Normans

Question 1

Problems caused by Edward’s death

Answer 1

1. Four claimants → 3 battles in 1066 → Norman takeover;
2. Harold Godwinson: Based on Novissima Verba; led Fulford, Stamford, Hastings;
3. William of Normandy: Post Obitum + 1064 oath on relics → Hastings;
4. Edgar Aethling: Closest blood relative; Witan supported;
5. Harald Hardrada: Viking links; led Fulford and Stamford

Question 2

Reasons William won the Battle of Hastings

Answer 2

1. Papal banner, mercenaries, ships for cavalry;
2. Lucky: 3-week weather delay;
3. Superior leadership: fought on horseback;
4. Harold’s errors: didn’t wait for 20–30k men;
5. Norman tactics: feigned retreat broke shield wall

Question 3

Examples of William dealing with Rebellions

Answer 3

1. 1067: Force in Welsh Borders;
2. 1068: Force + compromise at Exeter;
3. 1069: Scorched Earth North; 100,000 deaths;
4. 1071: Hereward the Wake → bribery + force;
5. 1075: Lanfranc + Odo crushed Norman revolt

Question 4

Changes to castles

Answer 4

1. Motte & Bailey = strategic/symbolic/admin;
2. 48 large + 500 small castles by 1086;
3. Built in key places – 300+ in Wales;
4. Norman castles = power, control locals;
5. Built on hills – visible to all villages

Question 5

Changes to feudal system

Answer 5

1. Strict social hierarchy → land for loyalty;
2. By 1076, all Anglo-Saxon landowners gone;
3. Land to 250 nobles (vs 5 big earls in 1066);
4. Villeins = 97% → tax/rent increase;
5. Knights = land for 40 days’ service → pro army

Question 6

Changes to law and order

Answer 6

1. Kept useful English law, added Norman control;
2. Kept shire/hundred courts + trial by ordeal;
3. Primogeniture + murdrum fines;
4. Forest laws = hunting privilege, peasant hardship;
5. More fines, less mutilation + trial by combat

Question 7

Changes to towns

Answer 7

1. 21 new towns by 1100 (castles, cathedrals, markets);
2. Trade grew: metal, salt, wool (e.g. Droitwich);
3. Burgesses show town growth – 970 in Lincoln;
4. London = 10,000 people by 1086;
5. Still only 5% lived in towns by 1086

Question 8

Facts about Village life

Answer 8

1. 97% of people – life unchanged (seasons, harvest);
2. Open field farming for lord + church;
3. Forest law + murdrum fine = biggest change;
4. 500 families removed from New Forest;
5. Wattle houses for peasants; lords’ stone homes

Question 9

Changes to the church

Answer 9

1. Church owned 25% of land;
2. Norman bishops replaced Anglo-Saxons;
3. Lanfranc = Archbishop (1070); only 1 Saxon bishop by 1080;
4. Romanesque churches: e.g. Durham, Gloucester;
5. Church did education, healthcare, law (1076 Council)

Question 10

Changes to the monasteries

Answer 10

1. 36 Cluniac monasteries by 1135 (1st: 1077);
2. Monasteries rose from 60 to 250;
3. Monks/nuns grew from 1,000 to 5,000;
4. By 1086, only 3 Saxon abbots remained;
5. Lanfranc’s reforms → unrest (e.g. 1073 Glastonbury revolt)

Question 11

One of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to improve religion in England.

Answer 11

1. Aethelwine replaced with Walcher in 1071
2. Walcher died but William of St CAlais introduced reforms:
   Tackled corruption - Simony, Nepotism, Clerical marriage
3. 1083 - Monks given ultimatum and replaced by Jarrow monks

“For example, after 1066, the Normans tried to reform religion by changing the leadership of the Anglo-Saxon Church and improving monastic life. This happened at Durham when they replaced the Anglo-Saxon bishop Aethelwine with a loyal Norman in 1071. Although Walcher died before he could implement significant reforms, his successor, William of St Calais, began reforming the monastery and overseeing the building of Durham Cathedral. This was important because William of St Calais was concerned that the Anglo-Saxon monastery at Durham was corrupt. In 1083, the monks were given the ultimatum to either leave their wives and follow the stricter Benedictine order or leave the monastery. Those who refused were ordered to leave, and many were replaced with monks from the nearby Jarrow Monastery. This reflects how the Normans tried to reform religion across England by improving the quality of monastic life.”

Question 12

One of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to improve religion in England. - 2

Answer 12

1. Romansque - THE POPE
2. Replaced the Anglo-Saxon Great Church with greatness, showing superiority
3. The pilgrim door and St Cuthbert’s relics
4. Cuthbert and Beede’s remains

In addition, the Normans built Durham Cathedral to demonstrate religious devotion.,”Across England, the Normans built large Romanesque churches and cathedrals to show their devotion to God. The Anglo-Saxons had already built a large stone church, called the Great Church, on this site. The Normans deliberately chose to rebuild a grand Romanesque cathedral in 1093 to demonstrate their religious devotion. This was important because the Romanesque cathedral was much grander and more impressive than the previous Anglo-Saxon church. The site also had religious significance due to the relics of St Cuthbert. The “pilgrim door” was created to encourage more pilgrims to visit Durham, making the cathedral an important religious site.”

Question 13

One of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to gain better political control.

Answer 13

1. Bend in the River Wear made steep riverbanks - Good for defence
2. Strong military base
3. The idea of going against God - (Intimidated rebellious Anglo-Saxons)
4. Anglo - Saxons were hugely rebellious as they were far from London (political hub) and had been used to political freedom from King - led to 1069 rebellion of the North - so needed supression

Another of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to gain better political control.,”For example, the cathedral was built in 1093, after the Normans had already built a Motte and Bailey castle on the same site in 1072. They chose this location because it was in a bend in the River Wear, where the steep riverbanks made it easier to defend. The castle was a strong military base, while the cathedral showed their religious power. It also sent a message that going against the Normans was like going against God.This was important because the Anglo-Saxons in the north were hard for the Normans to control. The Anglo-Saxon earls were used to ruling their own land without much interference from the King, since London was so far away. In 1069, there had been a big rebellion in the north, which was a serious threat to Norman rule. Building a huge cathedral in this area may have been part of the Norman king’s plan to show his power and keep control.”

Question 14

One of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to gain better political control. - 2

Answer 14

1. Prince Bishop - political and religious authority over the area
2. Durham 15 miles from the coast - Vikings raided a lot
3. Close to Scottish borders so risk of invasion increased
4. Needed loyal normans (William Walcher and William St Calais) to defend from threats
5. Aethelwine left in power due to good relationship with King of Scotland (Malcolm) but replaced in 1071 when he became rebellious

In addition, Durham Cathedral gave the Normans long-term political control.,”It is clear that the Normans were concerned about political power when they created the role of the ‘Prince Bishop’. This gave the bishops of Durham both religious authority and political control over the area.This was important because Durham Cathedral was only 15 miles from the coast, which the Vikings had raided many times during Anglo-Saxon times. It was also very close to the Scottish border. The Normans needed loyal and powerful men, like William Walcher and William St Calais, in the north to help defend against these outside threats. This is also shown by the fact that, at first, King William let the Anglo-Saxon archbishop Aethelwine stay in power because he had a good relationship with the King of Scotland. However, when Aethelwine became rebellious in 1071, he was removed and replaced.”

Question 14

One reason for the building of Durham was to show the Normans’ cultural superiority.,

Answer 14

1. Wooden to stone - shows superiority
2. ‘Ribbed Vault’ achieved greater height - intimidation
3. One of a kind in Europe - architectural innovation - superiority

“For example, the Normans began building Durham Cathedral in 1093. There are a number of significant features within Durham Cathedral that show it was deliberately built to impress the local population. Anglo-Saxon cathedral roofs, such as the Great Church that stood at Durham before, were wooden. Even in early Norman cathedrals, the roofs used a simpler arched stone design. Durham, however, featured a new type of roof design called a ‘ribbed vault’ that allowed them to achieve greater height.This was important because it was the first and largest construction of this type of roof in Europe. It demonstrated architectural innovation and changed the history of cathedral architecture for centuries. The extra height was also important for the Normans to achieve their political aims of intimidating the local population, who had not seen buildings this tall before.”

Question 15

One reason for the building of Durham was to show the Normans’ cultural superiority. - 2

Answer 15

1. Three levels
2. Large Spiral Columns - St Peter’s Basillica
3. Overlapping arches - Islamic mosques in Spain
4. (Romanesque)

In addition, the internal design of Durham Cathedral reflected the Normans’ cultural influence.,”The internal features of Durham showed that the Normans were seeking to impress anyone who visited. The cathedral had three levels: small windows at the top, a gallery, and a nave arcade. The nave had large columns, which were either cylindrical or compound columns.This was important because the Normans chose to go even further with their decoration in Durham. The spiral columns were similar to those used in Rome on St Peter’s Basilica, and the overlapping arches on the roof may have been inspired by Islamic mosques in Spain at the time. All of these were deliberate design features the Normans used to show their cultural superiority over the Anglo-Saxons.”

Question 16

One of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to boost the economy of the region.

Answer 16

1. Long-term employment - Craftsmen, masons, labourers - materials had to be quarried, transported and shaped - stabilised the Northern economy after years of rebellion and warfare
2. Attracted merchants and pilgrims - taxation for the government
3. Markets increased, bringing more trade.

“For example, the construction of Durham Cathedral provided long-term employment for skilled Norman craftsmen, masons, and labourers, while also stimulating local industry. Materials such as stone had to be quarried, transported, and shaped, creating a local network of jobs and trade. This was important because it helped to stabilise the northern economy after years of rebellion and warfare. As trade increased, markets near the cathedral attracted merchants and pilgrims, creating opportunities for taxation and wealth extraction by the Normans. In doing so, the Normans ensured that Durham not only served as a religious and political centre, but also an economic hub.”

Question 17

One of the main reasons the Normans built Durham Cathedral was to boost the economy of the region. - 2

Answer 17

1. Major pilgrimage site due to St Cuthbert’s relics - They would buy goods, stay at inns and had to pay the Cathedral to enter the pilgrim’s door. They would also make offerings to the church.

In addition, the Normans used Durham Cathedral to increase long-term economic control through pilgrimage.,”The cathedral was built to honour St Cuthbert, whose relics were housed in the cathedral. This made Durham a major pilgrimage site, drawing visitors from across England and beyond. Pilgrims would buy goods, stay at inns, and make offerings to the church, injecting money into the local and regional economy. This was important because it tied religious devotion to economic profit. The more pilgrims that visited Durham, the more money flowed through the city, which strengthened Norman control over northern England. Pilgrimage became a sustainable source of wealth, helping to secure Norman power through economic as well as spiritual means.”