New
New
Year 10
AQA

Wales before the Norman Conquest

I can describe conflicts between Wales and England in the 1050s.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Wales before the Norman Conquest

I can describe conflicts between Wales and England in the 1050s.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By the middle of the 11th century, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was the most powerful figure in Wales.
  2. In the 1050s, Ralph the Timid, a Norman, was Earl of Hereford.
  3. In 1055, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn attacked Hereford and defeated its defenders.
  4. Harold and Tostig Godwinson led a military campaign against Gruffydd ap Llywelyn.
  5. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was killed and power in Wales was again divided amongst smaller kingdoms.

Keywords

  • Marches - the name given to the border lands between England and Wales

  • Campaign - a series of military operations, usually with the aim of defeating an enemy

  • Exile - being banned from living in your native country, usually for acting against those in charge

Common misconception

Before the Norman invasion in 1066, castles were unknown in Anglo-Saxon England.

In fact, Ralph the Timid built a motte-and-bailey castle in Hereford to guard the city against attacks from Wales.

See what students can recall about some of the names that crop up in this lesson: Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, Tostig Godwinson, Edwin of Mercia.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes having many mountains?
Correct Answer: mountainous
Q2.
Complete the sentence: The combination of mountains, land and strategic rivers made Wales an attractive location to the Norman settlers.
Correct Answer: fertile
Q3.
Complete the sentence: Wales' long has always been important for communication and trade.
mountain range
rivers
Correct answer: coastline
grasslands
Q4.
Which Welsh kingdom was in the north and included modern-day Snowdonia?
Deheubarth
Gwent
Correct answer: Gwynedd
Powys
Q5.
Why was Saint David’s monastery important?
It became a centre of prayer and of strict observance of Roman rules.
Correct answer: It became a centre of learning and of strict observance of monastic rules.
It became a centre of worship and of relaxed observance of monastic rules.
Q6.
What did some societies begin to construct on elevated ground prior to the Romans’ arrival in Wales?
motte-and-bailey castles
cathedrals
stone keep castles
Correct answer: hill forts

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word was the name given to the border lands between England and Wales?
Correct Answer: Marches
Q2.
Which word describes a series of military operations, usually with the aim of defeating an enemy?
Correct Answer: campaign, a campaign
Q3.
Why was the kingdom of Gwynedd arguably the strongest Welsh kingdom in the 11th century?
Correct answer: Its mountainous landscape provided a strong set of natural defences.
Correct answer: It included the island of Anglesey which had rich and fertile farmlands.
It had motte-and-bailey castles in every corner to aid defence.
It included the largest river in Wales so controlled the water supply.
Q4.
When did Gruffydd ap Llywelyn become king of Gwynedd?
Correct answer: 1039
1052
1055
1063
Q5.
Which of the following were Norman innovations that Ralph the Timid introduced to the defences of Hereford?
a stone keep castle
Correct answer: soldiers fighting on horseback
Correct answer: a motte-and-bailey castle
soldiers in shield wall formation
Q6.
What happened to Wales following Gruffydd’s death?
No change took place to the kingdoms.
Correct answer: The kingdoms divided back into smaller kingdoms.
Some kingdoms merged further to create one kingdom.

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