History - A-S England - Theme two - Norman Conquest and Control

Why was William able to win the Battle of Hastings?

Military experience and preparation

-Military Experience, fought first battle at 18, Took counties of Maine and Brittany from King Philip, Fought alongside Henry I

- Invasion Preparations, gathered nobility, gained approval of the Pope, amassed large army, 10,000 men, 2,000 war horses, marched to the mouth of river somme for shorter crossing

Why was William able to win the Battle of Hastings?

Pre-Battle

- Tempted H into early battle in his own territory (Wessex), by ravaging the nearby countryside - made H race down from the north will little time and supplies and no backup with an inexperienced army, exhausted troops, and didnt use his fleet

-Norman scouts spotted saxon army, no element of surprise. Normans prayed night before, saxons spent the night drinking.

- H posted himself atop a hill for high ground

Why was William able to win the Battle of Hastings?

Armies composition

- Saxons fromed atop a hill in a shield wall formation a kilometre in length with around 7-8,000 men, all infantry. With the housecarls in the front and fyrdmen behind them. planned to hold on hill to stop Normans, much more traditional style

- Normans had similar sized army, much more experienced men, had archers and crossbowmen at front, heavy infantry behind them and knights and cavalry at the back. Bretons on the left, Normans in the front, French on the right. Futuristic style.

Why was William able to win the Battle of Hastings?

In Battle

- 9am, Normans charged at shield wall but didnt break against infantry and cavalry and held tight for 3 hours.

the bretons broke and fled down the hill, sensing victory, the fyrdmen charged after them, and rumor spread W had been killed and the Normans pulled back. However most of the Saxons didnt charge and didnt capitalise on the moment.

- W soon remerged and the Norman line resolidified, charged the fyrdmen and cut them down.

- 2pm, the lines had reformed and direct assault on the shield wall continued, Poitiers claims that feigned retreats were used to draw out the saxons.

- 4pm, the shield wall was beginning to crack, Ws archers aimed high and his troops smashed into the shield wall, a very risky manoeuvre, H was shot by an arrow and cut down by a hit squad sent after him, dismembering him

- The Saxons crumbled and Gyrth and Leofwine were also lost, William had won and the Godwins ahd been destroyed.

Why was William still in a tricky position after the Battle of Hastings?

In a foreign territory with no landed allies unknown to him, London had blockaded itself. and england now fully vulnerable to incursions from Wales, Scotland and Scandanavia.

What evidence is there that the English earls showed 'no signs of submitting'?

Edwin and Morcar had reached London and blockaded it. And Archbishop Stigand hastily crowned Edgar Aethling as the new King.

What evidence is there of William using 'terror tactics' to ensure submission?

Ravaged the nearby towns of Romney, Dover, Canterbury which all surrendered.

Which locations did William take to encircle London?

Circling around it, submitting the shires, caught Surrey and Hampshire and later Winchester, securing the treasury.

established a castle at Wallingford to stop relief reaching London

Blocked the roads of Ermine and Watling street blocking the North, and established another castle at Berhamstead

Soon, all of London surrendered

What style of coronation did William have?

order of service that dated back to King Edgar in 973 - wanted to reinforce that he was the rue heir and successor of edward

How does the coronation show the insecurity of the Normans?

Cheers outside the abbey mistaken by Normans for rebellion and fighting ensued.

When and why did William return to Normandy?

In Spring 1067, to victory tour in Normandy showing of his prisoners.

Who ran England in his absence?

William Fitzosbern and Odo of Bayeaux, particularly harsh rulers.

Who was involved in the first southern rebellion?

Eustace of Bologne joined a small rebellion in kent, motivated mostly for wanting more power.

Why did the rebellion fail?

Cut to pieces by the Dover castle Garrisson and Eustace fled, later reconciling with William.

What were the causes of the 'first true rebellion' in Exeter?

Increased taxation made the people uneasy, and the presence of the late King Harolds mother, Gytha.

How did William deal with the Exeter rebellion?

Crossed back across the chanel, wary of the south being deep Godwin territory. In Jan 1068, W marched into Devon, sieged Exeter, dealing heavy losses but after 18 days they submitted.

Gave them lenient terms and built a castle in Exeter

. What evidence is there that the South-West was still not fully stable?

W marched through the south-west and received the submission of earls in Bristol and Gloucester.

Hs sons attempted to raid the south-west twice and more tried to siege Devon and Somerset. W relied on Count Brian of Brittany and Bishop Geoffrey to deal with them.

How many times did William take the field in the north between 1068 and 1070?

3 Times

Why did powerful figures such as Edwin and Morcar turn against William?

They wanted more power, Edwin was promised marriage to one of Ws daughters but that had never been fufilled.

How did William react to the growing opposition in the north in 1068?

Used lightning raids in the counties of Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire leaving destruction. Soon Edwin and Morcar surrendered. He built a castle in York

Why was January 1069 a particularly challenging month for William?

Rebels attacked Durham, killing the Norman Earl Robert of Commines and his knights and local insurgents raided York castle and Edgar descended from Scotland to assume comand of this rebellion.

How did William react in January 1069?

In a lightning march, W relieved the garrison at York, and Edgar fled back to Scotland; a second York castle was built

How did events 'spiral out of control' in the summer of 1069?

A Danish fleet of 240 ships appeared off Kent, led by King Swegn's sons, Harold and Canute.

They raided the east coast and landed on the river Humber, Yorkshire rebelled once again, and Edgar reappeared to join the Danes. Who seized York in September

Why was the summer of 1069 potentially the biggest challenge for William's rule?

Faced with a troublesome region with a leader with a legitimate claim with a highly trained Danish army and malcolm of Scotland right above it.

What evidence is there to suggest William acted brutally in response?

Marched from Nottingham to York, devestated the land and reoccupied York, he went searching to fight the Danes but they never gave battle

How did William deal with the remainder of the rebels in the North-West and crush 'the rebellious spirit'?

Split his army into war bands and ravaged the land of Yorkshire, A-S Chronicle, Orderic Vitalis and the Domesday Book all reciprocate the destruction.

Marched through the pennines in winter and took Chester and Stafford without difficulty and established castles. The Danes had been dispersed by a bribe.

What did the rebellion forces of East Anglia consist of?

the legendary, Hereward the Wake took charge of rebels local to the area with the help of the Danes and soon Morcar came to help.

Who was Hereward the Wake?

Hereward the Wake was a local thegn in Ely who had been exiled by Edward the Confessor. Most lilely had his lands confiscated by William.

Why was Ely an ideal location for rebellious activity?

Very strategic centre, well protected on the marsh and had easy access for the fleet.

How did William deal with the Danes in Ely?

He bought off the Danes after they raided Peterborough.

What evidence is there that Hereward the Wake was particularly difficult to deal with?

Used the challenging Geography and his skill to the advantage.

How did William eventually deal with the rebels?

William blockaded Ely by boat and built a causeway to the isle. he marched up and took Ely

Hereward disappeared into legend and Morcar was imprisoned for life.

Who were the earls that rebelled in 1075?

In Normandy, Ralph de Gaul earl of Norfolk, Roger de Bretuil Earl of Hereford and Waltheof earl of Northumbria. All of whom were sons of very powerful men, Roger the son of William Fitzosbern

How do we know that these people must have believed a victory against William was a realistic prospect?

The had the support of the Danes

How was Lanfranc helped in defeating the plot?

Waltheof got cold feet and blabbed to Lanfranc, removing the element of surprise

What was the outcome of the rebellion?

The Danes never came and Ralph fled and Roger was captured and imprisoned, Waltheof was executed

What reasons are given for why William was able to deal with the threats to his rule?

The rebellions were very regional and he had many powerful and scattered allies across England to rely on. While also being prepared to be completely ruthless.

What differences are emphasised between Anglo-Saxon England and Normandy regarding peace?

Most Anglo-saxon problems had been dealth with beforehand diplomatically, this was starck contrast tothe Normans, who when they landed in England created a society geared towards war.

Feudalism

A political system is put in place by William in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land

Subinfeudation

Tenents-in-chief grant their land to others as well to a tenent

Freeholding

Owning land in perpetuity or for ever, this disappaered under William.

Who owned all the land in England after 1066?

William

How had William decided to give land to after the invasion?

The ones who played the most pivotal role in a close circle of 11 were given a quarter of the English Land, such as Fitzosbern, Roger of Montgommery, Odo of Bayeaux and Robert of Mortain.

The tenents-in-chief which were the Norman earls, bishops and barons were granted up to 3 quarters of the land.

What did the tenant-in-chief have to provide William with in return for the land?

servitium debitum, service owed by providing Knights for duty.

What do the ecclesiastical archives reveal about obligations relating to the Church?

not exempt from military obligation and abbots and bishops had to levy troops.

Enfeoffment

The granting of a fief

Fief

Land granted to a Knight for their service.

How did a tenant-in-chief then maintain his knights?

Granting a fief or by keeping them in his household and providing food, lodging and pay.

What was the difference between landholding knights and household knights?

landholding knights had fiefs however it was not a well off prospect and only but them above a well-off peasent.

Household knights were the elite who were well trained and professional and some migrated to royal houselholds and formed the nucleus of the army

What evidence is there of close bonds between the lords and their knights?

reinforced by symbolic acts such as oath-taking and granting of arms and armour

What is the traditional view of the implementation of the feudal system?

Imposed uniformly rapidly after conquest.

What does recent scholarship suggest about the implementation of the feudal system?

developed slowly over decades, lands had to be acquired and redistributed, and all was dependant on local circumstances and tradition.

What does Source 17 suggest about the link between Anglo-Saxon and Norman methods?

Previous obligations did exist through a levy system, and scuttage payments were accepted to pay for land. William I and II found this more useful as they used mercenaries rather than feudal hosts to save time.

What was one of William's first acts that reveal the significance of castles?

Set up a prefabricated castle at Hastings

Why did William build motte and bailey castles initially?

It had long proved its worth on the continent, a key instrument of war and easy to construct.

What examples are there of rapid castle building by William?

they were built wherever trouble flared. In Exeter after rebellion, and many in the North such as Warwick, Nottingham, York, Lincoln, Huntingdon and Camebridge. As well as on the borders of wales, as well as on the Scotish border in Newcastle.

Why were castles 'vital' to the Normans?

points where troops could be concentrated and patrols sent out, and changed warfare from open battle to sieges.

What did Orderic Vitalis state about castles?

"the fortifications that the Normans called castles were scarcely known in the English provinces, and so the English - in spite of their courage and love of fighting - could put up only a weak resistance to their enemies"

What evidence is there of the importance of castles due to the men used?

Castellans were significant magnates, entrusted to significant men, especially York.

What evidence do we have that castle building was resented by the people of England?

over 80 were built by 1100, 2/3 of which in towns, many homes had to be demolished

What key example is there of a castle 'built to intimidate'?

The White Tower in London.

How did castles change in their use as rebellions became less common?

They became seats of local government and everyday life.