History normans

• Evidence


  What we use to understand and believe in something
• Types of evidence


  • Primary
  • Secondary
• Primary evidence


  Recorded at the time of the event, first hand evidence
• Primary evidence


  • Diary entry written by Anne Frank during WW2
  • Photograph taken during WW1
• We find evidence in sources
• Secondary evidence


  Recorded after the event has happened, second hand evidence
• Secondary evidence


  • History textbook about WW1
  • Website about the Vikings
• Bias


  Putting across an unfair or one-sided opinion
• Chronology


  To do with time, listing things in the order in which they occurred
• Time is measured in units of different length such as seconds, days, decades etc.
• Edward the Confessor


  Died childless on 5th January 1066, leaving no direct heir to the throne
• Claimants to the throne

  • Harold Godwinson
  • Edgar the Atheling
  • Harald Hardrada
  • William Duke of Normandy
• Harold Godwinson


  Earl of Wessex, Edward's brother-in-law but no blood connection, Edward probably promised him the throne after 1053, a rich and powerful man in England at the time
• Edgar the Atheling


  Great nephew of King Edward, the only blood relative of the 4 claimants, possible Edward wanted an Anglo-Saxon prince to succeed him, only a teenager and not considered strong enough to rule a Kingdom
• Harald Hardrada


  King of Norway, succeeded Magnus I of Norway in 1046, Magnus had been promised the Kingdom of Denmark by Harthacnut, in 1064 Harald gave up trying to secure Denmark and switched to claiming England, a famous Viking warrior and a skilled commander, had the support of Tostig Godwinson (Harold's brother!)
• William Duke of Normandy


  Distant cousin of Edward, possible Edward promised he should succeed him as King of England in 1051, a strong and experienced leader, an ambitious and powerful ruler in Normandy
• Events leading to Battle of Stamford Bridge and Battle of Hastings


  1. 5th January 1066: King Edward the Confessor died

  2. 26th January 1066: Harold Godwinson made King of England by the King's Council

  3. 7th June 1066: Harold Godwinson placed English/Saxon soldiers on the South coast of England to wait in case William sent French soldiers to England

  4. 25th September 1066: Harald Hardrada invaded England from the North, Harold Godwinson responded by marching north to fight at Stamford Bridge

  5. 1st October 1066: The Norman French Army under William landed at Pevensey

  6. 14th October 1066: Harold Godwinson marched his English/Saxon army South to meet the Norman/French army near Hastings, the Battle of Hastings began
• Battle of Stamford Bridge

  • Leaders: Harald Hardrada, Harold Godwinson

  Armies: Norwegians and Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxons

  When: 25th September 1066

  Where: Stamford Bridge

  Winner: Harold Godwinson
• Battle of Hastings


  • Leaders: William Duke of Normandy, Harold Godwinson

  Armies: Normans, Anglo-Saxons

  When: 14th October 1066

  Where: Hastings

  Winner: William Duke of Normandy
• Reasons why the Normans won the Battle of Hastings

  • William was a better leader than Harold

  Harold rushed into battle after just winning at Stamford Bridge

  William's army was better equipped

  William may have tricked Harold into battle
• Bayeux Tapestry


  A piece of embroidery that tells the story of the Battle of Hastings, commissioned in the 1070s by Bishop Odo of Bayeux to celebrate William's victory, made by Nuns, 70 metres long and 50cm wide, contains about 50 different scenes, tells the story from the Norman point of view so could be biased
• European Feudal System


  • King gives land to Barons

  Barons give land to Knights

  Knights give land to Peasants

  Peasants work on the Knights' land
• Motte and Bailey Castles

  First type of castles built by the Normans, made of wood, the motte was a hill with a tower on top, the bailey was a lower hill with a courtyard, surrounded by a fence and sometimes a moat, could be built quickly but wooden towers could be easily destroyed by fire
• Parts of a Motte and Bailey Castle

  Motte: steep sided mound of earth with a flat area on top, had a wooden house or tower on top

  Drawbridge: connected the motte to the bailey

  Bailey: flat area, larger living accommodation, storage for goods and animals, kitchens, church, accommodation for soldiers

  Fence: around the whole castle, sometimes with a moat
• Stone Castles


  Replaced wooden motte and baileys, more expensive but demonstrated wealth and power, had a central stone tower for defensive advantages, but could be vulnerable to tunnelling and siege weapons
• Concentric Castles


  Developed in the 12th-13th centuries, had two or three walls around the keep, inner walls higher than outer walls so defenders could fire over them, the space between the walls was the 'death hole', more resistant to gunpowder weapons
• The story of Dermot and Dervorgilla
• Death hole


  The space between the two walls of a castle, where attackers could get trapped and almost certainly die
• Concentric castles


  • They became even more popular after the invention of gunpowder
  • They could withstand a siege whilst a regular castle could not
• Dermot had a sad childhood. When he was five, his father was murdered by the men of Dublin. He became King of Leinster when he was only sixteen. This was a violent time to live in Ireland. Many of the kings fought each other for power. Dermot lived in fear of his life, as if his enemies could take any opportunity to kill him.
• Dervorgilla


  Wife of Tiernan O'Rourke, the King of Briefne
• Dermot's actions


  1. Dermot got his men together and went to O'Rourke's stronghold and seized Dervorgilla

  2. They brought her cattle and furniture with them to Dermot's stronghold at Ferns
• Tiernan returned from his pilgrimage

  He began to plan his revenge
• Tiernan's actions


  1. Tiernan decided to go to Turlough O'Connor, the High King, to get help

  2. In 1153, the High King led men to Ferns and captured Dervorgilla, returning her to her husband, Tiernan
• The love story between Dervorgilla and Dermot was over.
• Tiernan remained bitter and angry with Dermot

  In 1166, there was a new High King called Rory O'Connor. Rory did not trust Dermot and wanted Leinster, Dermot's kingdom, to be ruled by one of his friends. So Rory joined with Tiernan and the King of Meath to march to Leinster and drive Dermot out of his lands.
• Dermot's actions


  1. On 1st August 1166, Dermot was forced to leave Ireland

  2. His only option was to go and get help from the Normans in Wales, with whom he had traded goods
• Dermot MacMurrough


  He needed to find soldiers to help him regain his lands in Leinster
• Strongbow (Richard de Clare) Earl of Pembroke


  He saw the opportunity to gain land in Ireland and become a powerful lord by marrying Dermot's daughter
• Robert Fitzstephen and Maurice Fitzstephen


  The individual Normans who brought forces to Ireland realised that they could gain land in Ireland if they were successful in battle