Key Terms Key Events of 1066

Big Question: How did William the Conqueror gain control of England? Pope Head of the Christian Church – seen as God’s representative on earth
4th January Edward the Confessor dies without leaving an heir
Lesson One – The Contenders to the English Throne Feigned retreat A Norman tactic that involved faking a retreat to draw out the enemy

Medieval The period around 500AD-1500AD with little technology or education Big Question: How did William the Conqueror keep control of England? 6th January Harold Godwinson is crowned as the new king

Monarch The king or queen of a country Lesson Five – Castles July Harold prepares his army for an invasion from the south
Saxons Medieval inhabitants of England, originally from Denmark/Germany Motte The raised mound of earth at the centre of the castle
September Harald Hardrada launches an invasion of England
Vikings A group from northern Europe, frequent invaders and expert sailors Bailey The enclosed area containing buildings like storehouses and barracks

Normans A group of people from Normandy, in northern France Keep A strong fortification on top of the hill from which the Normans kept watch 20th September The Battle of Fulford – a Viking victory over the Saxons

Heir Someone chosen to take over from the king or queen after they die Lesson Six – The Feudal System
21st September King Harold Godwinson begins to march north
Lesson Two – The Battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge Feudal System The way Norman society was organised, with the king at the top
25th September The Battle of Stamford Bridge – Saxons defeat Vikings
Invasion An attempt to take over a country by force Peasants The common people, who had little power in Norman England

Exile To force someone to leave the country Tenant in Chief The nobleman responsible for each area on behalf of the king 27th September William of Normandy invades England from the south
Earl A powerful lord who ruled over a large region on behalf of the king Lesson Seven – Rebellions
28th September William’s troops land at Pevensey on the south coast
Shield Wall A defensive tactic commonly used by the English Saxons Rebellion An attempt to get rid of the king or queen by a group using violence
29th September William occupies Hastings and begins burning villages
Dane Axe A powerful, two-handed axe used by Saxons and Normans Revolt Same as a rebellion

Hostage A prisoner taken from your enemy to make sure they cooperate Harrying To cause significant damage to something 6th October King Harold arrives back in London
Lesson Three and Four – The Battle of Hastings Lesson Eight – The Domesday Survey
14th October The Battle of Hastings – Normans defeat the Saxons
Archer Soldiers who use a bow and arrow Census A national survey, a set of questions everyone in the country has to answer
25th December William is crowned as the new King of England
Cavalry Soldiers who fight on horseback Manor The area overseen by a local lord

Weapons, equipment and troops The Dane Axe was The Fyrd were regular Housecarls were Archers were soldiers
Cavalry were Britain before 1066
horse-mounted
a five foot long, peasants, untrained in highly trained and who used a bow
A sword used for soldiers. They England was made up of
razor-sharp axe battle, who were well equipped and arrow. They
slashing, not could move two main tribal groups:
which had to be recruited just before knights that formed normally stayed at
stabbing. Used by around quickly.
held in both hands. the battle. They had the king’s personal the back of the Anglo-Saxons: People who
important soldiers. The Normans
This was used by basic equipment and bodyguard. Harold army. The Normans lived in Britain from the 5th
Passed down used cavalry, but
both Saxons and little fighting Godwinson had a made good use of
through the family. Vikings. experience. few hundred. archers.
Saxons and century. They included
Vikings didn’t. people from tribes who
migrated to the island from
Claimants to the Throne 1066 The Battles of 1066 Features of a Motte Germany and Denmark.
and Bailey Castle Vikings: Many Vikings lived
Harold Godwinson Harald Hardrada William, Duke of
in the North of England in
Normandy
the area known as
Danelaw, under Kings like
Canute.

Until 1066, the king was

Edward the Confessor (1042-
1066).
♦ English ♦ Related to a ♦ King Edward had
• Edward became king of
♦ Popular previous king of promised him the
England in 1042 after his
♦ One of Edward’s England throne
half-brother died. Before this
advisors ♦ King of the Vikings ♦ England had
he had been living in
♦ Powerful and – a powerful group close links with
Normandy.
experienced within England Normandy and
• Edward married but had
♦ Important English ♦ Popular with Edward had lived
no children. It was not clear
family Vikings in the north there for a while
who Edward wanted to be
♦ Edward’s ♦ Outstanding ♦ Powerful and
king after him. For a king to
brother-in-law soldier and leader experienced
die without an heir was a
♦ Good soldier ♦ Powerful and ♦ Good soldier
disaster!
♦ Claimed Edward experienced ♦ Harold
• He was made a saint and
had promised him ♦ Already a king Godwinson had
‘the Confessor’ means
the throne just sworn to support his
someone that is saint-like.
before he died claim
 When King Edward the Confessor died in 1066, England was plunged into crisis. As he had no children, three men sought to seize the throne
for themselves. Edward had, at different points, promised two of them the throne – William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold Godwinson, Earl of
Wessex. A third, Harald Hardrada, claimed the throne due to his ancestors being former kings of England.

Although Godwinson was immediately crowned king, The three men took each other on in a series of battles at Fulford, Stamford Bridge and
Hastings. The final battle settled the issue, as William killed his rival, Harold, and was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.

William faced a number of challenges upon becoming king. He took land away from his defeated enemies, and gave it as a reward to his
loyal supporters. He also built a series of castles across the country – they were called Motte and Bailey castles and they were built quickly out
of wood and earth. These measures helped him to defeat a series of rebellions. William also carried out the Domesday Survey, a national
survey of every town and village in England. This helped him to resolve land disputes, and gave him a clear idea about how much tax was
owed, helping him to raise money. All of these actions meant that William increased his control over the country.

supporting won the from

the claim of
led
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became

led faced
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raised