Year 7 Assessment Revision Sheet

In January 1066 Edwards the Confessor died leaving no heir to the throne.

Three men claimed to be the rightful King of :

1) Harold Godwineson—Edward’s brother-in-law

2) Harald Hardrada—the King of Norway

3) William Duke of Normany—Edward’s cousin

Who was William?

William Duke of was a powerful and dangerous man. His childhood had been very violent and he had become Duke of Normandy when he was only 8 years old. His army was one of the strongest in Europe and his knights were experts at winning battles by charging on their huge war-horses. William was able to defeat his enemies over and over again never losing a single battle.

What problems did William face? How did William solve his problems?

He had 2 fierce enemies—Harald Hardrada and William waited! Eventually Hardrada sailed to Harold Godwineson. Hardrada’s army were fa- England and fought Harold Godwineson at the mous for going crazy on the battlefield and were Battle of Standford Bridge (near York). This called the beserkers. Godwineson’s army were meant that William only had to fight Harold God- famous for cracking their enemies skulls open wineson. Harold Godwineson’s army were weak- with axes and were called the Housecarls. ened by the first battle and tired from the walk down to Hastings.

William had no friends in England. He only had an William waited! Once the harvest arrived in Eng- army of 6,000 men compared to Harold God- land most of Harold’s men went back to their wineson’s 2 million! It would be difficult for home villages leaving Haorld’s army about the them to defeat the English army. same size as William’s—this made them much easier to defeat.

William had to get across the English Channel but William waited! At the end of September the this would be very difficult with an army of 6000 wind changed making it easier for William to get men. He had no boats and the sea could be very the men across the channel. The wait also gave dangerous, especially if it was stormy. His army William time to make his boats. was scared and didn’t want to sail.

TheHarold English was accidentallyran away as soonkilled as Harold’sHarold tried men to had a ackjust Williamcome back by surprise,from

theyby an saw arrow their in Kingthe eye. was dead. butfigh William’sng Harald men Hardraada spoed andthem were by very red

William tricked the English into thinking William had archers that he was running away – then killed them could fire arrows

Many of Harold’s men had been killed al‐ William’s men had horses that they ready fighng Harold Hardraada could use to charge at the English

Lucky Lucky and clever Clever

Thomas —who was to blame for his death?

In 1162 King Henry II appointed Thomas Beckett to be Archbishop of because he was his friend and he thought Becket would support his decisions as King. Thomas was very rich from his time spent working for the King, however when he became Archbishop he changed and became very religious. He started arguing with the King especially about how clergymen should be treated if they broke the law. The king wanted to punish them in his royal courts however Thomas disagreed because this often meant they got softer penalties. Henry was amazed—Becket owed him everything but he showed no gratitude. The argu- ments got worse and worse until one day Thomas fled the country and went into exile in France.

Thomas spent 6 years out of the country. Then in July 1170 Thomas and Henry met and agreed to end their quarrel. Thomas returned to England in December. Soon afterwards he suspended a number of bishops who were Henry’s friends. The bishops went to see the king to complain. Henry was astonished and very angry.

Henry asked his barons and knights how Becket should be punished. Some said he should be arrested; others said he should be killed.

On 29th December 1170 at 4:30 pm Becket was hacked to death in . The killers sliced off the top of his head and scattered blood and brain across the cathe- dral floor. The killers were four knights who worked for the king.

But were the knights the only ones to blame? Or did they have instruc- tions from the King to kill Becket? What role did Becket play in his own death?

On the other side of the page write down any initial thoughts you have about this. Extra Evidence!

At the time of the murder Henry II was in France. The knights had been with him and set off for England on the evening of Christmas Day – 4 days before the killing.

The knights had met with Thomas in Canterbury in the afternoon of 29 December. They had argued in this meeting.

The knights had left the meeting they had with Thomas Becket in a very bad mood. When they returned later they were carrying weapons.

A witness said that the monks wanted to lock the doors but Thomas or- dered that they must stay open. He did not run away when the knights entered.

Edward Grim heard Thomas say that he was ready to die so that the church could be free.

Gervase – a monk from Canterbury identified the killers as the king’s men: Fitzurse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracey and Richard Brito.

Gervase said that Thomas refused to escape before the knights came and said that he was ready to die. He refused to lock the doors.

Gervase saw the knights carrying hatchets, axes and swords. They also wore armour under their clothes.

On Christmas Day Henry made a speech in which he is thought to have said “Will no one get rid of this troublesome priest for me?”