Normans - Pevensey

Question 1

290AD

Answer 1

• roman fort built there.
• one of 9 forts along south and east coasts defending ‘Saxon Shore’.
• had D shaped wall towers: a new feature of Roman fortifications at the time.

Question 2

400AD

Answer 2

• 491AD, the fort was besieged and its population slaughtered by Saxon raiders.
• after this it gradually fell to ruins.

Question 3

1066

Answer 3

• fortified castles prevented invaders trying to seize the throne.
• Motte+Bailey Castle gave protection.
• intimidating to locals
• William I built a timber castle within using pre fabricated materials to protect his army.

Question 4

1067

Answer 4

• helped Will control England+Normandy while he was doing a victory tour after battle of Hastings.
• kept lines of comms open with continent.
• overtime, motte and Bailey castles were rebuilt in stone. This meant better protection from fires.

Question 5

1100

Answer 5

• Robert built a stone keep and Bailey fortress.
• repaired walls where necessary, about 25m tall.
• flat buttress on each main castle face for more strength.
• clockwise stairwells allowed movement for defenders and confused enemies.

Question 6

Further defenses

Answer 6

• began to include more defensive features.
• eg three guard towers which were added to the keep.
• a postern gate added to the southern side.
• arrow loops and murder holes also developed as part of castle design.

Question 7

How William was able to become King in 1066

Answer 7

• landed at Pevensey with invasion fleet: shallow beach, natural harbour.
• used the ruins to protect army.
• built a timber castle, rebuilt walls.
• used surviving roads to move troops.
• rest and prepare at P, plundered on the way to raise morale.

Question 8

How William established and maintained control after battle of Hastings

Answer 8

• Pevensey castle protected the coast against sea invasion.
• lines of comms open with continent.
• fortified castles prevented invaders trying to seize the throne.
• when Will returned from Normandy in Dec 1068, building was continued under his own supervision.

Question 9

Importance of castles in Norman feudal system

Answer 9

• castle + surrounding land given to half bro Robert count of mortain.
• form of patronage, he was loyal to W.
• land divided into rapes given to men Will trusted (patronage).
• 5 rapes by 1073: Chichester, Arundel, Bramber, Lewes, Pevensey, Hastings.
• all rapes had a castle.

Question 10

Importance of castles in Norman feudal system 2

Answer 10

• Robert made Walter de Ricarville sheriff of Pevensey, he got land.
• After rebellion against Will II in 1088,
  Robert was allowed to keep land, this ensured his loyalty to Will II.
• Robert’s son opposed Henry I so under him he lost his rape.
• Given to another Norman lord.

Question 11

Effect of Norman conquest on English society and Church

Answer 11

• 3/4 all English towns between 1066-1150 were next to castles.
• 1066: small, 24 burgesses. King received £1 in rent from burgesses.
• 1086: 60 burgesses, Robert got £3 from them in rent.
• market for salt making. 24 local salt works.

Question 12

Impact of Normans on castle structure and design in England

Answer 12

• Will raised height of original Roman tower in NW corner of new inner Bailey. Acted as an observation point from which to look out for attack.
• Robert created first permanent defences: refortified Roman outer wall and creating 2 baileys within it, these were divided by a ditch and wooden palisade.
• AS had never seen buildings like it before.

Question 13

Continuing of Norman dynasty and the succession crisis, after the death of William I

Answer 13

• Pevensey was important as Robert I could potentially invade from there, like his father.
• Rebels against Will II were in, Will II spent 6 weeks besieging the castle, rebels (Bishop Odo +co) had to surrender.
• 1101, Robert threatened to invade again, Henry I spent summer at Pevensey to protect it. Robert actually invaded from Portsmouth instead.