Edexcel History: Anglo Saxon and Norman England, c1060-88

• The monarch in 1060:

  Edward the Confessor:

  • Ruled since 1042. His reign had been stable and largely peaceful.
  • A respected law-maker, and veryreligious.
  • Married to Edith, the daughter of Earl Godwin (a rich and powerful earl).
  • Had no children to inherit the throne after him, and argued a lot with Earl Godwin.
• Powers of the monarch

  1. Made laws

  2. Set taxes

  3. Gave land to loyal followers (and took it away)

  4. Controlled the minting and distribution of coins

  5. Could raise an army if the country was threatened by attack
• Before 1060, much of England had been controlled by Vikings from Scandinavia (which includes Norway, Sweden, and Denmark)
• The monarch still ruled these areas, but the people had their own laws and customs and were allowed some independence
• Helping the king:

  • The king was helped by earls. Each earl controlled an earldom. By the 1060s, there were four main earldoms: Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia.
  • The earls advised the king and made sure the king's laws were enforced. They were responsible for the shires and the hundreds.
  • The Witan was a small council that also advised the king. It was made up of important landowners and religious leaders such as archbishops and bishops. It discussed threats and land disputes and had a large role in choosing a new monarch.
• Local government: the shires and the hundreds:

  • Earldoms were divided into shires. There were around 40 shires in total.
  • A shire reeve (sheriff) was responsible for each shire. They collected taxes and fines, held courts to deal with major crimes, and raised an army if needed.

  • Shires were divided into hundreds. A hundred contained around 12 villages. Each hundred had its own 'reeve' who held courts to deal with minor crimes.
• The influence of the Church:

  Religion was important: almost everyone was Christian and accepted what the Church said as absolute fact.

  The Church was rich, powerful, and organised, with the Archbishops of Canterbury and York at the top.

  • The archbishops managed about 15 bishops, each in charge of their own diocese.
  • The bishops made sure the village priests carried out their duties properly.
  • Monks and nuns lived in abbeys, priories, monasteries, and convents. They farmed the land, but also kept records, wrote histories, and looked after the very poor.
• Housecarls:

  2 500-3 000 well-trained,

  professional soldiers who protected the king and earls
• Fyrd:

  Peasants who the earls and thegns could call upon to fight
• The economy and social system

  England was wealthy, and had strong trade links, notably with France and Scandinavia.

  England had a developed and effective economic system, with its own minting system for making coins and a treasury that coordinated government taxation and spending.

  There was a clear hierarchy in Anglo-Saxon society. However, society was flexible: thegns could be promoted to earls, for example.
• Towns and villages

  • Most of England was covered in forest. There were villages and towns where land was farmed.
  • Every shire had a fortified town (a burh) for administration and trading. Burhs were difficult to attack. Around ten per cent of the population lived in burhs.
• Earls

  The richest and most powerful nobles
• Thegns ('thanes')


  Local lords who lived in manor houses. They carried out local duties and had to provide local men for the army when needed.
• Ceorls ('curls')


  Sometimes called 'freemen'. They could work for another lord if they wanted to, but still had to do some work for the local lord.
• Peasants

  Made up most of the population (around 70 per cent). They farmed land they had rented, but also worked for the local lord for up to three days a week. Male peasants between the ages of 15 and 60 could be asked to fight in the fyrd.
• Enslaved people

  Made up about ten per cent of the population and were viewed more as property than people. Owning enslaved people was a common part of Anglo-Saxon life.
• The Godwins:

  Other than the king, the most powerful people in England were the earls.

  One family in particular controlled most of the earldoms in the country: the Godwin family.

  The power of the Godwins had been built up over several years by Earl Godwin, who had died in 1053. By 1060, his sons (or their relatives) were earls throughout most of the country.
• Earl Godwin

  A powerful Anglo-Saxon earl in England
• Earl Godwin had a major dispute with Edward the Confessor in 1052

  Godwin was exiled from England
• Godwin made his peace with the king and died in King Edward's bedchamber in 1053
• Godwin's son, Harold Godwinson, was given Wessex as his earldom
• Other sons of Godwin who became earls

  • Tostig became Earl of Northumbria
  • Gyrth became Earl of East Anglia
  • Leofwine controlled several smaller shires
• Harold Godwinson's embassy to Normandy:

  In 1064 (or possibly 1065), Edward the Confessor sent Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, to Normandy in France on an official visit (called an 'embassy').
• Harold was due to visit William, the Duke of Normandy, a very powerful person (similar to an earl). But, on his way, Harold was held prisoner by

  another powerful Frenchman, Guy of Ponthieu.
• Harold then swore a sacred oath to William.

  The Normans claimed Harold was swearing an oath of loyalty to William and making a promise to help William become king of England after Edward's death.

  The Anglo-Saxons claimed Harold was forced to make an oath, and he was simply in Normandy to negotiate the release of English hostages held there.
• William rescued

  Harold, who later fought for the duke against local enemies in France. Harold was rewarded with gifts, such as armour.
• Edward the Confessor died childless

  5 January 1066
• When Edward the Confessor died childless, he left England without an obvious ruler
• There were no official rules of succession in Anglo-Saxon England
• Ways a claim to the throne could be made

  • The monarch's son (generally the monarch's eldest son) had the strongest claim
  • Another male relative, for example, the monarch's brother, might have a reasonable claim
  • A male relative of a previous monarch could make a claim
  • The monarch could name a successor to take over when he died, even on his deathbed
  • The Witan could nominate a successor
  • Claimants could use force to take the throne
• Tostig

  Son of Earl Godwin, brother of Harold Godwinson, became Earl of Northumbria in 1055
• Northumbria

  • Difficult earldom to manage (there were Scottish attacks and Viking raids)
  • Tostig was never fully accepted as the earl (mainly because he spent very little time in Northumbria)
  • Tostig taxed people heavily, and dealt with lawlessness very harshly
• Rebellion against Tostig

  1. In October 1065, thegns in Northumbria rebelled against Tostig

  2. They wanted Morcar (brother of Edwin, Earl of Mercia) to be their earl instead
• Harold Godwinson

  Sent by Edward the Confessor to speak to the rebels
• Harold agreed with the rebels

  Morcar was made Earl of Northumbria
• Harold may have acted like this

  To show the Witan that he was prepared to put the interests of England before his family to gain their support
• Tostig

  Left England and went into exile abroad
• Tostig accused Harold

  Of organising the rebellion against him
• With Tostig out of the country

  Harold had a stronger claim to the English throne
• The two brothers

  Became bitter enemies