
Bishop Odo of Bayeux and six of the ten leading barons began to plot to rebel against Rufus
97
Why was William Rufus challenged as king?
William's decision before his death seemed unclear and was open to interpretation.
Robert Curthose was made Duke of Normandy. Lords with land in both England and Normandy didn't want to answer to two different rulers.
Robert Curthose believed he should rule England, as he was William's eldest son.
98
How did William Rufus win revolts?
He raised an army, but took the money their lords had given the knights to live on and sent the soldiers home.
He then used the money to bribe barons in eastern Normandy, forcing Robert to agree to rule it alongside him.
He promised to lower taxes, to end the forest laws, and to return to Edward the Confessor's laws. This removed the complaints behind the rebellions. However, Rufus did not deliver any of these promises.
99
Who succeeded William Rufus?
When William Rufus was killed in 1100 his youngest brother, Henry, became king.
100
What were the roles and obligation of the tenant in chief
Provide military service for the king
Organised and distributed land taken from the Anglo-Saxons between the Normans
Ensured that knights and under-tenants had enough land to grow crops
They had to judge any tenants’ land disputes
Passed on a share of their fiefs’ income to the king
Served on the royal council to give the king advice on important issues
Some tenants-in-chief had important roles in the church as bishops
101
What were the role and obligations of the knights
The knights defended England against Viking invaders and fought wars with France
Knights suppressed rebellions within England as well as attacks from Scotland and Wales
Knights replaced the Anglo-Saxon thegns as the social rank below tenants-in-chief
Many knights became local lords
Some tried cases in the manorial court
102
What were the Responsibilities and Obligations of a Peasant
Peasants gained land by providing manual labour to their local lord
This could involve ploughing the land or planting and harvesting crops
They could use the land to feed themselves and their families
103
What was an act of homage
ceremony where the tenants swore an oath of loyalty to their lord, crucial for reinforcing Norman control.
104
What was the land distribution like during the Noman conquest
William confiscated nearly all land from Anglo-Saxon aristocrats.
About 50% of the land was given to 150 tenants-in-chief (nobles/bishops).
Tenants-in-chief often had lands scattered across the country, rather than in one block, to prevent them from becoming powerful enough to rebel.
The Church was a major landholder, holding about 25% of the land, which secured the land for Norman leaders
105
What was patronage
The practice of the King rewarding loyal followers with land, jobs, or privileges.
Patronage was "the first art of government," essential for managing the barons and ensuring the loyalty of the nobility.
William used his power to reward followers with fiefs, while disruptive lords were threatened with high relief payments, influencing who controlled the land.
106
How did the system change under the Norman Conquest
William replaced Anglo-Saxon thegns with Norman under-tenants, significantly reducing the power of the local nobility.
The Norman system was more structured and created a tighter, top-down control of land and military service compared to the previous system.
Ceorls (free peasants in Saxon times) almost completely disappeared, replaced by villeins with fewer rights and greater dependence on their lord.
107
What happened to slaves in the feudal system in Norman England?
The Normans thought that slavery was wrong and gradually ended the practice in England.
108
What was lordship in Norman England
Lords had power over their land and controlled peasants. They also provided justice locally.
This was important because it extended William’s control over Enlgland
109
Why did William scatter landholdings
So barons couldn’t build regional power, made rebellion harder, forced dependence on the king.
This all strengthened central control
110
Why was feudalism effective
Clear hierarchy, land tied to loyalty, provided army quickly, prevented rebelion
111
What were weaknesses in feudalism
Barons could become powerful, relied on loyalty, risk of rebellion
112
What were the main features of anglo saxon government
King advised by the Witan, earls controlled regions, sherrifs managed shires, system based on shared power
This meant that the king’s power wasn’t absolute
113
Who where Witan
The Witan (or Witenagemot) was the council of senior nobles, bishops, and advisors in Anglo-Saxon England that advised the king and met to determine royal succession.
114
How did the anglo saxons use government by writ
The king’s orders and instructions were written by royal clerks and then sent to the different shires. The earls then decided how orders were carried out
115
What was Anglo-Saxon local government like
The country was divided into areas called ‘shires’ which had their own capital and shire-reeve or sheriff
Each shire was divided into smaller districts called hundreds
The sheriff was responsible for collecting taxes and dispensing justice in his shire
116
What was the role of the anglo saxon king
Strong military leader
Raised taxes
Made laws
Judged important legal cases
117
What were the main features of the norman government
total royal land ownership (Feudal System), the replacement of English elites with Norman barons, extensive castle building, the introduction of Forest Laws, and a, "feudalism" system based on oaths of fealty and military service.
118
Who were the curgis regis
This ‘king’s council’ or ‘Norman Great Council’ operated in a similar way to the Witan. It contained the most important nobles from the Norman aristocracy who advised the king
119
How did the normans use government by writ
More writs were issued under the Normans and, as the Norman barons had less power than the Anglo-Saxon earls after the norman conquest, the king’s orders were followed more closely
120
What was the Norman local government like
The system of shires, hundreds and sheriffs was maintained by William
However, the key positions of sheriffs were soon filled with loyal Normans
121
What was the role of the norman king
Strong military leader
Raised taxes
Made laws
Judged important legal cases
Owned all the land in England - which centralised more power in the king’s hands
122
What was the structure anglo saxon society
King- most powerful person
Earls-most important after king
Thegns-local lords who lived in a manor house and held more than 5 hides of land
Peasants- They worked for their local lord
Slavery- made up about 10% of the population, and were viewed more as property than people
123
What were some features of the anglo saxon society
Society was structured but less rigid, people could move up ranks, there was a clear hierarchy
124
What was the anglo saxon aristocracy like
They were earls and thegns.
They were powerful, influential in government and sometimes independent
Lived lavish lifestyles and were adored with jewels
125
What did anglo society mean for the king
The ing had less direct control
126
What was the structure anglo saxon society
King
Barons
Knights
Peasants
(No slaves as normans thought it was cruel)
127
What were some features of the norman society
More rigid and controlled and positions controled by the king through the feudal system,
More castles built,
Almost total transfer of land from Anglo-Saxons to Normans,
Introduction of Norman law systems
most lords spoke french so anglo saxons had to learn
Introduced primogeniture, where the eldest son inherited all the land, preventing the breaking up of estates.
128
What was the norman aristocracy like
Lords didn’t have as much land in one area
had to do an act of homage to lords
They built motte-and-bailey castles to dominate the local population
Norman aristocrats prioritized simple, structured living, concentrating wealth on church buildings and military strength.
Heavily supported the church
They introduced Norman French and changed the ruling class's language and manners
129
Why did William the conqueror need a reliable army
William needed a reliable army to defend england, crush rebellion and maintain control
130
What did William use instead of a permanent army
The feudal system
131
Hwo did the feudal system provide an army
William gave land to barons and in return they had to provide knights for military services
132
What was a knight service quota
A baron owing the king a fixed number of knights
133
What is subinfeudation
A tenant-in-chief (e.g., a baron) who received land from the King would break up a portion of that land and grant it to a lesser tenant (e.g., a knight). The baron becomes a lord to that knight.
This created a "chain of landed dependency" below the King
134
Effect of subinfeudation
It weakened the king’s authority. Instead of the knight owing service directly to the King, they owed it to the baron, breaking the direct link of loyalty and duty to the monarch.
135
Who were the knights
The knights were elite and mounted soldiers ( cavalry)
136
What was the role of knights
To be shock troops which meant breaking enemy lines, which was key to norman battlefield success
137
What was the standard service for knights
40 days per year
138
What were the limitations of the standard service
They were too short for long campaigns
Knights might not want an extended service
Not ideal for distant wars
139
What was a scuatge
A cash payment instead of military service
140
Why was Scutage important
Allowed William to:
Hire mercenaries how are paid professionl soldiers
Extend campaigns beyond 40 days
Reduce reliance on feudal troops
141
What were the purposes of castles
Military bases, defensive strongholds and centres of local control
142
What were garrison troops
Small groups of soldiers stationed permanently
143
Why were garrison troops important
Allowed rapid response to rebellions
Strengthened norman presence
144
What did the anglo saxon military service rely on
House carls who were an elite infantry
Fyrds who were part time militia
145
Strengths of the norman military service
Reliable service of knights
Strong cavalry advantage
Flexible since they could choose to pay instead of providing knights
It was linked to land which ensured loyalty ( particularly through the oath of fealty)
146
Weaknesses of the norma military service
Limited service time
Dependent on loyalty
Barons could become powerful ( opportunity for treason)
147
What was the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was a survey of England that William commissioned at the end of 1085. It aimed to find out how much was owned by each landholder, and whether they could pay more tax.
148
Why was the Domesday Book created?
The Domesday Book was produced because William needed to raise more taxes.
It may have been a way of getting around the special privileges that meant that many tenants-in-chief didn't have to pay tax on some of their land.
149
What was in the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was a record of what each landholder owned in each area of England.
It was 913 pages long and recorded details of about 1,000 tenants-in-chief and 8,000 under-tenants.
It was later called the Domesday Book because the information it gathered made people feel as if they reached the Day of Judgement
It was written in Latin.
150
What was the significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was an important document that affected the economy, the military, and the law in Norman England.
151
What was the financial significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book allowed the king and his clerks to see how much money in tax, or relief payments, were owed on each estate.
152
What was the legal significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book was a way of sorting out legal disputes, especially for Anglo-Saxons who claimed to have lost land in land-grabs.
153
What was the military significance of the Domesday Book?
The Domesday Book allowed William to see how many soldiers were available if they were needed
154
What was trial by ordeal
I was a continued anglo saxon practice sued to decide guilt or innocence.
155
What was the trial of oordeal based on
That God would judge the accused
156
What were the types of trial by ordeal
Ordeal by hot iron- this involved carrying hot metal and seeing how it healed. If the wound healed after three days, hey were innocent
Ordeal by water: if someone sunk, they were innocent. If they floated they were guilty since the holy water would repel them
157
What were the consequences of trial by ordeal
Very unpredictable outcomes, often led to injury or death
158
What was the significance of the trial by ordeal
Shows strong religious influence on the law
Demonstrates lack of science based evidence
Continuity from anglo saxon systems
159
What was the murdrum fine
A fine was paid if a norman was murdered and the community couldn’t identify the victim and didn’t catch the murderer
160
What were the consequences of the murdrum fine
Protected Norman population
Forced communities to police themselves
Increased tensions between anglo saxons
161
Significance of the murdrum fine
Shows laws favoured normans
Reinforced norman authority
Encouraged order through collective responsibility
162
How did Normans change inheritence
Normans introduced primogeniture
163
What is primogeniture
Where the eldest son inherits all the land
164
Consequences of primogeniture
Prevented land being split up
Kept estates strong and stable
Reduces disputed through heirs
165
Significance of primogeniture
Strengthened the feudal system
Maintained land holding families
Increased long term stability
166
What were the punishments in norman egland
Fines
Mutilation e.g cutting the hands off
Executuon for serious crimes
167
Consequences of Norman punishments
Harsh punishments acted as deterrents
Maintained order through fear
168
Significance of Norman punishments
Reinforced the authority of the king and the law
Shows strict control over society
169
How did land ownership change
Anglo saxon land owners were removed
Land given to norman barons
170
What was the land ownership like in 1086
90% of land owned by the norman
171
Consequences in change of land ownership
Anglo Saxon elites lost power and wealth
Norman ruling class became dominant
Wealth concentrated among loyal supporters
172
Significance in change of land ownership
Land = wealth = power
This ensured loyalty to Williams
Stregthened control over england
173
How did the system change in Norman England
Feudal system, land in exchange fror services, peasants worked for their lord
174
Consequences of the system changing
Economy became more structured and hierarchical
Peasants had more obligation
Lords gained more control over production
175
Significance of the system changing
Economically supported the army and government
Strengthened norman authority
176
What happened during the harrying of the north that impacted the economy
Crops burned
Livestock was killed
Land destroyed
177
Economic consequences of the harrying of the north
Severe famine between 1069-1070
Northern economy collapsed
Land recorded as ‘waste’ in the domesday book
177
Economic significance of the harrying of the north
Crushed a rebellion, however it caused long term economic damage
178
What were the economic consequences of the domesday book
More accurate taxation
Better control of land ownership
179
What was the economic significance of the domesday book
Helped William maximise tax revenue
Strengthened the central government
180
What was the economic change from the forest laws
Large areas made into royal forests
181
What were the economic consequences of the forest laws
Peasants lost access to land and couldn’t hunt or farm freely
182
What was the economic significance oof the forest laws
Increased royal control over resources
Reduced local economic independence
183
What was the danegald tax
was a crucial tax in Anglo-Saxon England, primarily used to pay tribute or "protection money" to Viking raiders to stop them from attacking and ravaging the country
184
What taxation continued
Danegald tax
185
What was the taxation that changed
Taxes used to support Norman rule
More efficiently collected through the domesday book
186
What were the economic consequences of the change in taxtation
Heavy burden on the population
Increased royal income
187
What was the economic significance of the change in taxation
It funded the army, castles and government
History
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