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.