During the rebellion of Ely, what tactic did the rebels predominantly use?

During the rebellion of Ely, what tactic did the rebels predominantly use?

• A. They hid in the Ely fens and swamps and attacked when least expected.
• B. They fought in open pitched battles against the Normans.
• C. They built large fortresses to withstand sieges.
• D. They relied on naval raids along the coast.

Answer: (A)

The tactic being tested is guerrilla warfare that takes advantage of difficult terrain. In the Ely rebellion, the marshy fenland provided a natural hiding place and launching ground. Rebels used ambushes and hit-and-run raids from the reeds and waterways, striking when Norman forces were off guard and then melting back into the marshes. This approach fit their resources and aim of resisting a stronger invader without risking large, open battles. The fenland’s waterlogged, maze-like landscape slowed Norman troops and cavalry and made sieges impractical, giving the rebels a reliable edge. Building large fortresses would be hard in such terrain, and Ely’s inland position makes naval raids irrelevant, so those options don’t match the setting.

The tactic being tested is guerrilla warfare that takes advantage of difficult terrain. In the Ely rebellion, the marshy fenland provided a natural hiding place and launching ground. Rebels used ambushes and hit-and-run raids from the reeds and waterways, striking when Norman forces were off guard and then melting back into the marshes. This approach fit their resources and aim of resisting a stronger invader without risking large, open battles. The fenland’s waterlogged, maze-like landscape slowed Norman troops and cavalry and made sieges impractical, giving the rebels a reliable edge. Building large fortresses would be hard in such terrain, and Ely’s inland position makes naval raids irrelevant, so those options don’t match the setting.