norman church Flashcards
why was the church important to william?
Helped William control England’s finances. The Church managed land and collected taxes. They also made written records of what people owed and passed this on to the king.
Managing the law. Bishops and abbots acted as judges in shire courts due to their legal education. The Church also kept legal documents safe.
Passing political messages to their congregation. This helped to legitimise William as king and reduce the number of rebellions- part of williams mechanism to control englands society.
Providing William with knights for his army. They also ensured that knights had sufficient landholding and the money and equipment to serve the king
links between norman church and government.
-bishops - helped the king develop the law and consulted him on legal matters.
archbishops- could represent the king in negotiations lanfranc governed england when william visited normandy.
church clerks- issued kings writs - king promoted talented celrks to bishops
lanfranc
-head of english church
- revived church councils
-enforced norman rules
-rebuilt churches
-removed corruption from the church
stigand
-little control over archbishops
-accused of simony- selling church jobs for money
- appointed by earl godwin against edwards wishes
similarities between lanfranc and stigand
-ambassador of the king
- sat on shire and hundred courts
- military and economic duties to the king
- sat on the witan to advise the king.
why did the role of archbishop change
-lanfranc wanted it to be chosen y the king not for political advantage.
-he wanted to bring a clearer hierachy to the government of the church.
- wanted clergy to live holy lives (no corruption)
-not motivated by greed
how did lanfranc reform the church
-New laws banned the clergy from marrying or having sexual relationships. Lanfranc did allow priests to remain married if this occurred before the passing of these laws
Lanfranc believed that Anglo-Saxon clergy were immoral. He did not want Norman priests to act as normal people in society.
-In 1076, the Church established exclusive bishop courts to hear and try legal cases involving the clergy. The Church delivered all trials by ordeal
Lanfranc did not want the hundreds courts to hear Church cases. It made the Church separate from society and increased its legal power
The Church built cathedrals in strategically important places like Chichester and Salisbury-
Anglo-Saxon cathedrals were in isolated positions. The Norman cathedrals gave the bishops security and allowed them to manage their diocese better.
Lanfranc revived monasteries, especially in the North. The religious standards of English monasteries improved
In Anglo-Saxon England, the levels of spirituality and number of monasteries had declined
why was the church normanised
The king could use the Norman archdeacons and bishops to spread political messages to the people
Even though most priests were Anglo-Saxons, they were heavily controlled by the Norman clergy
Anglo-Saxon priests had to follow Norman church procedures
The Church held 25% of the land in England
Norman clergy protected this land from Anglo-Saxon rebellion
how was the church normanised
-New bishops paid homage to the king
-The king chose who would become bishop
-The king oversaw the Church courts
-William controlled what the Church could communicate to the Pope - This forced the Norman clergy to listen to William over the Pope
how was england normanised
-Castles and Norman-style churches dominated Norman England. Castles became more important for trade than burhs.
-The Harrying of the North and the end of trade with Scandinavia impacted the economy of the Danelaw. Parts of Yorkshire remained wasteland throughout William’s reign. Instead, Normans traded with Normandy. Cities grew in size
-William had more power over tenants-in-chief than Anglo-Saxon kings had over earls
-William replaced thegns with knights. Knights had less independence than thegns, who began rebellions against William. Knights were controlled by tenants-in-chief and were poor in comparison to thegns
how did england stay the same after being normanised
Life in villages remained very similar under Norman rule. Peasants still provided labour for a lord and faced many challenges in life
William’s royal household remained in the same structure as Edward the Confessor’s. The king had personal servants, administrative workers and advisers. Normans replaced Anglo-Saxons in these roles
William continued to charge geld tax to his subjects. Normandy did not have a similar tax to the geld tax. William raised the amount of geld tax people had to pay to make himself wealthier
In Anglo-Saxon times, invasion caused a combining of cultures. For example, in the Danelaw, Danish tradition mixed with English customs. The Norman Conquest caused a similar exchange to create an Anglo-Norman culture
two features of norman churches
Feature 1: Large and Impressive Structures
Norman churches were built on a grand scale, often with towering stone walls, large windows, and massive pillars (1). These features symbolized Norman power and the dominance of the Church under William’s reign (1).
Feature 2: Romanesque Architecture
Norman churches were designed in the Romanesque style, with rounded arches, vaulted ceilings, and thick walls (1). This style emphasized durability and permanence, reflecting the Normans’ desire to establish a lasting presence in England (1).
two feature of anglo saxon churhes
Simpler and Smaller Design
Anglo-Saxon churches were often modest and smaller than Norman churches, built to serve local communities (1). They were typically constructed with wood or stone, using local materials (1).
Feature 2: Narrow Windows and Tall Towers
Anglo-Saxon churches often had narrow windows and square or round towers (1). These towers served both religious and defensive purposes, highlighting the dual role of churches in spiritual life and local protection (1).
