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Hostage — Edexcel & OCR GCSE History Definition | GradeGen

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History
Key terms
Hostage

GCSE History · key term

Hostage

Definition

A person held as security to help ensure that others kept an agreement.

Used by Edexcel and OCR

How each exam board covers it

Edexcel GCSE History · 1HI0

Paper 2

A person handed over as a guarantee that an agreement will be kept.
At Berkhamsted, Edgar, Edwin and Morcar submitted to William. They swore oaths of loyalty and gave him hostages as guarantees that they would keep their promises. Submission meant accepting William’s authority; the hostages provided an additional safeguard beyond spoken promises.
Revise: Establishing Control
A person held as a guarantee that someone else will fulfil an obligation, such as paying an agreed sum of money.
Revise: Aftermath of the Crusade

Exam tips

1
For a feature question, identify a relevant feature and add precise supporting detail, such as the oaths of loyalty being backed by hostages.
2
Distinguish the total ransom demanded—150,000 marks—from the 100,000 marks required before release. Hostages guaranteed the remaining payment.

Related key terms

Earl
Bailey
Castle
Causeway
Cavalry

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Edexcel History past papers

OCR GCSE History B · J411

Paper 1, Paper 3

Hardrada’s victory opened the way to York. He entered the city, received provisions and took hostages. Hostages helped secure an agreement: holding them gave the invaders leverage over the people who had promised cooperation.
Revise: Battles
A prisoner held to influence or control the actions of other people.
Revise: Hostilities

OCR History B past papers

Feigned retreat