Noman England c1066-c1100, Historic environment: Wales

Question 1

What were the Earldoms between England and Wales called?

Answer 1

The Welsh Marches

Question 2

Who were the Marcher Earls?

Answer 2

Norman lords appointed by William to guard the border between England and Wales.

Question 3

Who were the three Marcher Earls?

Answer 3

Hugh d’Avranches, Roger de Montgomery, William FitzOsbern

Question 4

What were the three Marcher Earldoms?

Answer 4

Chester, Shrewsbury, Hereford

Question 5

Who was the Earl of Chester?

Answer 5

Hugh d’Avranches

Question 6

Who was the Earl of Hereford?

Answer 6

William FitzOsbern

Question 7

Who was the Earl of Shrewsbury?

Answer 7

Roger de Montgomery

Question 8

What Earldom did Hugh d’Avranches control?

Answer 8

Chester

Question 9

What Earldom did William FitzOsbern control?

Answer 9

Hereford

Question 10

What Earldom did Roger de Montgomery control?

Answer 10

Shrewsbury

Question 11

What was different between the Marcher Earldoms and other Earldoms?

Answer 11

The Earls were given control of law and order in their territories.
The Earls did not pay taxes

Question 12

What was the same between the Marcher Earldoms and the other Earldoms?

Answer 12

They still had to provide allegiance to the king.

Question 13

Why did the Marcher Earls not pay taxes?

Answer 13

William saw it as incentive for them to build settlements, castles and defend the border.

Question 14

What would happen to the Marcher Earldom if the Earl died without an heir?

Answer 14

The Earldom would go to the king.

Question 15

What deal did FitzOsbern make with the Welsh?

Answer 15

He recognised their right to lands. In exchange, they recognised him as lord.

Question 16

What relations did Roger of Breteuil have?

Answer 16

He was FitzOsbern’s son

Question 17

When did the Welsh raid England?

Answer 17

1067-69

Question 18

How did Roger de Montgomery exploit Wales?

Answer 18

He took land in mid-Wales, the Severn Valley and built the town of Montgomery.

Question 19

How significant were the Marcher Earldoms?

Answer 19

Norman economic, political and military dominance depended on them.

Question 20

Where did Hugh d’Avrances build castles?

Answer 20

Along the River Conwy

Question 21

Where was Chepstow castle built?

Answer 21

On a rocky outcrop over the River Wye

Question 22

Who built Chepstow castle?

Answer 22

William FitzOsbern

Question 23

Where was the highest concentration of castles in England?

Answer 23

Wales had the highest concentration of castles in all of Norman England.

Question 24

How many castles were there in Wales?

Answer 24

300 castles before 1215

Question 25

In what year did Roger of Breteuil rebel against William?

Answer 25

He rebelled in 1075.

Question 26

Who joined the rebellion with Roger of Breteuil?

Answer 26

Ralph, Earl of East Anglia and Waltheof, Earl of Northumberland.

Question 27

What was the outcome of the rebellion Roger was involved in?

Answer 27

It was a disaster for Roger.

Question 28

Who defeated Roger’s rebellion?

Answer 28

Bishop Odo and Wulfstan

Question 29

What was the outcome for the rebellion leaders?

Answer 29

Waltheof was beheaded. Roger lost all his land.

Question 30

What happened to Caradog of Gwent in 1081?

Answer 30

He was defeated by the king of Deheubarth

Question 31

What did Caradog’s defeat lead William to do?

Answer 31

William felt a show of strength was needed so he marched across the Welsh border.

Question 32

How far did William march into Wales?

Answer 32

To St David’s in the South West where he built a small castle.

Question 33

What did the king of Deheubarth do in response to William’s march across the border?

Answer 33

He realises he was no match for William and paid a yearly £40 tribute.