Norman England Flashcards
(30 cards)
Harold Godwinson
Sub-regulus
Novissima Verba
Had defeated King Gruffydd
William of Normandy
Post obitum
Helped EtC in 1051 following Godwinson’s rebellion
French King preoccupied with Anjou
Harald Hardrada
led Varangian guard
Had Tostig’s support
Edgar the Aethelred
Was 14
Tactics
N:
archers, infantry, cavalry
feigned retreat
special flags
less loyal mercenaries
bottom of Senlac hill so more manoeuvrable
army of around 8,000 (similar) moved from River Dives to Sommes
AS:
shield wall stopped cavalry
used loyal and trained housecarls
Innovations
flat bottomed boats for cavalry
‘flat pack’ castle prepared
Battle of Stamford Bridge
Norwegians sent back with 24 of their 300 ships
Battle of Hastings
14th October
Peasant army(fyrd) had been disbanded in September
WtC carried out sieges
HG could have waited for 20-30,000 more troops
HG travelled 200 miles in 5 days
William’s leadership and government
Show of violence in Romney following the BofH
Garrison of soldiers left at BofH
Sieges in Cantebury and Kent
Ravaged Southwork
Harrying of the North
80% of land left unusable
1069 January - Norman Earl Robert of Cummines killed and Bishop of Durham’s house set on fire
1069 Summer - 240 Danish ships arrive and join rebels
Crowning ceremony in York
Rebellions against the Normans
1068 South West Revolt (bcs of raised taxes, led by HG’s mother and WC built 2 castles guarded by King of Cornwall)
1068 Midlands Revolt and built castles
1070 East Anglia Hereward the Wake
1075 Norman Earls Revolt (Waltheof Betrayed them so Ralph was defeated)
William II
WtC’s second son
Had conflict with Robert in Normandy and Norman Earls who did not want to swear loyalty to 2 leaders eg Odo of Bayeux in 1088 and they were told on by Bishop of Durham
1091 he travelled to Normandy to make a truce with Robert
Died in 1100 and England given to Henry who also gains Normandy in 1107
The Feudal System
(How William used land to maintain control)
Movement from 6 English Earls to 180 Norman Barons and Bishops making control easier. They held land in tenure ensuring they were less powerful and the King was more powerful
Church now owned 25% of land solidifying link between his reign and God
Patronage: Knights now had to pay a certain amount of service each year, offered by barons/ bishops as part of the Feudal system; the King now controlled widows of landholders and land in the case of no heir
By 1086 only 4 English Thegns held any land
He created far more game reserves to cover 1/3 of the country such as the New Forest in Hampshire where 500 families were driven from their homes
Used Marcher Lords in areas at more threat of attack eg William Fitz Osbourne in Hereford (who was also regent thus it was as an act of homage)
Domesday Book
1086
Number of fishponds, mills, meadows, animals, ploughs
Comparison of price of land 1066-86
Everywhere but London&Winchester and far parts of the North such as Cumberland
So that William was better informed on how to raise taxes to strengthen his rule (triggered by a threat of invasion in 1085 by the Vikings and Count of Flanders) and to reduce costly land disputes
William was more centralised and in control as the most important tenants had to swear loyalty in August
William kept track of fealty and what was owed to him(change to Norman feudal system where King has more control)
Seizure of land for Norman Lords
The Legal System
National:
Inheritance: movement from division between all sons to primogeniture (maintained power more effectively also Lords benefitted more when heirs couldn’t inherit)
Movement from Witan to Great Council (smaller group of more loyal Nobles)
Kept the Chancery (administrative clerks)
Sent out more Writs to centralise
Local:
kept the 134 shires
tried to apply the same court system everywhere
Tried to make sure the church courts only dealt with ecclesiastical cases
created the court of the local lord to delegate responsibility
Introduced the Murdrum fine (found within 5 days)
Introduced trial by battle reflecting their militaristic culture and demonstrating the superiority of the Normans as they often won due to superior training or the ability to hire others
The increased use of physical violence as punishment rather than wergild
Introduces Forrest Laws which cover 30% of land
The Domesday Book
1086
How many fishponds, meadows, mills, animals, ploughs
Comparison of land 1066-68
Everywhere but London&Winchester and far North such as Cumberland
Used to reduce costly Land Disputes and informed William on how was best to raise taxes (possibly stimulated by the threat of Invasion from the Vikings and the Count of Flanders in 1085) to pay geld
Centralisation: the most important tenants swore loyalty to the King in August
allowed him to monitor areas of potential rebellion
eg following HotN in 1069
The Legal System
National:
Inheritance: movement from division between sons to primogeniture allowed the maintenance of large estates and lords benefitted more when heirs could not inherit (feudal incidents laws)
Movement from Witan to Great Council (a smaller and more loyal group of Normans). curia regis
Increased use of Writs to ensure centralisation
Local:
kept 134 shires
tried to apply same legal system everywhere and introduced local lords courts (delegating judicial authority to demonstrate their power)
in 1070s WtC tried to ensure the Church courts only dealt with Ecclesiastical cases
Murdrum (if caught within 5 days)
Forrest Laws: 30% of England became Royal forests
Trial by battle reflects their militaristic culture and demonstrated superiority of Normans
Decreased use of wergild to favour physical punishment
What did a Norman village look like?
Price for millers and brewers decided by the Lord
Area of land owned by a Lord known as a Demense
What was a Peasant’s life like?
Pay a 10% tithe to the Church
Dec number of freemen(who carried out boon work) bcs of rising rent move to villeins
Main meal was pottage
How did towns grow under the Normans?
1066-1100 21 new towns formed
3000 grants given by WC
166 homes were destroyed in Lincoln to make way for a castle
Short term economy declined but long term increased investment
However the economy was hurt in the North such as in Pickering in Yorkshire which declined from £88 to £1
AS church before 1066
Centre of community and where people transitioned with weddings, baptisms where surplice fees had to be paid alongside other taxes such as the 10% tithe and Easter Dues
Controlled education through books and politics through the Witan
Pluralism was a problem eg the AB of Canterbury (Stigand) who was also the Bishop of Winchester
Simony was selling Church positions
Nepotism was appointing a family member or friend
Breaking celibacy vows by having wives and children was common
Lanfranc and his reforms
Reform had already started in Europe with a Monastery at Cluny
1083 - 3 deaths after a rebellion at Glastonbury over a new chant
By 1100 all cathedrals and big churches had schools
1066 60 monasteries to 250 in 1135
36 Cluniac monasteries by 1100
Leofric moved from Credition to Exeter (a third moved)
Church organisation
Introduction of archdeacons and deans reduces the power held by any one person
Bishops ordered to hold councils twice a year to spread message of reform and check up
Introduction of synods undermines reform bcs people seem above the law thus king. Therefore, he tried Bishop Odo in the King’s court
The relationship between the monarch and the Church
Primacy Debate settled by WC following Lanfranc and Thomas’ trip to Rome in 1071
William II did not replace Lanfranc bcs he wanted to keep the income from his estates and Anselm onnly agreed to be AB if he returned the land
Anselm wanted to go and get his pallium but William II wanted to reduce the Pope’s influence. The Council o Rockingham were called in 1095 to settle it but they couldn’t decide. His pans for reform were blocked and he did not want to provide military service so he was exiled in 1097
