normans

The Establishment of Norman Rule over England

King William I's Immediate Concerns

  • Consolidation of Power

    • King William I, after his victory at Hastings, aimed to consolidate power over England.

    • Faced the challenge of asserting authority over a foreign population.

Events Following the Battle of Hastings

  • Edgar Atheling's Surrender

    • Edgar Atheling, briefly crowned king post-Harold II's death, surrendered to William.

    • Alongside him, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stigand, surrendered, ensuring security for the southern regions.

Methods of Asserting Authority

  • Retention of Power by Anglo-Saxon Earls

    • William allowed Edwin and Morcar, the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria, to keep their lands as long as they acknowledged his authority as king and feudal lord.

    • This strategy aimed to pacify the Anglo-Saxon elite without immediate conflict.

  • Land Redistribution

    • Land ownership transferred from Anglo-Saxon nobles who resisted William to Norman barons who supported him.

    • This was essential for creating a loyal nobility that William could trust.

Introduction of the Feudal System

  • Norman vs. Anglo-Saxon Feudalism

    • Feudal system existed before the Conquest but underwent significant changes under William.

    • Key change: King William became the ultimate owner of all land, deciding who to lease land to, thus centralizing power.

    • The king's control of land created a new power structure and deepened the hierarchies of loyalty and obligation.

Structure of Norman Feudalism

  • Hierarchy Explanation

    • The king leased land to barons, who were obligated to fight for the king and train knights.

    • Knights received land from barons; villeins worked the land, paying tribute in crops and fines.

Key Figures in Norman Rule

  • Odo and William FitzOsbern

    • Odo: King William's half-brother, Bishop of Bayeux, fought in Hastings, known for commissioning the Bayeux Tapestry.

    • Post-Conquest Status: Became the Earl of Kent; was a regent ruling southern England during William's absence.

    • Gained wealth by seizing land, though faced accusations of greed and later imprisonment.

    • William FitzOsbern: Close friend and advisor to William, responsible for the invasion logistics.

    • Post-Conquest Status: Became the Earl of Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester, and Oxfordshire.

    • Acted as regent alongside Odo, central to consolidating power.

Initial Resistance to Norman Rule

The Anglo-Saxon Response

  • Armed Resistance in 1067

    • Angled by confusion and resentment, Eadric the Wild led a rebellion against Norman control in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

    • Alliances formed with Welsh princes, leading to violent confrontations against Norman forces.

Rebellions in Northumbria (1068)

  • Multiple Earl Leadership

    • Northumbria experienced five different earls post-Conquest, leading to instability.

    • The failed installation of Robert de Commines as Earl resulted in rebellion, culminating in the massacre of his forces in Durham.

Danish Threat and Hereward the Wake

  • Resistance in the East (1070-1071)

    • A Danish army was sent by King Sweiyn, inadequate to restart a northern campaign but prompting William to pay them off.

    • Some Danes supported Hereward the Wake, an English thegn, who led opposition against Normans in East Anglia.

The Harrying of the North

  • Systematic Destruction (1069-1070)

    • Rebellions prompted William to enforce a harsh 'scorched earth' policy, burning crops and livestock.

    • Chroniclers described William's actions as merciless, punishing the innocent with the guilty.

Consequences of the Harrying of the North

  • Long-Term Effects

    • Refugees fled, leading to widespread depopulation and migration.

    • Regions were left 'waste' as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, highlighting loss in wealth and population.

Reasons for Cruelty

  • Causes of William’s Response

    • Resistance due to high taxation and land confiscation led locals to prefer rebellion.

    • Hostility grew with the retraction of local autonomy under Norman rule and military mismanagement during William's absence.

Revolt of the Anglo-Norman Earls (1075)

Breakdown of Trust and Rebellion

  • Division of England

    • William sought to prevent powerful lords by distributing land across his followers.

    • Control given to Odo in the southeast and FitzOsbern in the Welsh Marches, maintaining power through fortified structures.

    • Following FitzOsbern's death, issues arose with managing the concentrated power of his heirs.

Roger de Breteuil's Rebellion

  • Motivation

    • Roger felt restricted compared to his father's authority, sought support through alliances, leading to a revolt against William.

    • Resentment spread amongst the Anglo-Norman aristocracy, further complicating the political landscape.

Reasons for Revolt's Failure

  • Challenges

    • Lack of Anglo-Saxon support and betrayal by Earl Waltheof, alongside military defeats, hastened the collapse of the revolt.

The Downfall of Bishop Odo

Betrayal and Imprisonment

  • Odo’s Power and Downfall

    • Once trusted, Odo faced accusations of greed and abuse of power; imprisoned for a failed expedition to Italy.

Reign of William II (William Rufus)

Transition after William I’s Death

  • Succession Dynamics

    • William I's three sons entered a struggle for power; Robert received Normandy, William Rufus England.

    • Ruthless diplomacy and military skills characterized William II’s reign, particularly addressing Odo’s rebellion.

Key Developments During William II's Reign

  • Conflict and Consolidation

    • The promotion of Anselm to Archbishop signaled notable trust in a figure of integrity.

    • William II agreed to finance Robert Curthose for the First Crusade, signaling both support and strategic consolidation.