anglo saxons

• january 1066: the death of edward the confessor died

  • no clear heir
  • led to succession crisis
• edward had no children, so his wife was pregnant at time of his death but she miscarried
• the witan (group of nobles) decided that harold godwinson would be king because he was the most powerful earl
• harold promised to support william's claim if he could win battle of hastings
• september 1066: the battle of stamford bridge

  • king harold victory
  • against hardrada
• septmber 20 1066: battle of fulford gate

  • hardrada won
• october 1066: battle of hastings

  • william of normandy won
  • established norman rule over england
• normans were french speaking people from northern france who spoke old french
• 1068: rebellion of edwin and morcar

  attempt to resistace to norman rule
• 1069-1070: harrying of the north

  william wanted to suppress the rebellions in the north which led to farm land having salt implanted into it so that crops couldnt grow as well as destroying villages
• the doomsday book helped william collect more tax revenue
• doomsday book is an inventory of all the lands, resources and taxes paid in england at this time
• 1070: lanfranc is appointed archbishop of canterbury

  implemented 7 significant changes in norman church

  • pluralism
  • nepotism
• lanfranc was also responsible for building westminster abbey
• 1075: revolt of the norman earls

  revolt by 7 powerful earls which was ultimatley crushed
• 1085: building of the tower of london

  the tower of london became a symbol of norman power an authority
• 1087: king william died

  his so william II continued the norman monarchy
• edward the confessor

  • king of england from 1016-1042
  • his death caused a succession crisis
• harold godwinson:

  • chosen to be king by the witan
  • earl of wessex
• william the conqueror

  • important for leading the norman coquest of england
  • his rule and the doomsday book helped centralise and document governance in england
• archbishop lanfranc:

  • implemented legal reforms including seperating church and state courts