Marcher Earldoms

• Wales and Scotland were fully independent nations at the time of the Norman Conquest
• Regions of interest

  • Wales, Scotland
• Wales was ruled by Warrior princes who raided English lands on the Welsh border
• Rewards given by William to control the Welsh border

  • Small earldoms with additional powers
• Roles of the Marcher Earls


  • Keep the regions secure and prosperous
• Marcher Earldoms

  • Chester, Shrewsbury, Herford
• Chester was awarded to Hugh d'Avranches for contributing 60 ships during William's invasions
• Roger de Montgomery was made Earl of Shrewsbury for governing on William's behalf during the invasion
• William Fitz Osbern was made Earl of Herford for his important role during the invasion and for building Chepstow Castle
• Marcher Earldoms had additional powers beyond the normal Norman aristocracy
• Marcher Earldoms


  • Smaller in size, centered on towns (Chester, Shrewsbury, Herford)
• Privileges of Marcher Earls

  Permission to create buroughs, towns, markets, and churches
• The impact of granting privileges to the marcha Earls

  • Made it easier for them to control their earldoms and gave them a greater grip on the whole region
  • Allowed them to create buroughs or towns, markets, and churches without the king's special permission, encouraging wealth and trade in their LOM, bringing stability, and helping pay for defenses
  • Granted full power to enforce the law to the Earls, with Reeves working directly for the Earl and not for the king, enabling swift decisive action when dealing with threats
  • Marcha Earls paid no tax on their land, keeping them loyal and allowing investment in defenses
  • Allowed them to build castles in their earldoms without the king's prior permission, aiding in defense and control of the Welsh border
• William established the marcha earldoms to reward his most loyal Nobles and control the Lawless Welsh border
• Privileges granted to the marcha Earls

  • Right to establish towns, churches, and markets
  • Full power to enforce the law
  • Exemption from paying tax on their land
  • Right to establish castles
• William could count on the marcha Earls to help control England until around 1075 when some rebelled, possibly in protest at losing some privileges