Power and Democracy

• Why would William of Normandy be unfit for the throne?

  -He was born elligitimately
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: How were Kings chosen?

  •Kings were chosen by the Witan- a council of the richest and most importantnobles and churchmen eg the earls and bishops. The King was normally the richest and most powerful of the nobles. This was usually the Earl of Wessex (biggest landowner in England) and the King was usually seen as their defender.
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: What was the king's role?

  Raise armies and produce laws to help govern the countries. He had to defend the kingdom and the English people as well as the church, making laws and making sure everyone obeyed them. He would give lad and influence to important nobles in exchange for loyalty and troops.
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: What was the role of the Witan?


  The role of the Witan was to choose the king and make sure he was strong and worthy- a weak ruler would cause instability. They also offered the King advice and support
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: What was the role of thegns?


  Carry out administration for the King and act as bailiffs (officers who make sure decisions at court are obeyed), run law courts, act as tax collectors.
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: What was the role of the Church and nobility?


  Give their loyalty to the King and create troops for an army. Govern the shires for the king, encourage people to be loyal and spread information on new laws.
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: What were the ideal characteristics of a King?

  Strong, charismatic leaders, who are wealthy, lots of land, supported by the witan, church and the nobles (earls or thegns)
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: How was the Anglo-Saxon Estate run?


  The king gave land and influential jobs to important nobles and churchmen. In return, they helped him govern the country by: advising the king through the witan, encouraging loyalty from the ordinary people, spreading info about new laws, taxes etc, providing the kings with troops when needed and keeping control in their own areas.
• ANGLOSAXON KINGS: What changed in this period

  In the early 1000s, Anglo-Saxon England was attacked and eventually overwhelmed by the Vikings, and in 1016 the Danish leader Cnut became King of England. However serveral features of the Anglo-Saxon system of government remained in place, and many Anglo-Saxon nobles rose to even greater power under Cnut. After Cnuts death the Anglo-Saxons were still very much in charge.
• What was the rise of Wessex?


  Anglo-saxons came to Britain as migrants, then settled in England and established small, familial communities around the country, obeying the authority of an elected chief, and loyalty to this lord was an important feature of the Anglo-Saxon community. Some local groups joined together under a common ruler, and these kingdoms came under attack from the vikings, where Wessex proved to be the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
• Who was King Aethelred?


  King Aethelread 968-1016, became king in 978, and he was descended from Alfred and Athelstan, respected rulers.
• What kind of kingdom was Aethelred's England?


  Aethelred's Kingdom or England was famous for efficient administration, its legal system and coinage, Coins were minted under royal control and made from silver imported fr
• What was the Church like in Aethelred's England?


  The Church was also flourishing by the time Aethelred came to the throne. The church had land and money, from kings and noblemen of their areas.
• What was Aethelreds problems?

  -The viking raids highlighted the fact most of his support came from the old Kingdom of Wessex. To extend his support from powerful nobles, he offered them high positions in government. However the population and local lords felt that the king couldn't defend them from the Vikings.-Aethelred didn't manage significant relationships very well. He trusted the wrong people and found it hard to command loyalty. For example in 1002 he issued the order that all Danes living among the English should be killed. The nobles who were supposed ti do this were unwilling to commit the slaughter as they ruled over many Danes.-When some of them did, the act provoked revenge raids by the vikings.-Aethelred fleed into exile in Normandy after the 1013 invasion led by the King of Denmark
• What might some argue against Aethelred being 'Unready'?

  -Historians point out that the King was ill-advised by the Witan, who encouraged him to pay Danegeld, and that many of his predecessors had done the same-They may also argue that the scale of the Viking attacks were greater than those faced by any other King, and it would have been difficult for any ruler to resist-When Sweyn died in 1014, the population asked for Aethelred to come back rather than his son Cnut. Aethelred returned to battle Cnut for the throne, but he died by April 1016 and by that time Cnut had already taken over.
• What is Danegeld?


  By AD980 Viking raiders from Denmark began attacking the coasts of England. -In AD991, Earl Brythmoth and his army were defeated by a Viking Force at the Battle of Maldon, in Essex-Aethelred consulted the Witan about this and they decided to pay off the vikings with 10,000 pounds, known as DANEGELD.-Aethelred made a treaty with Norman rulers to agree not to help eachothers enemies like they did before. -However in AD994 the vikings returned and had to be paid off again, a payment of 22,000 pounds.
• What did Cnut do when he took over?

  -Executed several of Aethelreds leading supporters and gave their lands to his own followers-Allowed most AS nobles to keep land and status-Married Aethelred's widow to be clear that he wanted acception from thegns and earls-Proved himself to be a great warrior king
• How did Cnut keep England stable?

  -Since Cnut was away in Denmark and Norway where he also ruled, he divided the country into 4 great earldoms-Northumbria and East Anglia were given to loyal Danes to rule-Mercia was given to the AS Earl Siward-Wessex was given to Earl Godwin-Cnut ruled over a peaceful stable England until his sisters death in 1035
• What was the period of turmoil 1035-1042?


  -The Witan tried to decide who would rule next out of the four claims: Aethelreds two sons, Alfred and Edward, and Cnuts two sons, Harthacnut and Harold. Cnuts son Harold was appointed king. He died in 1039 so the throne was given to Harthacnut, who died in 1040. The throne passed to Edward
• What was England like throughout Edwards reign?

  England remained wealthy and well-governed. Two important developments in this period were the emergence of the SHERIFF and the use of WRITS.
• What were the role of sheriffs in AS England?


  -Usually thegns, but with more responsibility. They took over main day-to-day functions of government such as collecting taxes, running law courts and ensuring other thegns knew about new laws.-Edward kept in touch with them by sending them information in a new type of document called a writ.
• What were the challenges to Edward the Confessor?


  -Godwin in Wessex -Edward didn't forgive Godwin for ordering the murder of his brother-Godwin resented Edward for appointing his Norman friends to key positions when he became King
• What happened between Edward and Godwin?

  -In 1052 their dislike reached a climaxGodwin raised troops to fight the king-Edward called on the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria to rally their armies in support-However, Godwin backed down and went into exile-The following year he returned at the head of a large fleet to challenge him again-Majority of the public eg London sided with Godwin-This time it was Edward who was forced to back down-Edward was still the position of king, but perhaps lacked the support from his country so ultimately Godwin was the ruler-By 1064 Edwards only power was in choosing who would succeed him as king
• How did the Godwin family gain power?

  -After Godwin died in 1053, his son Harold Godwinson took over Wessex-His other son, Tostig became earl of Northumbria in 1055-This gave the Godwin family a great deal of power-Tostig and Harold were already respected after fighting a successful campaign against Welsh king Gruffydd in 1063
• Why did the Normans invade England?


  England was the wealthiest state in Europe. The Norman leader Duke William believed he has a strong legal claim to the throne and Saxon King Harold Godwinson had taken it illegally
• How did the Normans gain control of England?

  When Harold was killed, the Anglo-saxons had no leader. Within a few months the leading nobles and bishops surrendered to William. The Normans built a network of Castles and William appointed loyal barons and Churchmen to look after land. The whole country was controlled by 11 men!
• How and why did power change hands in Norman period?

  The Norman conquest reinforced the idea that the throne could be won by force of arms. Power lay in military strength.
• Why did the Norman invasion succeed?

  The Normans had stronger military. Duke William had fiercely loyal supporters. The weather also favoured him when he invaded across the Channel. Harold was distracted by a Viking attack on Northern England and made some mistakes.
• How far did the Norman Conquest change England?


  Anglo-saxon Lords and Thegns lost their land. The Normans changed the landscape witth their castles, new cathedrals and Churches. They brought their own language, customs, clothing, food and cultural aspects. However, the main systems of law, administration and coinage remained. The majority of the population continued to speak English
• Who became King after Edward the Confessor died?

  When Edward died in January 1066, Harold Godwinson became King. Edwards great nephew, Edgar Atheling has a better legal claim to the throne than Harold but he was 15 and had few experience.
• What was Harold Godwinson's claim to the throne?


  -Appointed successor by the King on his deathbed supposedly-Richest and most powerful man in England-Proven war leader- in 1065 he exiled his own brother Tostig for upsetting the thegns and ruling poorly
• What were William of Normandys claims to the throne?

  -Distant cousin of the king-Claimed he was promised the throne in 1051, Norman Chronicals supported this-Claimed Harold Godwinson pledged loyalty to him in 1064-Had the support of the pope- so effectively, God was on his side-Duke of Normandy
• Why wouldn't William of normandy be fit for the throne?

  -Born illegitimately-Harold argued that his oath of loyalty was forced out of him after being held hostage
• What was Harald Hardrada's claim to the throne?


  - The strength of his claim was WEAK but he had FORCE to BACK UP his claim- He had a good chance of success as he had 300 ships and 15000 warriors, HUGE BATTLE EXPERIENCE and he expected the DANELAW REGIONS to BACK HIM up .-Claimed his father was promised the throne-Descended from Cnut, supported by Tostig, Harolds exiled brother
• What happened during the Battle of Hastings (William vs. Harold)?


  -Harold Godwinson becomes king first after Edward dies- selected by the witan-Throughout 1066, William builds up his forces and by August he is ready to invade England-Harold was also prepared to fight back but was dealt a massive blow when a Viking fleet from Norway attacked Northern England led by Harald Hardrada-Harald convinced northern thegns to support his attack-The Vikings defeated one English army then made camp at Stamford Bridge-Harold marched his forces there, taking them. by surprise and killing Harald and Tostig-Harold then hurried back to fight William of Normandy, recruiting a new army of foot soldiers in London-The Normans triumphed and Harold was killed-William wins the Battle of Hastings and becomes new King of England
• What were the strengths of the Normans during the invasion?

  -Had better resources such as weaponised horses, cavalry and archers-Better equipped soldiers-Norman war machine was more flexible- William had foot soldiers, horsemen and archers. This meant that they could change tactics more easily than the English, who were mainly foot soldiers-Loyal soldiers, some of whom were his half-brothers-Lots of fighting experience -William refused to strike in land immediately after landing: instead he stayed near coast, waited and rested his troops. He waited for Harold to come to him. This was a wise decision.
• What were Saxon weaknesses during the Norman invasion?

  -Harold and his own brother Tostig were fueding, not loyal-Tactics were unchanged-Mainly footsoldiers-Small scale warfare-Had just fought the Vikings
• How did William keep control of England from 1066-87? Castles


  Established a series of castlesOpposed the lack of defence in EnglandPhysical reminder of his powerBuilt a strong imagePaid using a massive tax on the Church, forcing the monasteries/cathedrals to pay for military service
• How did William keep control of England from 1066-87? The Church


  Gave people a sense of identityGot rid of Anglo-Saxon bishops and abbots and replaced them with NormansBy 1070 only 3/15 of the county's bishops were EnglishOver the next 50 years every cathedral was destroyed and rebuilt in Norman style
• How did William keep control of England from 1066-87? Law


  Made claims to legality- encouraged officials to carry out his orders as he was their legal masterEnglish sheriffs were replaced by Normans