Summary Anglo-Saxon History Essay Plans and Summaries
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Course
History
Institution
GCSE
This is a 20 page document surrounding the Anglo-Saxon topic from the EdExcel History GCSE. Using this document as my revision in 2022, I received a Grade 9 in History GCSE. The document consists of a few practice questions for 12 mark essays, 16 mark essays (analysing the importance of events) and...
Describe two features of Edward the confessor’s reign/kings:
1) Kings in Anglo-Saxons were very powerful
- Defended country from attack and led armies
- Edward the confessor was not a warrior king but his earls and thegns were a
powerful military force
- Also had power over the church
- Passed laws and managed nobles
2) Edward confessor popular
- He was a respected law maker. Valued kings who kept things peaceful as families
would frequently break out into fighting
- Edward was very pious. Anglo Saxon kings claimed they were elected and had a
special link to God. Religion was very important at the time and Edward devoted
his reign to rebuilding Westminster Cathedral
Edward born as son of Ethelred the unready, in exile until 1941, became king in 1942,
married Godwine’s daughter Edith in 1945, died 5th January 1066 with no heir.
There had been tensions between Godwin, earl of Wessex and Edward which came to a
head in 1950 when Godwin was forced into exile. In 1051, he returned with a fleet and army
and asked to be appointed earl again, Edward agreed.
Key features of the Anglo Saxon Church:
- Churches were localised, resistant to reform. The Anglo-Saxon and Celtic saints
often worshipped to were often linked to a local area
- Church overseen by Bishops. They organised into large areas called a ‘diocese’
and a bishop would oversee each area. Bishops were often rich important people
and served on the Witan as king’s advisers.
- Normans paint Anglo Saxon Church system as corrupt committing nepotism,
pluralism, and simony. Local priests were also generally ordinary members of the
community not generally well educated and often married. Went against priest
reforms
- Monasteries were in decline at the point of 1066 which contrasted Normandy
- Influence of Church very strong as believed in afterlife with such short lifespans.
Owned 25% of England’s land and organised with 2 archbishops (Stigand and
Aldred) then 15 bishops and then priests.
- Religion important to Edward as he was an agent of God
- Dispute between Bishops and Thegns. Bishops didn’t like thegns building
churches on their land and appointed and firing priests of their choice.
,Explain why the Godwinsons were so powerful:
1) Wealthy
- 1020 Cnut made Godwine earl of Wessex, 1055 Tostig was given earl of
Northumbria, after defeating Welsh king, Harold was proclaimed ruler of Wales
- Godwinsons owned 2/3 of the most powerful earldoms
- Lots of land = lots of money
- By 1065 Godwinsons were wealthier than the king
- Godwine had 9 children, 6 boys who all became important members of society
like earls
- By 1065, Edwards lands earned him 6,000 and Godwinsons earned them 8,000
2) Shrewd political operators
- Godwine married Gytha (sister of a powerful Danish earl) which created a Viking
alliance with Cnut. This shown when given Earl of Wessex
- 9 children secured his powerful position
- Collaborated with Cnut and supported Edwards claim. Meant Edward was
indebted to him and Godwine known as ‘kingmaker’ amongst the Witan
- Edward married Godwines daughter Edith securing heirs to thrown (Edward died
before this could happen)
- Godwine used his power to convince Edward to appoint bishops loyal to the
Godwinsons to give them power in Church and Witan
3) Ruthless miliary leader
- Tostig and Harold tackled Irish raiders in 1051 and together defeated the Welsh
king Llywelyn in 1062
- Chopped off king’s head to show ruthlessness
- Godwinsons presented a united front but also ruthless.
- After an uprising in Northumbria, Tostig was exiled by Harold in 1065 to protect
family legacy
- Lords to many powerful thegns which made them war leaders
Embassy to Normandy:
-1064 or 65 Harold went on a mission for King Edward to Normandy (called and embassy)
-Harold travelled to France but ended up off course, was taken prisoner in a small county
called Ponthieu. William heard about the capture and demanded Harold be handed over.
-In Normandy Harold helped William in 2 military campaigns and William gave Harold gifts
of armour and weapons.
-Bayeux tapestry depicts Harold swearing an oath on holy relics. Unclear what this was but
could’ve been an oath to back Williams claims to the throne/ oath of allegiance.
, Why was there an uprising against Tostig:
1) He was seen as unjust
- Tostig had imposed new rules seen as unjust
- He was seen to be abusing his power to get rid of rivals
- Enemies complained he would falsely accuse them of crimes to take their money
and land
- Also taxed Northumbria too heavily. Northumbria had previously paid taxes at a
much lower rate to the south under Danelaw. They resented this change
2) Northerners didn’t agree with his alliances
- Tostig had a friendship with Malcom 111 which Northumbrians resented.
Northumbria an important earldom as very large and on boarder with Scotland
with a long history of Viking attacks
- 1061, Malcom invaded and caused much destruction. Tostig did not retaliate but
instead agreed peace terms
- Also had ordered the assassination of high-born Northumbrians whilst they were
his guests. The trigger of the uprising was the murder of two followers of a
Northumbrian aristocrat called Gospatric after Tostig had invited them to York.
Soon after Gospatric was also assassinated.
3) He was a southerner
- Northumbria very different from the Godwin’s power base Wessex and the rest
of the South because a lot of it was under ‘Danelaw’ which was the area that had
been settled by the Vikings.
- Different laws and customs which Tostig probably would’ve had trouble
understanding. He was the first Southerner to rule Northumbria
- One difference in Danelaw was a significantly higher number of ceorls
- Plus, much lower taxes which made them resent its increase under Tostig
Harold’s reaction:
- Rising had begun in October 1065 and by November 1st, Tostig was exiled and
blamed for the uprising. Harold agreed to exile Tostig which infuriated Tostig.
- Harold probably did this to remove threats so he could become king when
Edward died (he was old and ill and died 3 months after this uprising)
- King Edward commanded an army to be raised to stop the rebels but his
command wasn’t obeyed by earls (shows his lacking power compared to Harold
and all the earls)
- Edward therefore had to accept rebel’s demands and Morcar was made earl of
Northumbria (he was still a Southerner)
- Harold married Morcar & Edwin’s sister to secure alliance
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