Starter quiz
- Harold first called out a fyrd to defend the southern coast from William's invasion in May 1066. When was he forced to disband it again?
- June 1066
- July 1066
- August 1066
- September 1066 ✓
- October 1066
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- Match the numbers to complete a correct statistic.
- 60⇔number of days a fyrd could be called out for ✓
- 300⇔number of ships in Hardrada's invasion fleet ✓
- 8000⇔number of men in Hardrada's invasion army ✓
- 16 000⇔likely number of men defending the southern coast in 1066 ✓
- How did Harold respond on hearing of Hardrada and Tostig's invasion?
- He dispatched the fleet to sail north
- He gathered his housecarls and set off north ✓
- He sent messages to negotiate with his brother
- He summoned the Witan and asked for their advice
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- Which of these are valid conclusions historians can make about the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
- Harold showed impressive military leadership. ✓
- Fyrd fighters were no match for experienced Viking warriors.
- The English victory did also weaken Harold's forces against William. ✓
- The Viking invasion was a serious threat to Harold's control of England. ✓
- The Viking invasion force was too small to be successful.
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- Put these events in chronological order.
- 1⇔Southern fyrd is disbanded
- 2⇔Battle of Gate Fulford
- 3⇔Battle of Stamford Bridge
- 4⇔William's fleet lands at Pevensey
- 5⇔Battle of Hastings
- Which of these options for dealing with William's invasion did Harold decide to act on?
- Call up fyrd levies from southern shires ✓
- Launch a rapid response, perhaps aiming for another surprise attack ✓
- Send his brothers to begin attacks on William while he organised defences
- Wait for William's army to run out of food and water
- Wait in London until he had as many troops as possible
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Exit quiz
- Match the keywords to their correct definitions.
- oath⇔a very serious promise made on a holy item ✓
- papal banner⇔a symbol from the pope showing his support for something ✓
- baron⇔men who the monarch had granted land to directly ✓
- invasion⇔when an army/country uses force to go into a country and take control ✓
- Complete the sentence: The ______ support and the promise of land and wealth from England convinced Norman barons to join the invasion.
- 'pope's' ✓
- Put the following events in chronological order.
- 1⇔In 1064, Harold swears an oath to William.
- 2⇔Harold is offered and accepts the crown of England.
- 3⇔Men cross the Channel to take the news to William.
- 4⇔William sent ambassadors to Harold reminding him of his oath.
- 5⇔In return, Harold must have set out his own justification.
- 6⇔William orders an invasion fleet to be built.
- Who was given the job of convincing the other Norman barons to fight against England?
- Eustace, Count of Boulogne
- Harold Godwinson
- William FitzOsbern ✓
- Pope Alexander II
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- How long did it take to build and prepare William's fleet?
- seven days
- seven weeks
- seven months ✓
- 17 days
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- Why was William’s fleet stuck in Dives-sur-Mer by August 1066?
- William had decided to build more ships at the last minute.
- The wind was not going in the right direction. ✓
- Harold had surrounded the area and so William's fleet could not leave.
- William was waiting for his army to join the ships before the fleet could leave.
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- William's decision to invade England followed the news that Harold had been crowned king.
- William gained Pope Alexander II's support for his invasion, and was given a papal banner.
- The pope's support and the promise of land and wealth from England convinced Norman barons to join the invasion.
- Constructing the Norman fleet and gathering and supplying the Norman army was an impressive achievement.
- William's preparations were upset by bad weather and a near-disastrous first attempt at crossing the Channel.
Common misconception
William barons had to do what he said because of feudalism.
Feudalism in Normandy was not as strict as it would be in Norman England, and the barons also argued that their promises to obey William were for Normandy - they didn't extend across the Channel to England.
Keywords
Oath - an oath was a very serious promise made on a holy item
Papal banner - a papal banner was a symbol from the pope showing his support for something
Baron - in medieval society, barons were men who the monarch had granted land to directly
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