Norman – Knowledge Organiser Topic 1: Conflict and Control A Topic Summary The Succession Crisis of 1066 1. England had a troubled History in the 50 years leading up to the succession crisis of 1066. Summary of England in the 11th Century • Edward was able to become king because the were 2. There were no clear rules in place for • England had rich mineral resources and fertile losing interest in England. succession to the English throne. farming land. • Edward was crowned king on 3rd April 1043. 3. had been a weak ruler. • England was a Christian (Catholic) country. • Norman influence: Edward had been sent to Normandy by his He increased Norman influence at court, which • Viking influence: In 1013 the Vikings invaded mother Emma when she married King Cnut. When he became frustrated the English Earls, and allowed the England and Canute became the first Viking king king he appointed Normans to important posts in his court as Godwins to increase their power. In 1051 the of England. The North of England kept close he felt he could trust them more than the English Earls. Godwins rebelled against Edward. Although links with Norway. Danegeld payments were However, he did marry Earl Godwin’s daughter Edith. Edward survived the rebellion, the Godwins kept made to Vikings to get them to leave. • The Witan did not like the Norman influence and encouraged their powerful position. By 1057, the Godwins • England was divided into four Earldoms: the Godwin family to return to England (after their exile). • controlled earldoms in every part of England , Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia. Edward was a weak ruler. He focused more on religion (he built . In the late 1050s Edward proclaimed except Mercia. • The Earls became the most powerful men in was proclaimed sub-regulus. 4. Of the four claimants to the throne in 1066 England after the king. Harold had the strongest position – being sub- The claimants to the throne in 1066 regulus (deputy king) and having the support of the Witan. However, he faced competition from Edgar Aetheling (The Viking) others who thought they had the right to be king Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses – in particular William, Duke of Normandy. • Was an experienced ruler • He settled disputes using 5. Harold was hurriedly crowned just one day after • Edward’s nearest blood • He was only 14 years of Norway force Edward’s death. The haste reflected how relative old in 1066 • A famous Viking warrior • His name means ‘hard insecure he felt. He knew he would face • His grandfather was • He had no money, • Had the support of Harold ruler’ and that was the challenges from other claimants. named successor in 1056 soldiers and no military Godwinson’s brother approach he took but died in 1057 experience (Tostig – former Earl of Rules of Inheritance in Anglo-Saxon England Northumbria who had been sacked by Harold). • Son of the King could inherit (usually but not always the first born) Harold Godwinson (Earl of Wessex) William, Duke of Normandy (The Norman) • Post Obitum = after death. A nomination by the Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses old king or bequest (gift in their will). These promises were more important in Norman custom • The strongest and richest • Attempted to overthrow • Distant cousin of Edward • Illegitimate son of and could not be undone by Novissima Verba. man in England Edward in 1051 but • Promised the throne after Robert of Normandy– • Novissima Verba = decision made by the King • Acted as sub-regulus to failed helping Edward against the known as ‘William the Godwin rebellion on his deathbed. This decision was more Edward during the final • Sword an oath of • Harold Godwinson had bastard’. This made his important in English custom. years of his life allegiance to support visited Normandy in 1064 blood link to Edward • Witan = group of nobles and leading churchmen • Skillful military leader William’s claim to the and promised, under oath, to flawed. could suggest an heir. • Edward asked Harold to English throne already support William’s claim to • Sub-regulus = deputy king could have a claim to become king on his the throne. the throne. deathbed (Novissima • Proved himself to be a capable ruler in Normandy • Use of force – claimants could challenge each Verba). other for the throne. TopicBackground Why did William win the Battle of ? Before the Battle

1. Harold Godwinson became king 1) Harald Hardrada staged his invasion at the Anglo-Saxon Earls (Edwin and when Edward died, but he knew that he very time Harold Godwinson had disbanded ) 7) Hardrada and the Vikings won but both was likely to face challenges. the Fyrd so they could harvest their crops. Vs sides suffered losses. The English Harald Hardrada and the Vikings northern army was disorganized and 2. When William heard of Harold's (and Tostig) scattered. Edwin and Morcar fled. coronation, he sent messengers to ask 2) Hardrada sailed up the River Humber Harold to honour his oath to support with 300 ships and 7000 Viking soldiers. William’s claim. Harold ignored the He landed 10 miles from the city of . The Gate 5) The English won an early advantage as only a messengers but prepared for invasion. few of the Vikings had arrived at the battlefield. 3) Edwin and Morcar were waiting with As the battle continued more Vikings arrived 3. Harold quickly assembled a navy the northern army (3500 men) to prevent 4) On 20th September 1066 the and eventually overwhelmed the Saxon forces. after demanding ships and seaman the Vikings from advancing to York. armies met at Fulford Gate from around the country. As king he (outside of York) had a loyal band of professional soldiers (the ) but he The Bridge also called on his (lords) to 25th September 1066 Harold Godwinson Vs Harald Harada 7) Hardrada and Tostig were both fight with him and bring the FYRD killed. Harold Godwinson won (peasants who could be called up to convincingly and dealt with one fight when needed). Harold’s assembled 1) The English has just lost against the Viking The Battle of of the twin threats he faced. forces gathered to defend the south- army at the Battle of Fulford Gate. This loss Stamford However, he could not enjoy the coast. However, William did not arrive meant Harold Godwinson had to move Bridge victory. Three days later (at least, not yet). quickly to deal with the Viking threat. Godwinson was told William hand landed in the south of 4. Harold’s first threat came from England Tostig (his brother) who supported 2) Godwinson marched north with Hardrada’s claim. Tostig raided towns his private army of housecarls (he along the Sussex coast (South) until he had disbanded his southern army on 6) A lone Viking warrior th was scared off by the threat of Harold’s 8 September). However, he defended the bridge until he army. He fled to Scotland to wait for gathered forces as he went. was killed by the Saxons. Hardrada.

5. Harold Godwinson is forced to 3) The Saxon army marched 190 5) Fighting was brutal and lasted th disband his army on 8 September miles to York in four days, taking most of the day. One 1066 after a 3 month wait for William’s the Viking army by surprise on the contemporary source referred to invasion. His timing could not have 25th September 1066. ‘rivers of blood’ after the battle. been worse. A few days later, William moved his invasion fleet further up the 4) The Vikings had not expected Harold to reach York so quickly. The Vikings were camped on the coast to gain a favourable wind. At the opposite side of the River Derwent and had not defended the bridge properly. Many Vikings were in same time, Tostig and Hardrada were scattered locations, some with little or no armour. sailing from Scotland to invade the North of England. Why did William win the ? The Battle Itself Timeline of William’s / Harold’s King Harold and the Anglo-Saxons Weapons and Tactics Duke William and the Normans actions before the Battle of Soldiers – 7,000 Soldiers – 7,000 Hastings… Types – Fyrd, Housecarls and Thegns Types – Trained mercenaries from Europe Weaponry – Double-handed axe, pikes and and Knights on war horses 11th August 1066 – Duke William is circular shields Weaponry – Bows, tear-shaped shields, prepared and ready to invade but Tactic – formation, soldiers on pikes, armour, cavalry weather delays his plans for invasion foot (infantry), King Harold fought Tactic – Various – infantry, archers, troops alongside his men = DEFENSIVE organized in divisions, flags used to Position – top of Senlac Hill communicate (gonfanon) = OFFENSIVE th 28 September 1066 – William lands at Events before the battle – King Harold Position – base of Senlac Hill (chosen) . He had moved his troops up had marched his army north in four days to Events before the battle – Duke William the coast to the mouth of the River face Harald Hardrada. He then marched the had secure base with castle erected at Somme for an easier crossing. remains of his army south, reaching Pevensey, arrived at Hastings several days Hastings on 13th October. His army are before battle commenced. Plenty of horses 29th September 1066 onwards – Duke exhausted. and supplies. William orders his troops to attack Support – Witan, his brothers and the Support – young King Philip in France and villages on the South coast. This was to English Earls the Papal Banner (from the Pope) provoke Harold into a conflict. The story of the Battle of Hastings…

The Norman archers At midday there was a 6th October 1066 – King Harold and the The Normans ran away Wiliam ordered the The shield wall was and cavalry attacked and were chased by the break from the fighting. disintegrating. The remnants of his army reach London. William changed his cavalry to charge. The the Saxons on Senlac fyrd who became stuck Normans deployed the housecarls attempted to Hill, but were a the bottom of the hill tactics and got his shield Godwinson but he archers to fire straight feigned retreat again th blocked by the and were slaughtered. was killed. Seeing his 11 October 1066 – Despite the pleas into the housecarls weakening the numbers housecarls and their This became known as death the fyrd broke of his mother and brother that he was which caught them by of fyrds in the Saxon shield wall formation the feigned retreat shield wall ranks and fled. The hurrying too much, King Harold leaves surprise Normans were victorious London. He chooses not to wait for 30,000 reinforcements and marches to Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? meet William. Luck William’s leadership Harold’s weaknesses Other

13th October 1066 – King Harold • Both Hardrada and William • William delayed his invasion • Harold hurried to face • The invasions happened reaches the South Downs. It is launched their attack at the which demoralised Harold’s William. He could have during harvest season which same time. soldiers. waited for an extra 20,000 - led to desertions in Harold’s thought he planned a surprise attack • William brought all the equipment but William’s spies informed the • A number of Harold’s best needed to feed and defend his 30,000 troops. fyrd. Normans that Harold's army was troops were killed during the army. • Harold chosen to fight on • William gained the Papal coming. Battle of Stamford Bridge • William’s troops were organised foot rather than horseback. Banner so his soldiers • Some say William’s soldier’s into divisions with a system of This made it difficult to believed they had Gods Harold’s army camped overnight at ran away, which led to the communication. communicate with his troops. blessing to fight. • William deployed the feigned Senlac Hill. This was possibly to give feigned retreat. retreat tactic – whether by luck or • Harold was aware of Norman his army time to rest or to draw the design. tactics having fought Normans to a battle site which better • William chose the site. alongside them in 1064 but suited the Saxon battle plan. • William was on horseback so had he still used the same shield more control of his troops and wall technique. could be more responsive. Norman England – Knowledge Organiser Topic 1: Conflict and Control D Topic Summary 1. William took over two months to How did William establish control over England? secure the throne before being Terror: use of violence Military Presence: Patronage: giving land Concessions: Legality: show he was crowed king. to crush rebellions. intimidating people by and titles to people for Compromising with the legal and rightful 2. William ruled both England and using soldiers and castles their loyalty. enemies for their support. king of England. Normandy and had to rely on loyal • 1066: William • 1066: William left a • Edgar Aetheling and • William offered the • Attempted to ensue followers to rule on his behalf. punished the town of garrison of soldiers at other senior Saxons Danes money if they their was continuity 3. William was able to overcome all Poitiers for their role Hastings and Dover to swore oaths of loyalty left and stop from Edward’s reign. the rebellions against him but it in killing Normans. defend his position. to William at supporting the • Royal Writs continued was not easy and he had to use a Most of the town was • 1067: William Berkhamsted. Northern Saxons in to be written in variety of tactics, such as brunt and key people returned to Normandy • English lords who their rebellion. English. intimidation, patronage and were killed. but took some of his pledge loyalty to • Paid off many of his • remained as granting concessions (see right) • Those who died at potential enemies with William were allowed followers who wanted archbishop of 4. The use of terror in the north was Hastings had their land him including to keep their lands. to return to Normandy Canterbury until 1070 to try to prevent any future given to Normans who Archbishop Stigand. with money from the rebellion in a troublesome region. had fought for • The Normans built monasteries. 5. William built castles throughout William. castles to defend their the country to maintain a military • 1068: William positions and collected presence, particularly in difficult besieged the city of taxes to pay for them Why were Castles Built? areas, and to intimidate the people which and Norman soldiers. in the hope they would not attempt surrendered to the • A castle was built in Strategic reasons: Symbolic reasons: to rebel. Normans after 18 Warwick to stop Earls Castles housed soldiers who would put Castles were a permanent reminder to Short-term methods: Arguably, days. Edwin and Morcar down any attempted rebellion in that the Saxons of who was now governing military presence was vital to King • : from rebelling. area. This was enough to deter anyone the country. Often houses were torn William in his attempt to gain control in killed Saxons, burnt • After defeating the considering mounting a challenge to down to make the castles and the the short-term. Terror was used initially down their homes, uprising in the north, Norman rule. 50 Norman soldiers could English had to build and pay taxes to but then sparingly. Concessions animals and crops. William built a second withstand an attack from over 1,000 maintain them. Castles not only became less important as Norman • Early revolt of 1075: castle in York and Saxon rebels. Castles were strategically intimidated the people but also provided Earls replaced Saxons. William took land off placed Fitz Osbern in built throughout England. In particular, a central point to administrate the local earls and beheaded charge. Long-term methods: Legality and the Marchlands (border regions with area. Waltheof to show his legitimacy remained important to Wales and Scotland) were vulnerable to power. William to show his rightful claim to attack. the English throne.

Rebellions in Chronological Order: 1066-1075 1068 – Edwin and 1070-71 – Hereward the Keep: a tower built 1066 - Suppression of Edwin Morcar (again!) Wake – East Anglia- on the Motte 1067 – Eustace Count of Motte: earth and Morcar – bid to make Boulogne (King Edward’s Gathered supporters rebelled after land was mound (hill) Edgar Aetheling king brother-in-law) attacked but submitted to taken from his father and Dover Castle William (again!) his brother was murdered. Bailey: where the 1067- Welsh 1068- Godwin family. 1069- Harrying of the North – 1075 – Revolt Palisade: fence troops were stationed Marchlands – Eadric the Gytha (Harold’s mother) after a Norman earl was murdered of the Norman Wild supported by lived in Exeter and the by the Saxons. Edgar Aetheling, Earls. Last Welsh Princes city refused to swear Edwin, Morcar, King Malcolm of serious threat attempted to overthrow loyalty to the Normans. Scotland and the Danish Army Ditch / Moat: make the castle harder to attack the Normans begin a rebellion in the North. to William. Norman England – Knowledge Organiser Topic 1: Conflict and Control E How did William establish control over England? The Harrying of the North

WHEN: 1069 WHEN: 1070 WHERE: North of England (area WHERE: East Anglia – in the fenlands known as the due to Viking (a marshy area which was difficult to influence) navigate) WHO: English Earls – Edwin, Morcar WHO: Hereward the Wake (an English and Waltheof and Edgar Aetheling believed to be the son of the made an alliance with King Malcolm of former Earl of Mercia – he was Scotland. Danish Vikings had invaded outlawed by King Edward as the Earl in January 1069 and joined with could not control his son). Edwin, English forces against the Normans. Morcar supported by King Swegn of 1) In 1068, Edwin and Morcar left Denmark William’s court and fled North. They 1) After the Harrying of the North, the supported Edgar Aetheling’s claim to 2) The Norman English earls went to East Anglia the throne but needed allies. King (Robert De Commines) was murdered in where they met up with King Swegn 2) Hereward and his allies launched a Malcolm of Scotland had recently January 1069 by English rebels. The of Denmark and an English thegn series of guerrilla-style attacks in the married Edgar Aetheling’s sister and rebels set the Bishop of Durham’s house called Hereward the Wake. Hereward fenlands of East Anglia. In 1070 they was now related offered his support to on fire. Danish Vikings invaded and had a grudge against William as he attacked and looted Peterborough Abbey. the claim. joined with the English army against the had confiscated land from his father The rebel base was on the Isle of Ely in Normans. The combined Vikings and and killed his brother. the middle of the fenlands which was a English beat the Normans to capture the defensive stronghold. They stockpiled 3) William personally led an army North castle at York. supplies to survive a siege. to face the rebels. As William 3) William was not able to use his usual approached the Vikings returned to their tactics to defeat Hereward and the ships and accepted the money William rebels, due to the position of Ely. It was 4) However, this tactic failed as too offered for them to leave. Edwin and 4) William responded to the rebellion in well defended and Hereward’s network many Normans attempted to cross the Morcar fled but continued to cause the north with terror. He ordered that his of informants prevented the Normans rampart at once causing t to sink. problems for William (see right East army ‘laid waste’ to the area around York approaching the fenlands. William William then ordered a siege tower to be Anglian rebellion). – setting fire to the fields, salting the besieged the Isle of Ely. He ordered the built. Hereward set fire to the area and fields so that nothing would grow and construction of a rampart to cross the the siege tower caught fire. killing every living creature. This is what fenland. It was 2 miles long and a feat 5) Interpretations of the Harrying of the is known as the ‘Harrying of the North’ of Norman warfare. or the ‘Harrowing of the North’ due to North differ. However, The Domesday 5) Hereward was eventually betrayed by the devastation caused. Book written in 1086 records 80% of some monks who told William about a was known as ‘waste’ (which secret route to Hereward. The rebels means uncultivated and unpopulated). surrendered and Hereward disappeared. This could have been the result of the Harrying.