Food for Thought

Week 4 (September 16-22)

David Howarth, 1066: The Year of Conquest

Please make every effort to finish reading this book by class on Monday. It is a quick and enjoyable read.

1) According to Howarth, what is the historian's job? What are facts? What made writing a history of 1066 particularly difficult?

2) In 1066, before the Norman conquest, what held Anglo-Saxon England together? In what way could we claim there was a single, united "England"? What forces and circumstances prevented England from being a single, unified whole?

3) What kind of man was Harold Godwin? What was his claim to the English throne? Why did the witan select him?

4) What kind of man was William of Normandy? What was his claim to the English throne? Why did he feel cheated? Why did he persist in claiming the English throne even after the witan had picked Harold?

5) How does Howarth imply the conflict between Harold and William stemmed from a misunderstanding? What role did Edward the Confessor play in this misunderstanding?

6) What major problems and obstacles did William have to overcome in his conquest of England? What factors contributed to William's success? Why did he succeed in his foolhardy expedition? In particular, why did he win the battle of Hastings?

7) According to Howarth, did Anglo-Saxon England fall due to weakness? Did it fall because of Normandy's strength? Or did Anglo-Saxon England fall because of bad luck?

The Bayeux Tapestry

In class, I will give you some background information about the Bayeux Tapestry and provide a theory explaining its origins. To prepare for this class, please do the following.

Check out the following website: http://www.hastings1066.com/index.html
Roam around this site, and soak up the atmosphere.

From the home page, click "The Full Bayeux Tapestry." If you can, I would like all of you to view the tapestry from beginning to end so you can obtain some familiarity with this famous artwork.

Below, I have designated groups of two students responsible for answering questions about specific sections of the tapestry. Look below for your name and the question(s) for which you are responsible.

Part 1: Harold and Edward Meet Before the Latter's Voyage to Normandy in 1064 (Tonie, Isaac)

What seems to be going on in this section? What does it tell us about the reasons for the trip? How might an Anglo-Saxon interpret this section? How might a Norman?

Part 2: Preparations for Harold's Trip to Normandy in 1064 (Carmen, Matt)

What does this section tell us about the reasons for the trip? How might an Anglo-Saxon interpret this scene? How might a Norman?

Part 12: William Gives Arms to Harold (Melissa, Emlyn)

As a sign of honor, William gave arms to Harold after the two had fought against several of William's rebellious Norman vassals.

What does this scene seem to indicate about the relationship between the two? How is this event related to the oath that Harold later makes to William? How might an Anglo-Saxon interpret this event? How might a Norman?

Part 12/Part 13: Harold Swears an Oath to William (Sarah, Jake)

How does this scene buttress William's claim to the throne? How does it support the Norman version of events? What would an Anglo-Saxon say to defend Harold's actions?

Part 13/Part 14: Harold Returns to Edward (Tami, Tim)

What seems to be Harold's attitude upon returning to England? How does Edward appear to react to Harold's return?

Part 14/Part 15: Edward's Death (Rose, Rachel)

Look at Edward's deathbed. He is surrounded by a cleric, his wife, and Harold, to whom he extends his hand. The caption states: "Here King Edward addresses his faithful ones."

What seems to have happened here? What might an Anglo-Saxon argue? In the next scene, two nobles, one with an ax, the other with a crown, speak to Harold and point backward. What is the significance of this gesture?

Part 14/Part 15: Harold's Coronation (Kristin, Andrew)

Who attended Harold's coronation? What might an Anglo-Saxon say about this scene? What does it represent? How might a Norman respond?

Part 27-33: The Battle of Hastings (Claire, Aimee)

According to the tapestry, how were the two armies different? What types of soldiers did each have? What kinds of weapons did they employ?

Part 34: Harold's Death (Sydney, Carol)

Which one is Harold? How did he meet his end?

Glanville's "Concerning the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom of England" (1189)

As you read this piece, keep in mind that feudalism's main purpose consisted of supporting a class of
aristocratic warriors.

1) Why can't women perform homage to a lord? Why must her husband perform it?

2) What is a liege lord? What purpose does he serve? What potential problem does the position of liege lord solve?

3) What happens to a vassal who does not serve his lord?

4) Why should a vassal renew his homage to a female lord when she remarries?

5) What is wardship? Why does a lord have the right to take an underage vassal into wardship? Why is a female heir a ward of her lord until her marriage? Why must she receive his consent to marry?

6) Why can't a lord deny an inheritance to an heir of full age who offers homage and relief?

7) How should lords determine the size of aids and reliefs? What problems might arise in this matter?

GLOSSARY

Homage = a feudal ceremony by which a vassal pledges loyalty to a lord

Reliefs = when a vassal of full age succeeds to his inheritance, he owes his lord a payment known as a relief

Fee = the estate the vassal obtains in return for homage and service to a lord

Liege homage and liege lord = arises in situations where a vassal may owe service to several lords because he occupies several fees. In this case, his liege homage takes precedence over his other homages. His obligations to this liege lord have priority over others.

Tenement = fee

Tenant = vassal

Escheat = a fee escheats or reverts to the lord when a vassal dies without heirs

Demesne = land possessed by the lord and not occupied by vassals

Wardship = if an heir to a fee is a minor and pledges homage to a lord, the lord takes custody of the fee in what is known as wardship

Distraint = forcing someone to perform an obligation by seizing his property

Amercement = fine

ids = payments owed by a vassal to a lord on certain ceremonial occasions, such as when the lord's daughter gets married or his son is knighted

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