Collins Medieval Britain history for Year 7

1. Unit 1.5 The Anglo Saxon Golden
Age

2. Words to learn
• Jorvik-
• Witans
• Shire
• Earl
• Empire

3. Edward The successor of Wessex
• After the death of king
Alfred in 899 AD. The English
throne fell into his son King
Edward the Elder to continue
the fight against the Vikings.
• Edward was greatly helped
by his sister Aethelflead,
who at the age of 15 and has
been sent by their father to
marry Lord of Mercia

4. Aethelflead the Lady of Mercia
• Aethelflead was famed for her
intelligence and strength and with her
husband, they won many lands back
from Vikings
• When her husband died in 911AD
Aethelflead continued to rule Mercia
on her own and known as ‘Lady of
Mercia” leading her army into
battle.Just like her father
• She built fortress buhrs on lands won
back from the Vikings in Chester,
Stafford, Warwick and Tamworth.
• King Edward was so impressed with
her tough sister, even sent one of his
son Athaelstan to be brought up by
her

5. Athaelstan the first king of England
• Some historian said, Athaelstan
should be remembered as the
first King of England
• Viking conquered Nothrumbria
when he became the king of
England and he secured the
Viking capital of Yorvik.
• He slowly took control of
Northrumbria by winning many
battles against Vikings, Scottish.
• He then ruled all over England.

6. Its your turn
• Who was the successor of King Alfred?
• Who helped Edward to rule Wessex?
• Who was the Lady of Mercia?
• What did Lady of Mercia do for her country
(army, and safety)
• Who was the first King of England?
• How did he become the first king of England?

7. Yorvik – City of Viking

8. Athaelstan rule
• During his reign, he had
new coins minted for his
kingdom and gave title to
himself “Rex Anglorum”
meaning the king the
English.
• For the first time after the
Roman conquest, now the
ppl of Britain are united
once more

9. Ensuring peace
• For the next 50 years , England
grew unprecedentedly peaceful
and wealthy
• King ruled the country
alongside the Witan (The
collection of Anglo saxons
noblemen and senior member
of the church summoned by
the king to offer him to discuss
important issues)
• This to ensure that the kings
decision had the support from
the ppl he ruled

10. Ensuring prosperity
• Anglo saxon England also
developed a single currency
(money) a legal code written
in Old English and a
centralised government
• Anglo saxon government sent
out royal charters (grant for
financial support from king)
to every corner of the
kingdom
• The country is now divided
into individual counties called
shires

11. Ensuring prosperity
• Each shire was ruled by one
Anglo saxon Earl. While the
helper of an earl was called
Shire reeve which now
known as ‘sheriff’
• Each shire has lands big
enough to support up to
100 households. This
ensure that each shire
would receive equal charter
and support from the
central government.

12. Its your turn
• What is Jorvik?
• How did Athaelstan ensure peace rule in the
country?
• Who are the witan?
• What is shire?
• How big is the land in a shire?
• Who has power to control each shire?

13. Return of the Viking – Aethelred the
Unready
• In 990, Viking invaders again
harrasing Englands coastline.
• England at that time was ruled by
the King Aethelred the Unready,
unlike his predecessor , he was a
poor leader and unable to unify his
earls to repel the Viking invaders
• He ended up paying Vikings with
Danegeld repeated yet they kept
coming back for larger sums
• He died on 1016 where he promised
throne to one Viking King (King
Canute).

14. King Canute – the good viking
• He ruled England for 19 years,
he was thoughtful and popular
• He wanted to rule England as
an English King and he became
christian
• During his reign, most of the
Anglo Saxon earls could keep
their wealth and properties
• To ensure safety of England, he
paid off Viking army with 90
000 pound sterling to ensure
that they left England and
return to Denmark

15. King Canute and his power stability
• Overseas, Canute’s Empire gre . He
gained Denmark in 1019, Norway and
Sweden in 1028
• Some countier tried to win his heart
by praising him that he had control
over the sea too.
• The humble king- He denied of such
flattery and demanded his throne to
be taken to the sea shore. He
ordered the tide not to advance but
waves still coming and drenched his
feet.
• He then told ppl that the power of
King is empty compare to the power
of God

16. Its your turn
• Why do you think Aethelred got his name
unready?
• What did Aethelred promise to the Viking
King?
• Who was King Canute?
• What did Canute do to ensure safety of
England from bad Viking attacks?
• Do you think Canute was a good King? Give 1
reason

17. • Wednesday
• 27th january open book test
• 20 marks
• Chapter 1.0 – 1.5
• Read all the slides and read textbook