2. NATIONAL CURRICULUM KEY STAGE 3 HISTORY THE NORMAN INVASION AND CONQUEST INTERACTIVE How did the Norman Invasion and Conquest change England?

3. The Norman Invasion and Conquest Interactive Harold Godwinson was the Earl of Wessex. He was the most powerful Earl Earl in England and was Edward the Confessor’s Brother-in-Law. He was English. Harald Hadrada was the grandson of Cnut a former king of England. He also felt that he might get some support from Viking families in the North of England. William of Normandy was Edward the Confessor’s cousin and was promised the throne by him. He had helped Edward in the past. William was Duke of Normandy. Edward the Confessor, the King of England, died on 5 January 1066. Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex wanted to be the next king. He was the most important noble in the land. Harold knew that gaining the throne was not going to be easy. Two other men claimed that the throne belonged to them. One was William of Normandy; the other was Harold Hardrada, the Viking King of Norway.noble 1 2 3 6 6 1 2 3 The death and funeral of Edward the Confessor.

4. The English army was tired after fighting at Stamford Bridge. Harold died, and his army was weak without him. The wind changed, and so the Normans managed to cross the Channel while Harold was still in the north.Channel William used the very clever trick of retreating down the hill to make the English follow and break the shield wall. Some of King Harold’s best fighters died at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. The Fyrd was not experienced or disciplined.Fyrd William had archers and cavalry to attack Harold's army. 19 The Norman Invasion and Conquest Interactive Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? The death of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings from ‘A Chronicle of England’, 1864.

5. What was William like? ‘King William was a very stern and violent man. No one dared do anything against the King’s will. He put nobles who annoyed him into prison. He built castles and cruelly kept the poor people down.’ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. ‘During William’s reign the great cathedral at Canterbury was built. Any man was allowed to become a monk, no matter how rich or poor he was. We must not forget the good order he kept in the land.’ Peterborough Chronicle ‘Never did William show such cruelty. He did not trouble to restrain his resentment, striking down the innocent and guilty alike with an equal fury. In this manner all the sources of life north of the Humber were destroyed.’ Orderic Vitalis, usually an admirer of William SOURCE ASOURCE CSOURCE B Listen to Source A Listen to Source B Listen to Source C 41 GCSE Modern World History USA 1941-1980

6. He kept good order in the country. All rebellions against him failed. He took much gold and silver in taxes from some of the poorest people. He forced people to build castles. Many houses were knocked down to build them. He built a great cathedral at Canterbury and many others. He marked out large areas of forest for hunting deer for himself. 42 The Norman Invasion and Conquest Interactive