Norman’s how William took control Flashcards
The legal system ,castles and rebellions
What was the kings court ?
Most powerful run by king and dealt with serious offences
What were the 3 trails by ordeal ?
Water , fire , combat
What were oaths taken?
Oath of allegiance ‘ common oath ‘
Promise not be involved in major crime
How many castles were built between 1066 and 1086? What style ?
500 motte and Bailey castles
Why were castle built motte and Bailey style ?
Quick + easy around 2 weeks to build
Motte on mound and Bailey surrounded with small buildings
After 1070 started using stone as before it had been wood
Why were castles built !
Defence
Constant reminder of control
Where were castles built ?
Important locations e.g river crossings or major road junctions
Lot of welsh border to defend against Welsh
High to see attackers but close to resources e.g food and water
When was the Welsh border rebellion and what happened ?
1067
Eric the wild thegn of Herefordshire launched revolt with support of Welsh princes Bleddyn +Riwallon who stole land on border
Launched another 1069 attack but defeated by Williams army
Northumbria incident
Copsig appointed to rule northern Northumbria by William 1067
He had supported Tostig
Had his head hacked off by locals
The Norman earls rebellion
1075
Ralph de Gael and Robert de Breteuil
- promised support from French and Danes
William stopped Ralph’s marriage
Blinded and murdered by William
Harrying of the North rebellion
Danish vikings with 240 ships invaded to help
Villages burned, fields salted, people murdered
100,000 died
What were towns like before 1066?
Most people lived in countryside working for thegn who gave them land to farm + place to live
Sheep farming main industry
Overcrowding + overflowing waste
Domesday book shows London had 10000 inhabitants
Working life ?
Mostly farmers long hours 6 days /week
10% tax on farm produce
Lords/bishops income from produce by tenants
Peasants pay taxes to landlords / church called tithe
25-35% land kept for use of lord villeins work for lord at least once a week
Housing ?
Poorest peasants (serfs or villeins) lived in houses around lords manor
Not allowed to leave without permission
Single room,fire in middle, damp,straw base
Wattle and daub structure
Manors house made of stone
Trade?
Increased in Norman rule as more links with Europe
Salt trade - 13 salt houses Droitwhich grew due to this used to preserve food
Wool trade- great demand for clothes and was produced in countryside
Brought to town markets by rivers and exported to places e.g Flanders in Belgium
Metalwork- iron+lead for houses and making weapons
Gloucester
Immediate impacts of Norman conquest
Rent and taxes increased as spent in Normandy
Land took away from English owners
Destruction e.g harrying of the north + 166 homes destroyed in London
Domesday survey shows freemen decreased as couldn’t afford to be free so became villeins
Long term impacts of Norman conquest
Economic growth e.g increased trade
Less threat of invasions/ war helped trade to increase
William brought Jewish moneylenders which allowed people to have loans to boost economy
Feudal system
William favoured and gave people land who helped him conquer
King gave barons land+titles for loyalty (200)
Barons gave shelter food and protection to knights in return for guaranteed number of days service
More control asserted over tenants e.g fees when tenants died , controlling marriages
What was primogeniture?
Property was passed on intact to the eldest son
What were feudal incidents?
Laws that meant if a tenant died without heirs the land was returned to the lord who would give it wayward as a gift
What was the domesday book ? How did it keep control?
Tax book to find out how much people owned so they were taxed correctly
This payed to pay vikings bribes to prevent war
William could legalise + record ownership of land
King owned 20%, church 25%,10 members of Norman aristocracy 25%, 170 others 30%
In 1086 population 1.5-2 mil 2000 knights
