how does William centralise power

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Created by
Zaara Bungar

Cards (11)

  • royal demesne

    Williams land - ran by sheriffs
    extended
    William kept far more land then Edward the Confessor
    made him richer
  • the feudal system

    increased his power
    it provided armies of knights without him needing to pay
  • new forest areas were created
  • knight service made William more powerful because they owed loyalty to him (40 days)
  • only using trusted regents when he was in Normandy

    Lanfranc and Odo
    regents = took control when he was away
    he knew they would not try to take power in his absense
  • reducing the role and increasing the number of Earls

    increased the power gap between him and the earls
  • the doomsday book 

    increased power
    he knew who owned what - therefore he knew how much each person should pay
  • money - geld tax and relief

    relief - money to inherit land
    made him more powerful
    he became richer - can use money to build castles
  • Lanfranc centralising reform 

    made control easier
    created new jobs - archdeacon
  • the church

    increased his power
    appoint bishops
  • fiefs and homage

    fiefs + homage = swear loyalty
    forfeits - punishment for breaking oath - usually financial
    ensured that Normans stayed loyal