����ý

• Conquest
• Consolidation
• Construction
• People

Conquest

Chroniclers writing years after 1066 describe Harold Godwinson in negative terms. He was certainly the most powerful man in England, even whilst King Edward was still alive, but many saw him as an usurper and a perjurer. In 1064 Harold had sworn an oath to William of Normandy that he would support him as the heir to the English throne.

William’s successful invasion, which climaxed in a decisive victory over Harold’s forces at Hastings in 1066, was a huge moment. Harold, along with almost all of the English nobility, died at Hastings. The south of England was firmly under William’s control after his victory at Hastings, however he would have difficulty securing his kingdom against rebellious northern earls, Welsh princes and Danes who still believed they had a valid claim to the English crown.

Consolidation

William faced major challenges to his authority between 1068 and 1070. The most serious rebellions took place in the north of England and for a few months it seemed as though the Normans would be forced out of England altogether. William’s response, known as the ‘Harrying of the North’ was incredibly brutal, even by the standards of medieval Europe.

After his successful defeat of rebellious English earls, the process of Normanisation was implemented throughout England. French became the language of government and almost all the major landowners were Normans by 1075. The change in land ownership from 1066 to 1086 was recorded in the Domesday Book which was the most extensive public survey in Europe at the time.

Construction

The Normans’ greatest achievements were architectural. They were master builders and introduced the Romanesque style to England. Hundreds of castles, abbeys and cathedrals were built during the reign of William and his son William Rufus. These imposing structures served different purposes but they all reminded the population that the Normans were to be a permanent presence in England.

The social construct of feudalism relied on castles and churches. God, represented on earth by the Church, was at the top of the feudal pyramid. The king derived his authority from God and his authority was demonstrated through his wealth and the power of his military. The king owned all the land and he gave most of this away to the Church or to loyal supporters in exchange for tax and military service. Castles were needed to remind ordinary people of their responsibility to their lord - this included offering their labour or paying taxes as well as obeying the law.

People