How noisy were England’s neighbours?

Thursday 9th October

Do Now:

Answer the following, based on your preliminary reading:

1. What signs are there that this is a partisan account?

2. Despite its obvious bias, what is the basic story of the Anglo-Scottish relationship?

3. What does Wylie suggest is the main reason for William’s involvement in Scotland?

Objectives

1) To read with speed!

2) Establish a narrative for events in Scotland

3) Assess the nature and level of threat Scotland presented to William.

4) Learn the events on the Welsh border during William’s reign

5) Evaluate the significance of these events

The long reign (900–942/3) of Constantine II is often regarded as the key to formation of the Kingdom of Alba. He was later credited with bringing Scottish Christianity into conformity with the Catholic Church. After fighting many battles, his defeat at Brunanburh was followed by his retirement as a monk at St. Andrews. The period between the accession of his successor Malcolm I and Malcolm II was marked by good relations with the Wessex rulers of England, intense internal dynastic disunity and relatively successful expansionary policies. In 945, Malcolm I annexed Strathclyde as part of a deal with King Edmund of England, where the kings of Alba had probably exercised some authority since the later 9th century - an event offset somewhat by loss of control in Moray. The reign of King Duncan I from 1034 was marred by failed military adventures, and he was defeated and killed by MacBeth, the Mormaer of Moray, who became king in 1040. MacBeth ruled for seventeen years before he was overthrown by Máel Coluim, the son of Donnchad, who some months later defeated MacBeth's step-son and successor Lulach to become king Malcolm III. It was Malcolm III, who acquired the nickname "Canmore" (Cenn Mór, "Great Chief"), which he passed to his successors and who did most to create the Dunkeld dynasty that ruled Scotland for the following two centuries. Particularly important was his second marriage to the Anglo-Hungarian princess Margaret. This marriage, and raids on northern England, prompted William the Conqueror to invade and Máel Coluim submitted to his authority, opening up Scotland to later claims of sovereignty by English kings. When Malcolm died in 1093, his brother Domnall III (Donald III) succeeded him.

Use the above source along with knowledge gained from your reading.

1 – What were the main events in C11th Scotland?

2 – What were the priorities of C11th kings of Scotland?

Primary sources… take notes!

• Are there any differences to what we have read so far?

What involvement did Scotland have with England?

What is the nature of this relationship? Was it threatening?

Scotland plenary

• Paragraph response – How problematic a neighbor was Scotland for William the Conqueror?

Questions to consider:• Was Scotland the provoker or the provoked?• Was Canmore an enemy of England or a simple

opportunist?• How difficult was it for William to deal with Scotland?

Wales

What do you think the Welsh thought about the Norman Conquest?

Read the notes and sources on Wales with the following foci:

a) Decipher a timeline of important eventsb) Analyse the causes of upheavalc) Evaluate of the danger it presented to

Williamd) Explain the methods used to control the area.

News report!• In the style of a TV news bulletin you will

deliver a report on England’s neighbours from the point of view of a Norman.

• You must cover:

a) Major events on the bordersb) The causes of any conflictc) The nature of the Norman responsed) An evaluation of the severity of the

problem

Overall plenary

• What are the key events on the borders?

• How dangerous were the Scots to Norman rule?

• How dangerous were the Welsh to Norman rule?