KEY QUESTIONS

When was the Norman Conquest? 
What were the causes and events of the Norman Conquest? 
What was the result of the Norman Conquest? 
Who was involved in the Norman Conquest? 
How di the success of the Norman Conquest transform England? 

SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE


Who was involved in the Norman Conquest?

  • Harold Godwinson: Earl of Wessex: Last Anglo-Saxon King of England. Crowned King 14th January 1066. Died during the Battle of Hastings on 14th October 1066. 
  • William: Duke of Normandy: First Norman King of England after Victory in Norman Conquest. Reigned from 1066 to 1087 as William the Conqueror. Appointed King of England 25th December 1066. 
  • Harald Hardrada: King of Norway: Killed at Stamford Bridge in September 1066 by Harold Godwinson. This loss for the Normans was short-lived as Harald Hardrada's successor, William the Conqueror, defeated the Saxons a mere few weeks later. 

Causes of the Norman Conquest

  • The unwelcome reception given to Harold Godwinson being appointed King of England from Normandy. (Harald and William both believed they should have been made kings instead of Harold)
  • Lack of Papal Support for Harold Godwinson
  • Revenge for the death of Harald Hadrada in the previous invasion. 

Events of the Norman Conquest

  • 1033: France and English Alliance, Normans obtain claim for the English Throne. 
  • 1065: Meeting between William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson which is suggested resulted in Harold agreeing William should be the next King when Edward the Confessor died. 
  • 1066: January 6th Harold Godwinson coronated King of England
  • 1066: July: English Army Gather at South Coast of England in preparation for Norman Invasion
  • 1066: September: Harald launches a Viking invasion
  • 1066: September 20th: Battle of Gate Fulford: Vikings defeat English. 
  •  1066: September 25th: Harold, having marched his army to York from the South Coast, defeats King Harald Hadrada and the Vikings in the Stamford Bridge Battle. 
  • 1066: 29th September: William and the Norman army occupy Hastings. 
  • 1066: October 13th: Harold refuses William's offer to give up the throne
  • 1066: October 14th: Harold blinded in one eye by an arrow, Harold is later killed during the day at the battle. William wins the Battle of Hastings. The Battle lasted from 9am to 3pm.
  • 1066: 25th December: William is appointed King of England. 


Results of the Norman Conquest

  • Construction of Castles (I.e. the White Tower of the Tower of London) 
  • Domesday Book
  • Bayeux Tapesty
  • The settling of a new Norman Nobility on the Land. (Normanisation)
  • Change in the Composition of the English Clergy. 
  • French became the first language of the aristocracy for 300 years. 
  • Old Anglo-Saxon Aristocracy virtually eliminated.


TEACHING IDEAS AND PEDAGOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

  • Timeline of the events of the Battle of Hastings
  • Penalty Trivia Game: Normans vs Saxons: Good Revision Exercise
  • Creation of Castles: Get the students to build their own forts in the way William created many castles during his reign over England. The castle requirements would be The keep, Outer Walls, A Gatehouse and A moat, with the flexibility to add their own ideas to the castle designs as well. 
  • Get the children to do their own versions of the Bayeux Tapestry. 
  • Decision Exercise: Get the students to pretend they are Harold Godwinson and get them to work out whether the was right to think he had the capabilities to be King of England. 
  • Primary Source Exercise: Using the Evidence in front of them, get them to decide whether William was right to believe he should be the King of England and if so, whether he was right to invade or not. 
Useful Links

  • KS3 Bitesize http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/middle_ages/1066_norman_conquest/revision/1/
  • BBC History                          http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/
  • School History links http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk//year7links/conquest.shtml
  • TES Resources                                               http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resources/secondary-44354/history-45917/ks3-norman-conquest-45962/

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