2.1 saxon, norman or viking

2.1 saxon, norman or viking

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  2.1 Saxon, Normanor Viking? Unit 2: Norman England
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  Words to learn TermDefinition Nobles Members of nobility with lands and titles that passed through generations Omen An event that is thought to foretell the future perhaps message from the god Royal blood Possessed by those who are blood relatives of ruling monarch Oath A solemn promise often said to be wittnesed by God Exile Being forced to live outside your native country, typically for criminality or political reasons.
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  English throne in1024 • In 1024, English throne was restored to the Anglo- Saxon King Edward the Confessor. • King Edward’s rule depended upon the support of Godwin, the Earl of Wessex. Godwin n was the wealthiest and most powerful noblemen in England and his daughter Edith was married to the king
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  How did EdwardConfessor got his name? • King Edward became known as the Confessor because he was very religious. • He focused too much of his attention on building a large abbey in Westminster, ignoring his other duties as a king.
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  King’s death andconfusion over his succession • On Chrismas Day 1065, Edward ate an enermous feast. He took to his bed the following day feeling ill (could be diabetes) and two weeks later on January 5th, 1066, he died. • Edward and Edith did not have any children so England was thrown into confusion. • Three different men claimed the English throne and each was willing to fight to death for their claim to be King.
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  The 1st claim- Harold Godwinson • Harold was the son of Godwin (Brother in law of Edward) and he was the Earl of Wessex. After the death of his father, he became England’s most powerful earl. • His family controlled much of the country. • He was tall, good looking, and excellent fighter and popular among Anglo-saxon nobles.
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  Comet in thesky • Harold’s claimed that on his deathbed, Edward had chosen him as his succesor. The day after Edward died, Harold was crowned as King Harold II at Westminster Abbey. • Most of the Witan were pleased to have an Anglo Saxon as king, but some worried that Harold was simply an ambitious nobleman with no right to be king. • In April 1066, a burning comet was seen in the night sky. This could be a bad omen that god is angry because the new king has no royal blood?
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  The 2nd claim– William Duke of Normandy • A distant cousin of Edward the Confessor, William was one of the most feared warrior in Europe. • He was born illegitimate sone of the Duke of Normandy and a tanner’s daughter earning his name William the Bastard.
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  William was knownfor his ruthlessness • Despite this, he became the Duke of Normandy after his father’s death in 1035He conquered much of the northern France and gained reputation for his bravery and ruthlessness. • Once, when the Duke of Normandy was laying siege to Alencon Castle in France, inhabitants taunted his mother for her lowly status. • After the castle have fallen onto his hand, he was seeking revenge by cutting hands n feet of those inhabitants made fun of his mother.
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  How did Williamget his claim? • William claimed that in 1051, King Edward the Confessor had promised him the English throne. • In the spring (March of 1066), William sent a banner blessed by the Pope, showing the Pope’s support for his claim to the throne.
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  Quarelling for powerbetween Harold and William • William too had claim that Harold Godwinson had sworn an oath of loyalty to him in 1064. • It happened when Harold sailed to France and shipwrecked, he was later taken prisoner by William. • He swore oath of loyalty just to gain his freedom and now as a new king, Harold claim that oath was invalid.
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  The 3rd claim– Harald Hardraada • Harald Hardraada (meaning hard ruler) was a powerful Viking King of Norway, he fought across Europe and Asia and known for his skills at sea. • He vowed to add England to his Scandanavian Empire, claiming that England still belonged to the Vikings as it had during the days of king Canute
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  Tostig the traitor •Hardraada had a very useful ally : Tostig (Harold Godwinson’s younger brother) • Harold and Tostig had fallen out bitterly in 1065 when Harold stripped his brother of his earldom in Northumbria for being a bad ruler (confiscate his wealth and no power). He was too force into exile. • He was seeking revenge with the help of Harald Hardraada by fighting alongside Viking army.
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  Viking attack onnorth east coast • In September 1066, King’s Harold’s army was stationed in the south of England preparing for an invasion from Normans (William) • However he received the shocking news that Harald Hardraada and Tostig had invaded England’s north-east coast and taken control of Old Viking Capital (Jorvik) • Harold sent his army north to fight against Vikings covering 180 miles in just four days
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  The Battle ofStamford Bridge • This caught Viking completely by surprise, the two armies meet at Stamford Bridge on 25th September. • Many Vikings did not even have time to put on their armours and Harold’s army destroyed them, killing both Hardraada and Tostig. • They came with 300 ships full of Vikings and only 30 ships were returned back to Norway.
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  The Viking’s defeat •According to the Saxon legend, a great Viking fighter held off English attack on the bridge so they could not finish off the retreat Viking army. • Nobody could kill this fearsome Viking until an English soldier had the clever idea of floating under the bridge thrusting his spear into the Vikings foot
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  Questions: • 1. Whywas the death of Edward the Confessor met with such confusion? • 2. What was Harolds Godwinson’s claim to the English throne? • 3.What was the Willian of Normandy’s claim to the English throne? • What was Harald’s Hardraada’s claim to the English throne? • 5.How did Harold Godwinson defeat Hardraada’s Viking army?