Norman society, culture and warfare pre 1066

Norman society was based on the feudal system in which powerful men held land in return for providing a service

  • Most of the land was ruled on the king’s behalf by dukes or counts who swore loyalty to the king and promised to lend him armies is necessary

  • The dukes or counts became the king’s ‘vassal’ and were given land in return called fief

  • Land in return for loyalty is called the feudal system

  • The feudal system is different to the system ran in England as the armies belonged to the king in England and were loyal to him

  • French dukes and counts had their own armies, giving them independence to rule their lands like small kingdoms

Dukes and counts built private armies by giving their supporters weapons and armour

  • As a result they had full time armies not just troops which they could call on in times of war

The invention of the stirrup allowed cavalry fighting possible

  • this allowed the rider to charge at the enemy with a sword whilst still in the saddle

Knights became a part of the feudal system, swearing loyalty to the duke or count in return for receiving land

  • This helped dukes and counts to control their land

Knights took as much tax and rent as they could from those who lived on the land that they controlled

  • Land was a source of wealth and power

Knights built castles

  • Often built with earth and timber but later replaced with stone

  • Symbols of power and enabled knights to defend and control fiefs

Culture

  • The Viking settlers in Normandy were pagan but converted to Christianity

  • The Normans became devout supporters of the Roman Catholic Church, at the forefront of the Church reform

  • Monks and Nuns were praised for religious art and music as well as their devotion and quality of teaching

  • churches were larger and finer than those in England, usually built in stone even in small towns in the Romanesque style with clean lines and elegant rounded arches

William

  • In 1035, the Duke of Normandy died but his 8 year old son William was too young to rule

  • Norman knights saw the chance to grab what land and power they could, leaving Normandy unstable

  • Lords ruling in the place of William were killed

  • In 1047, a revolt broke out and William took charge and persuaded the King of France to help him to crush the rebels, regaining control through mercilessness

  • William married Matilda of Flanders, a powerful neighbouring country