2.2 The Norman Conquest and its impact

• The Norman Conquest


  Brought change at the top of society, but many features of Anglo-Saxon England remained
• A year of turmoil

  1066
• Edward the Confessor


  • Died without an heir, but reportedly promised the throne to two people: Harold Godwinson and William of Normandy
• Harold Godwinson


  • Crowned by the Witan, they wanted a strong leader to defend the country
• William of Normandy


  • Claimed Edward had promised him the throne in 1051, and that Harold had sworn to uphold this promise in 1064. William began to plan his invasion of England
• Harald Hardrada


  • Another claimant, attacked the north of England – Harold Godwinson marched north to meet him and defeated him at the Battle of Stamford Bridge
• William's invasion of England

  William landed in the south unopposed. Harold rode back to the south and gathered a new army – they met William's army at the Battle of Hastings. Harold was defeated
• William


  • Crowned King of England on 25 December 1066 after defeating another claimant (Edgar Atheling)
• Norman consolidation of power


  1. Many rebellions in England against Norman rule between 1067 and 1075

  2. Most of the rebellions were easy to put down as they lacked co-ordination or strong leadership

  3. William's treatment of rebels became harsher over time: at first he accepted some rebels' surrender without harsh repercussions, but later he devastated parts of the country and killed rebels (such as in the Harrying of the North, 1069)
• Castles


  • The Normans built castles to show the England that they were a permanent presence. Later, many castles were painted white so that they would be visible for miles around
  • Castles were garrisoned (stationed with troops) and used to control the surrounding area
• Land distribution


  • William rewarded the loyalty of family and closest friends with land. This land had been taken from English thegns
• Changes brought by the Norman Conquest

  • Castles did not exist before the Conquest
  • In return for loyalty, William distributed land to his followers, who would then divide their land to reward their followers – this later became known as feudalism
  • The majority of Anglo-Saxon thegns (between 4000 and 5000) lost their land
  • A lot of English sheriffs and other officials were replaced by Normans, as were important English bishops and abbots
  • The Normans carried out a huge church rebuilding project and church architecture more closely resembled that of Normandy
  • William compiled the Domesday Book so that he could organise more efficient systems of taxation
• Continuity after the Norman Conquest

  • The Church was still important to the king. William spent a lot of time after 1075 fighting in France and he left England in the hands of his barons and a group of churchmen (including Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury)
  • William made use of efficient systems of Anglo-Saxon administration (such as tax collection, writs, the gathering of armies, and dealing with law and order)
  • The number of serfs (people owned by their lord) rose sharply after the Conquest, but there had been many slaves in Anglo-Saxon England