Marcher Earldoms

• Hugh d'Avraches was given the Earldom of Chester.
• Roger of Montgomery was given the Earldom of Shrewsbury.
• William FitzOzborn was given the Earldom of Hereford.
• These Earls were given permission to build castles and towns without the king's permission.
• Since Wales was politically hard to control all Earls were exempt from tax and were allowed to administer law.
• Even following William's death in 1087, the Earls were still responsible for the colonisation and expansion into Wales.
• When the Earls began to die control of Wales weakened. Therefore, they were necessary to keeping Wales in check.