YEAR(410- 410 440 477-495 597 620s

793-795
TIMELINE 865 871 878
1042)
Vikings raid Viking great army Alfred becomes king of Alfred defeats the
BRITAIN Romans Saxon raids Saxon settle in Augustine Sutton hoo
lindisfarne,jarrow and arrives wessex Vikings at edington
INVADERS leaves Sussex and xtian burial
Lona
wessex mission
arrives in
kent
NATURE OF ENGLAND BEFORE INVASION BY THE HASTINGS

Before battling of England with the Hastings England was;

- Land of huge forests
-great open fields
-villages and small towns
-part of Roman empire since AD 43-410 .
-defenceless after Rome left out
What made the Romans leave England by AD 410
-Threatening from the Northern tribes hence their army needed to defend their city.
So, the then Roman Emperor issued a decree that all Romans in the diaspora to go
back home to defend their country
ENGLAND IN 1042
.peacefully united under one king(King Edward the Confessor)
-had 1.5 million people mainly Anglo- Saxons
-Anglo-Saxons worked on land
-flourished in agriculture and industry
-had laws they were obligated to obey
-had powerful noble who advised their king
ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND

OBJECTIVES
Know chronology of England history from 410-1066
Importance of archeologists and historians for finding about Anglo-Saxon England .
NOTES
Anglo-Saxon comes from the angles and the Saxons two of the northern Europe tribes
that invaded and lived in Britain from 5th century onwards.
-Their invasion happened just after the romans had left Britain. Scots, Jutes, Picts and
Vikings ,angles and Saxons invaded and raided Britain.
ARCHEOLOGISTS AND HISTORIANS ABOUT ENGLAND INFORMATION ABOUT ENGLAND.

1.Monks records that the Saxons came from the three powerful Germanic tribes the
Angles-Saxons and Jutes.
They came from Saxon country now known the district of old Saxon, came the east
Saxon, the south Saxons ,and west Saxon.
It was not long before such hordes of these alien people crowded into the island that
the natives who had invited began to suffer .
These heathen conquerors devastated the surrounding cities and countryside and
established a stronghold over nearly all the doomed England .
2.ARCHEOLOGY RECORDS:
A necklace found in the grave of Saxon woman.it is made from gold glass and
garments which are semi-precious stones from AD600.
TIMELINE ON INTRUDERS ARRIVALS

YEAR(410- 410 440 477-495 597 620s

1042)
BRITAIN Romans Saxon raids Saxon settle in Augustine Sutton-hoo
INVADERS leaves Sussex and xtian burial
wessex mission
arrives in
kent
 THE SUTTON HOO BURIAL
-1939 archeologists excavated a grassy mound a Sutton hoo in Suffolk. They discovered a huge
and Anglo-Saxon ship that had been dragged inland and laid in a trench and they compared it
with burial ships in Scandinavia and concluded that the ship was used as a burial place.
Inside the ship there gold,silver bowls, and brooches ,spoons ,swords,coins,and all kinds of
treasure.
-The items were put there because people believed that the dead person could use them for the
next life. ---Archeologists also believed that this was where Rearward king of east Angalia was
buried in AD625
-Inside the ship the buckle made of gold and the complicated designs involve animals and birds.
-There was also iron helmet with a beautifully decorated face mask. This shows scenes of war
,such as a warrior on a horse trampling enemy.
-Archeologist also reveal the handle pointer stick used for following words when someone was
reading a book.it was made from gold rock crystal and enamel.it was found in 1963 near
Athelney in Somerset a stronghold of king Alfred. Around the watch it was Alfred had made me
hence called king Alfred jewel.
ASSIGNMENT; Using the both written records and archeological evidences discuss the socio-
economic practices of the Anglo-Saxon England
THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE AD 793
Describes the Viking attack on the holy island of Lindisfarne of the coast of
Northumbria.
That year came dreadful warnings over the land ,terrifying people most woefully
.Immense sheets lights rushed through the air ,whirlwinds and fiery dragons flying
across the skies’ This tremendous signs were followed by a great famine and not
long after came the dreadful invasions of heathen men. They made terrible havoc
in Gods church raped and slaughtered Christians.
A)WORKING ON LAND
-There two groups of people the ceorls (free men) and the thralls(slaves).
-Each ceorls worked at least one hide of land in the great open field surrounding the
village. The activities carried out on land included;
-growing crops (barley,rye,wheat,peas,beans and flax)
Barley was used in beer brewing, rye and wheat bread making while flax was spun and
woven into clothes
-clothe making
-rearing of animals(sheep , pigs ,hens , cows,)
The animals provided wool, meat , eggs and milk
-gathering/harvesting wild honey
Honey was used to sweeten food.
-They had a lord known as thegn whom they believed as their protector in times of trouble.
village ceorls and thralls worked on the lords land and gave food rent (eggs, meat, peas,
milk) for his protection.
B) WORKING IN TOWNS
-Some villages grew into towns and in AD 1000 10 percent of England population
lived in town.
-Towns grew into markets where country side men came to buy and sell.
-Some towns settled for example in leather work and soap making .
ships at coast ports carried goods to other ports on along the coast of England and
across the seas to Europe.by 11th century England was a prosperous country –a
rich prize for any invader.
SUMMARY OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS ACTIVITIES(ECONOMC/SOCIAL
PRACTICES)

-Harvesting honey
-Salt making as preservative
-Iron(metal) working(copper and tin mixed to make bronze)to make Jewels. England was chief supplier for tin.
Silver was also mined in England.
-Trade .London grew into towns with wealth centres. Coins were made and used as a mode of exchange while
were later used in taxation.
-Manufacture of weapons(made from iron)
-Crop farming along south and east of England.
-Fishing done along the seas of England.
-Weaving / Basketry used to make clothe and England wool was sold across Europe.
-Religion Churches and Monasteries were built and jewelries venerated on its walls these made them tempting
targets for raiders. Burying them with materials with the death to use them for after life
-Jokes and riddle telling.
RUNNING THE COUNTRY(POLITICAL)

In 1043, Edward the confessor was crowned the king of England .He ruled England
with the help of the Witans
Witans
Are an assembly of great wise men Edward could invite to come to a witan.he invited
powerful men to his kingdom the earls who helped Edward to;
-Run the large areas of England
-giving him military support when needed .
-to support his decisions to counter rebellion
Apart from earls he also invited the bishops and abbots and thegns .Edward could do
what he wanted the witans were only advising him.
JUSTICE
-Justice was based on the family.
-Anyone wronged their family was expected to seek revenge.
-Everyone had a life price called wergild .
-Thegns were worth than the Ceorls, who worth more than the thralls.
-Incase of murder, the murderers family had to pay the murdered persons wergild in
full.
-Lesser crimes like injuring someone proportions of wergild were to be handed over.
There was folk-moots (regular open air meetings) which dealt with people who broke
the law
WHAT MADE A GOOD MEDIEVAL MONARCH?

A king in medieval England was termed good if he;

-kept law and order
-successfully lead the army
-work with the church
-marry and have healthy sons
-gain the respect of the people
-defend the country
-spend taxes wisely
-take the advice of the nobles
- have a claim to throne that people respect most
In the middle ages, the monarch was the most important person in the country .They had
enormous amount of power .But a monarch could be a dangerous occupation.
WHO WAS TO BE THE NEXT KING OF ENGLAND?
-Edward had no children when he died, but before on his deathbed promised the
throne to Harold Godwinson the most powerful noble in England.
-The witans agreed that he should be the next king. On 6th he was crowned to be the
king.
-That should be the end of the matter but it wasn’t .Two other men each believed they
had a rightful claim to the throne of England ,and would stop at nothing to get it.
What were the rules for succession?
-The dying king had to say who should be his successor .
-The successor should be a blood relative of the royal family and an experienced
warrior.
 FACTS ABOUT THE THREE MEN
1.Harold Godwinson
Who was he?
-He was Earl of Wessex.
-Most powerful noble of England.
-King of England after January 6th ,1066.
What were his claims on the English royalty?
-Claimed that king Edward promised the throne and that the witan had agreed he should be the king
What were his links with the English royalty?
-His sister was married to king Edward
-claimed to have governed England well when Edward was sick
Who supported him?
-supported by the Witan
What made him a good warrior?
-As a warrior he was brave and respected, but experienced in Britain where he cruelly put down the Wales.
2. WILLIAM OF NORMANDY
Who was he?
-Was the duke of Normandy
-powerful dukedom in Northern France
What ere his Links to English royalty?
. Said Edward lived Normandy between 1016-1041 and William said they regarded each other as brothers.
What were his claims to the English royalty?
Claimed that in 1051 Edward had promised him the throne and he claimed that in 1064 Godwinson had promised
to support his claim.(Book the Deeds of the Norman dukes by Norman monk and Bayeux Tapestry.)
Who supported him?
-was supported by the pope who was the head of the church.
What made him a good warrior?
-as a warrior he had been in control of Normandy since he was a boy helped by his mother’s family and was used
to fighting off would be invaders .while at war other dukes in France he captured the town of Alencon. He
ordered that those in town who had insulted him were to have their hands and feet cut off.
3.HARALD HARDRADA
Who was he?
-Was the king of Norway
His links with English royalty?
-had no link with English
What were his claims on the English royalty?
-claimed that Harthacnut who ruled England from 1040-1042 had promised king Magnus
of Norway that his descendants would have the throne of England
Who supported him?
-was supported Tostig,Harold Godwin-son's brother who was a powerful English noble.
What made him a good warrior?
-as a warrior in the whole Europe he was brave and cruel .He was experienced in fighting
alongside Norwegian and foreign leaders.
NOTE
Did you know that Tostig, HAROLD Godwin son's
Brother was once earl of Northumbria .In 1065 ,the people there rebelled against him
,accusing him of murder .Harold took the side of the rebels and forced Tostig to leave
England .This is why Tostig supported Harald Hardrada.
INVASION FROM THE NORTH
.Harold Godwinson had been crowned in January 1066 but he knew his position was
as the king of England was not safe as the king of England. He expected to fight
Harald Hadrada and William Normandy he was to secure his throne. He knew they will
invade England –but he didn’t know when they will attack and which was to come
first.
Harold divided his army in half, one to the south coast to deter invasion incase from
the Normandy and the half to the to the North to deter invasion from the Norway
incase.
Nine months passed and nothing happened .In September 1066 ,Harold was forced
to send his armies home.
WHY DID KING HAROLD SEND HIS ARMIES HOME?
1.he could not afford for them to stand around doing nothing
2.they were needed at home for harvest
3.The intruders delayed the attack(9 moons).
By his first two actions that is when his enemies struck –that is the Vikings landed
LANDING OF THE VIKINGS.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge,25 September 1066
Harold was in London when news reached him of the Viking invasion. He immediately
marched North ,gathering troops as he went .Harald Hardrada and the Vikings were
relaxing in the sun ;most had taken their armour off and they certainly were not
expecting an Anglo-Saxon army to appear from the south.
-Harold and the Anglo-Saxon covered the 185 miles from London four days. Arriving at
Stamford bridge ,they had to cross a narrow wooden bridge to reach the Viking army
on the other side of the river.
-The Anglo-Saxon chronicle says that one Viking armed with an axe held up the entire
army for long enough to give the Viking time to get their armour on and form a shield
wall to face the Anglo-Saxon attack.
-The battle ragged for hours and gradually the Viking shield was broken.
-Hardrada and Tostig were both killed along with hundreds of their men.
-Reinforcement from Ricall arrived too late .
-The Vikings that remained fled for Ricall and their ships .
-There so were few Vikings left that ,of the 300 ships that brought them to England
only 24 ships were needed to take them back to Norway .It was a great victory for
Harold and the Anglo-Saxon army.
-While Harold and the Anglo-Saxon were celebrating in York, word came that Duke
William of Normandy had landed on the south coast of England.

Assignment ;Explain how the Norwegian soldiers formed the barrier

 WHO WILL WIN: ANGLO-SAXONS OR THE NORMANS ?
-Celebrations in York after victory at Stamford bridge stopped abruptly after receiving news that
William army had landed on the south coast of England .
-Anglo-Saxon army led by Harold Godwinson had defeated the Vikings invasion in the North ;they were
determined to defeat the Norman invasion in the south, too.
Harold`s Anglo-Saxon army
The army consisted of House-Carls and fryd .These were different groups of fighting men.
FACT FILE:ANGLO-SAXON HOUSECARLS
Who were they?
-Professional soldiers
-Highly trained
-Well paid
-Fiercely royal to Harold.
How were they armed?
1.Had battle axe with a 1 metre long handle and its head made from sharpened iron.
-One swing of the axe could cut the head of the Horse or divide mans head in half
2.Used double edged sword
3.Carried shields
4.Wore short coats of chain mail and pointed helmets
What were there tactics in defence ?
-Formed a shield wall
-Swung their axes in war
-Fought on foot
FACT FILE:ANGLO-SAXON FRYD
Who were they?
-Working men called up to help the king in time of danger
-Led by the thegns
-Trained as fighters
How were they armed ?
-Had swords
-Had spears
-some were hackers
-ordinary working men used their own farming tools like axes ,pitchforks and scythes
What were their tactics
-Fought on foot
-Engaged enemy hand to hand fighting
Harold could usually depend on having over 2000 housecarls to fight for him. However,
over half had been killed at Stamford Bridge .
Harold and his remaining housecarls ,exhausted from battling with the Vikings ,marched to
the south to face the Normans
Men joined the fryd as the housecarls marched south .
Even so, when they reached London ,Harold's army was only up to half the strength it could
have been if Harold had waited for more Saxons to join him.
Gyrth ,Harold's brother had a plan .He would lead the army against William so that Harold
wouldn’t risk being killed .Meanwhile ,the crops and villages in the surrounding
countryside would be burnt
The Normans would have nothing to live on as winter closed in, and would be forced to
return to France .
Those that stayed behind would be wiped out by the Anglo-Saxons .But would Harold
agree?
WILLIAMS NORMAN ARMY
-William Norman had three wings of fighting men. They were totally different from
Harold's army
-They included the knights ,archers , and the soldiers.
FACT FILE:NORMAN KNIGHTS
Who were they?
-Williams best soldiers
-highly trained
-well paid
-loyal to William
How were they armed?
-had spears
-had swords
-heavy iron clubs covered inside spikes
What were tactics?
-charged at the enemy
-riding on strong war horses
-cut down the enemy's foot soldiers.
FACT FILE:NORMAN ARCHERS
who were they?
-trained
-well paid
How were they armed?
-had bows
-had arrows
What were their tactics?
-could fire to six arrows a minute killing a man 180 metres away.
FACT FILE:NORMAN FOOT SOLDIERS
Who were they?
-main part of Williiams army
How were they armed?
-Had swords and shields
What were their tactics?
-they went in for the kill after the knights and archers had done their work
 THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS ,14TH OCT,1066
At 9 o'clock on the morning of 14 October of 1066 ,two armies faced each other.
The Anglo-Saxon army led by Harold Godwinson ,the king England ,was defending its
country against its foreign invaders .Duke William of Normandy and his army were
fighting for the throne of England that William believed was rightfully his. With the
throne would come the rich rewards of England .
EARLY TACTICS
Harold positioned his army on Senlac hill. He was planning to wear the Normans out
by forcing them to fight uphill and then, when the Normans were exhausted ,to send
in the housecarls and fryd to slaughter them.
The Normans attacked ,trying to gain ground but this was difficult as they were
fighting uphill. Anglo-Saxon battle axes cut through the Normans armour.The noise –
the shouting and screaming of the men ,the bellowing of the horses and the clash of
weapons –would have been tremendous .The Anglo-Saxons shield wall held firm
CHANGE OF TACTICS
A rumour went around that William was dead immediately he took his helmet off and
stood up in his stirrups so everyone could see him.
Then William used an old trick .Norman soldiers attacked the Senlac hill ,but the
pretended to have run away .Some of the fryd chased them.
Once the fry were the hill and no longer behind a shield wall the Normans turned
around and massacred them .Leofwine and Gyrth Harold's brothers were killed .
Some of the fryd took flight and ran away .The remaining housecarls formed a tight
shield wall around Harold but it was too late .Harold was killed along with all the
housecarls.
ASSINMENT.DISCUSS WHY THE ANGLO-SAXONS KING HAROLD WAS DEFEATED BY
THE NORMANS KING WILLIAM?
THE DEATH OF KING HAROLD
There is no doubt that king Harold was killed at the battle of the Hastings ,along with
his brothers and all the housecarls .
There is ,however , a mystery as to how exactly Harold met his death . The problem is
that all the sources are written says a bit something different to one another .
We need to ask whether the sources are reliable –how far can they be trusted to tell
us truth about the death of king Harold?
One problem is that there is no surviving Saxon account of hoe Harold died . We have
to depend on the Norman accounts
SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT HAROLD'S DEATH
1.The Bayeux Tapestry is the earliest source , but it was made on the orders of a
Norman , odo, to record Norman victory . He was present at war.
2.Guy of Amiens was a French ally of William . He was not present at the battle.
3.William of Malmesbury was an England monk .He believed it was important to use
original source material .Historians believe he wrote his account after seeing the
Bayeux Tapestry
4.Williams of Poitiers was a Norman who served under Duke William as a soldier
,although he wasn’t involved in the battle of the Hastings .He would have spoken to
soldiers who had been involved.

Assignment ; Discuss why the source materials used to reveal Harold's death as
unreliable to historians