Norman England Key Terms Definitions
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KS4: History Knowledge Organiser: Norman England Key Terms Definitions England before 1066: Earl Man of great influence who ran his own area of the • Sophisticated and civilised society with approximately 2 million inhabitants. country or ‘earldom’. •Religion was key feature and everyone followed Catholic Christianity. •What the church said was absolute fact. Illegitimate Born outside of marriage. •King Edward the Confessor had ruled since 1042 and his reign had been stable and peaceful. Sub-regulus A deputy king •Prior to this, England had been ruled by Edward’s half brother, Harthacnut, whose father was Danish (this is why we see so many claimants to the throne later on). Witan A group of leading earls and churchmen • The Godwin’s were a powerful ruling family in Norman England controlling a large area of England in 1066. Aethling Of noble birth Post Obitum A designation or bequest of a throne England before 1066 Novissima To be promised the throne upon a deathbed Verba The rivals for the throne of England: • William the Duke of Normandy – related to Edward through his mother’s side. He was a distant cousin of Edward’s. In addition, Edward had been raised in Normandy with Emma’s family. He claims that Edward promised him the throne earlier in his reign. • Harald Hardrada: King of Norway. Powerful and successful Viking. He was related to King Cnut. His claim was that, as Edward had no sons, a relative of the previous king should be chosen. It was said that Hardrada’s father had been promised the throne by Cnut’s son, Harthacnut. • Harold Godwineson: most important earl in England (earl of Wessex). Who were the Normans? He was ‘sub-regulus’ and said that Edward had promised him the •William inherited Normandy at the age of 7in 1035. Normandy was a rich area in North throne on his deathbed; he was supported by the English nobles and western France. had the support of the Witan. •Norman dukes had to acknowledge that French kings were superior, but they could raise their own armies, carry out their own justice and demand their own taxes. • Edgar the Aethling – great nephew to Edward. Related through the •Once William’s father had dies (Duke Robert I), William’s life was a t risk as many older male line, so the closest blood tie to Edward. Edgar and his sister had earls wanted to replace him as Duke of Normandy. As William was an illegitimate child, this both lived with Edward and was treated as an adopted son. Edgar was made matters worse. an Anglo-Saxon so was supported by many earls. He was known as an •William had to learn to fight from an early age, and proved himself to be a shrewd outlaw as after 1066 he led many rebellions against the Normans. politician. •He earned himself the title of ‘Conqueror’ due to his successful campaigns. He was a force to be reckoned with. KS4: History Knowledge Organiser: Norman England Key Terms Definitions William prepares to invade: •When Edward the Confessor died on the 5th January 1066, Harold Godwineson was crowned King of Gonfanon Flags used to signal any movement that was to be England the very next day. made on the battlefield. •William started to mobilise his forces in preparation for the invasion of England as soon as he found out about Harold’s coronation. He did not invade straight away. He chose to take a long term strategy Mobilise Getting troops ready to go and fight. and build up his military forces whilst preparing political and religious support for his campaign. • Support from God: A Papal banner was given to William meaning that William had the Pope’s support. Coronation Crowning of the next monarch (King/Queen). It was now a Holy War. • Military Preparations: William did not have a navy so built a number of flat-bottomed boats that could Fyrd Ordinary, peasant soldiers. transport horses. Weapons were produced and ‘flat-pack’ castles were made. Once the Papal Banner had been given the army was relatively easy to find. Men were recruited from all over France. Recruits joined because of the banner but also because they were promised land and riches. 8000 men joined William’s campaign. • Getting across the Channel: ships and men were gathered for a long period of time but they were well looked after. William also made sure that his fleet left at the most approriate place for England (River Somme to Pevensey). • 28th September 1066 – William landed in Pevensey. Origianlly Harold had been waiting along these coast lines, but due to the Viking invasion, Harold had had to go up North to fight, leaving it unprotected. Harald Hardrada invades •September 1066 saw Harald Hardrada invade England. Sailed up the River Humber with 300 ships and landed 10 miles away from the city of York. Earls Edwin and morcar were waiting for hi with the northern army and attempted to prevent the Norwegian forces from advancing to York. This became known as the Battle of Fulford Gate. •Battle of Stamford Bridge: King Harold had to move fast to deal with the Viking invasion. He moved North with his private army and gathered forces as he advanced. He travelled 190 miles, lasting four days and eventually was ready for battle on the 25th September. •Hardrada and his troops were caught out by Harold’s attack. They had not expected Harold to reach Stamford Bridge so quickly. The Viking troops were split, consequently not allowing themselves to defend themselves properly. •The battle was bloody. Hardrada and Tostig were both killed. Although this was a victory for Harold, this was going to be short lived. Three days later he had to race south to deal with William’s invasion. Norman Warfare: •Norman battles were very advanced during the medieval period in terms of both tactics and weaponry. •Cavalry – men on horseback. Horses were trained to kick and bite. •Archers were also used frequenrly. •The army was divided into divisions, and flags called gonfanon were used to signal movement on the battlefield. •The Norman army was made up of professional soldiers who spent many hours training. KS4: History Knowledge Organiser: Norman England Key Terms Definitions The Battle of Hastings: Housecarls Professional soldiers within Harold Godwineson’s •Once William had landed in Pevensey he was keen to deal with Harold. He provoked Harold by army. making his way up the coast towards London, attacking and burning villages as he went. He arrived in Hastings and made his stand 7 miles outside the town. Feigned retreat Pretending to retreat and then turning back on your •When William arrived at the site he decided to make his stand and the bottom of Senlac Hill. opponents. This weakened the opponents defensive 1. Battle started at 9am as Norman archers walked up to Senlac Hill and fired a volley of arrows. wall. The archers were too close and most of the arrows flew over the heads of the Anglo-Saxons. Some Norman infantry charged up the hill but were blocked by the housecarls. The Anglo- Infantry Soldiers on foot. Saxons main form of defence was the shield wall. 2. After the first Norman attack failed, a section of the Norman army ran way from the Norman The battleground at Hastings at 9am and 5pm. line. Members of the Fyrd ran after them but became stuck int he marshy land at the bottom. The Normans turned and slaughtered the Anglo-Saxons. This tactic became known as the feigned retreat. 3. Around midday, there was a break in the fighting to allow both sides to remove their dead and wounded. William changed his tactics and moved his archers from the front of the battlefield to behind the infantry. This change in position allowed the archers to fire their arrows and hit their target. 4. William ordered the cavalry to charge. Harold’s troops managed to stay in formation but the Normans used their feigned retreat again. 5. By 4pm, the Anglo-Saxon shield wall was beginning to disintegrate. All the Normans had to find was a chink in the wall in order to get into the Anglo-Saxon’s defences. Once this happened, Harold was killed leading to many of the fyrd to break ranks and flee. Factors influencing the outcome of the Battle of Hastings •King Harold hurrying to face William. •Harold used the Anglo-Saxon tactics even though he had fought alongside William who developed new tactics. •Harold chose to fight on foot rather than horseback. This limited communication. •Harold split his army in the Spring of 1066, meaning once the northern army had defeated Hardrada, they had to march south to fight William. •Hardrada and William launched their attacks at the same time. •Weather delayed Williams invasion giving Harold time to defeat the Vikings. •Some say William’s troops ran away whihc led to the idea of a feigned attack. •William delayed his invasion which demoralised Harold’s troops. •The double invasion was during the harvest season meaning the fyrd left to work on the fields. •William gained the Papal Banner so many of his soldiers believed they had God’s blessing to fight. •William had time to rest his army and train them on the battle ground. •William chose the site of the battleground. •Williams troops were highly organised. •William fought on horseback. KS4: History Knowledge Organiser: Norman England Key Terms Definitions Motte Earth mound in which the keep was built on. The purpose of castles: •The Anglo-Saxons built royal castles as a defensive feature. •In contrast, the Normans built castles as bases for offensive patrols into the Bailey Outer area that surrounded the motte.