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Year 10
AQA

Norman preparations for invasion in 1066

I can describe how the Normans prepared for invasion in 1066.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Norman preparations for invasion in 1066

I can describe how the Normans prepared for invasion in 1066.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. William's decision to invade England followed the news that Harold had been crowned king.
  2. William gained Pope Alexander II's support for his invasion, and was given a papal banner.
  3. The pope's support and the promise of land and wealth from England convinced Norman barons to join the invasion.
  4. Constructing the Norman fleet and gathering and supplying the Norman army was an impressive achievement.
  5. 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

Students could use knowledge and understanding from this lesson to prepare for an exam-style question such as 'The main reason for the success of William's invasion of England was his careful preparation.' How far does a study of the Battle of Hastings support this statement?
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
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
Correct answer: September 1066
October 1066
Q2.
Match the numbers to complete a correct statistic.
Correct Answer:60,number of days a fyrd could be called out for

number of days a fyrd could be called out for

Correct Answer:300,number of ships in Hardrada's invasion fleet

number of ships in Hardrada's invasion fleet

Correct Answer:8000,number of men in Hardrada's invasion army

number of men in Hardrada's invasion army

Correct Answer:16 000,likely number of men defending the southern coast in 1066

likely number of men defending the southern coast in 1066

Q3.
How did Harold respond on hearing of Hardrada and Tostig's invasion?
He dispatched the fleet to sail north
Correct answer: 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
Q4.
Which of these are valid conclusions historians can make about the Battle of Stamford Bridge?
Correct answer: Harold showed impressive military leadership.
Fyrd fighters were no match for experienced Viking warriors.
Correct answer: The English victory did also weaken Harold's forces against William.
Correct answer: The Viking invasion was a serious threat to Harold's control of England.
The Viking invasion force was too small to be successful.
Q5.
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
Q6.
Which of these options for dealing with William's invasion did Harold decide to act on?
Correct answer: Call up fyrd levies from southern shires
Correct answer: 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

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:oath,a very serious promise made on a holy item

a very serious promise made on a holy item

Correct Answer:papal banner,a symbol from the pope showing his support for something

a symbol from the pope showing his support for something

Correct Answer:baron,men who the monarch had granted land to directly

men who the monarch had granted land to directly

Correct Answer:invasion,when an army/country uses force to go into a country and take control

when an army/country uses force to go into a country and take control

Q2.
Complete the sentence: The support and the promise of land and wealth from England convinced Norman barons to join the invasion.
Correct Answer: pope's, Pope's
Q3.
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.
Q4.
Who was given the job of convincing the other Norman barons to fight against England?
Eustace, Count of Boulogne
Harold Godwinson
Correct answer: William FitzOsbern
Pope Alexander II
Q5.
How long did it take to build and prepare William's fleet?
seven days
seven weeks
Correct answer: seven months
17 days
Q6.
Why was William’s fleet stuck in Dives-sur-Mer by August 1066?
William had decided to build more ships at the last minute.
Correct answer: 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.