Norman England 1 1 1

NotesVilla Academic Team
TITLE:
History notes on Norman England:1066 CE to 1100 C. They are for Exam preparations, Course
Work Essays or to peep into the starting days of the Norman rule or to know about the
personality of William I and William II.
Academic Level: High School

Resource For: Students
Subject: His tory of Norman England
Institution: Government College University
Lahore
Country: Pakistan
Additional Information:
The particular purpose of these notes is to shed light on the Norman Conquest of England in the
year 1066. It will be helpful in establishing a good analysis of the second part of the 11 th century
England. It will unveil how the Normans changed the English society and state. Further, it will
also unfold the tussel between clergy and the King, epitomized by the Beckett Affair. Finally, it
will describe the various dimensions of the Feudal England under the Normans.
Norman England:1066 CE to 1100 CE
William the Conqueror

Background
When Edward the Confessor became the King of England in 1042, returning from his exile at
French courts, he was accompanied by the Norman warriors and churchmen. This fact coupled
with the fact that his mother Emma belonged to Normandy, would have a decisive Impact on
the destiny of England. After this the Norman presence would soon overwhelm England after
Edward’s death in early January 1066.
Early life and Boyhood

William was born around 1028.His father was Robert, the Duke of Normandy while his mother
was Herleva. In 1035 William became the Duke of Normandy, as his father died in Asia Minor
while on a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1034. Then a great amount of disorder ensued and he was
lucky to survive through these turbulent years as he had many narrow escapes. He survived
because of the support of his mother’s kinsmen. His boyhood was spent among scenes of
violence and intrigue. Consequently, he did not trust most people and his only friends were
from his childhood days. By temperament he was conservative; but he was also ruthless and
when the events pushed him to destroy then he destroyed thoroughly. In mid 1040s he started
to govern himself and became a hard, ruthless campaigner. He made friendship with Count
Baldwin, as king Henry of France and Count Geoffrey of Anjou. Then, he went on to marry
Matilda, the daughter of Count Baldwin despite of the disapproval of the pope. During this
time, he also conquered the county of Maine.
Battle of Hastings
The turning point of William’s life was the year 1066, as 14th October ,1066 is regarded as the
most famous date in English history. On this day, William of Normandy conquered England. He
won through an extraordinary serious of lucky chances. Harold Godwinson, the newly-made
King of England had to defeat Harold Hardrada, the king of Norway at Stamford Bridge on 25
September 1066.Two days later the William set sail and made an unopposed landing at
Pevensey. The titanic battle of Hastings in Sussex was fought and it was a crushing defeat for
Harold, who was killed. It also wiped out most of the fighting Anglo-Saxon Aristocracy.
Certainly, it was superior Continental military technology, especially the mounted warrior that
out maneuvered the old-fashioned infantry- dominated army of the Ango-Saxon kingdom. He
was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. Then, to consolidate his rule, quickly
several hundred castles was built and the turbulent north was suppressed.
William’s Early Challenges:

The actual conquest was a more protracted process. William’s military skills and his control of
the strategic South and South East enabled him to overpower all his opponents. Furthermore,
he thwarted the Danish and the Scottish invasions, and he brutally massacred the rebellious
Northern Anglo-Saxon earls, Edwin and Morcar after 1071. And by 1075, even the remaining
Aristocrats went into exile. After the conquest William posed himself both as a legitimate heir
of Edward and the conqueror of England. The broad outline of the social structure of England
remained the same even under Norman rule. From 1071 to 1084 most of William’s attention
was taken up by war and diplomacy of the continent. This was possible because the Welsh, the
Scottish, the Scandinavian rulers did not trouble him. Then, in 1085 William assembled a
colossal army of mercenaries ready to thwart the invasion of the Swein of Denmark.
Furthermore, in 1086 commissioners were sent to each shire to make inquiries, which are now
enshrined in the Domesday Book. It contained only two English landowners as all the other
lands were in Norman hands.
Reforms and Style of Government:

1: Land Re-distribution:
The greatest land redistribution in English history took place after the conquest. It was also the
re-distribution of power. Decidedly, the richest single land owner was king, who possessed
around 18% of the land.
2: New Ruling class:
The English ruling class was replaced by a new ruling class that comprised of the Normans,
Bretons and French. The Anglo-Saxon widows were married to the newly arrived French Nobles.
3: Domesday Book:
In 1085 the Domesday survey was conducted, which culminated into Domesday Book. It was a
written description of all the productive land in the kingdom. It named 13400 places and
mentioned 112 Boroughs.
4: French cultural Influence:
For many centuries, after the conquest, the English elite was mostly French in descent. Also, the
language of the Parliament remained French until 1362. The elite was French in culture and
remained entangled in French politics. Additionally, the French religion, architecture, literature
all had deep impact on England.
5: Economic Orientation:
The conquest oriented the English economy in a new direction, that is, towards Flanders
instead of Scandinivea. It was because the most important English export, wool was valued
highly by the clothier of Flanders. Consequently, Flemish payment for fool was in Silver. It
helped England in sustaining a high-quality currency.
Death
In July 1087, William launched a surprise attack on Mantes and took it, but during the sack of
the town he received a fatal injury and succumbed to the injuries. Finally, on 9 September, 1087
he died.
King William II Rufus:
Background:
William was the third son of William of Normandy and Matilda. He was born about 1057.He
was crowned at Westminster on 26th September 1087.He had fair hair, piercing eyes, red face
(thus his nick name Rufus). And a tendency to stutter in excitement. In 1089, he laid claim to
Normandy who was ruled by his brother Robert. Then, Robert was compelled to pawn
Normandy to William for 10000 marks, when in 1096 he had to equip himself and his retinue
for the First Crusade.
Military Success:
His rule was militarily was successful as he defeated the invading Malcolm III of Scotland and
forced Scottish subservience.
William Rufus and Clergy:

William II was not liked by monks and he also did not respect them. And when in 1089 Lanfrank
died Rufus threw off all restraints. Serious-minded clergymen, accustomed to the conventional
piety and sober discretion of his father’s court, were appalled by the licentiousness of his era. It
is possible that he was homosexual since neither mistresses nor illegitimate children are ever
mentioned. He treated the Church utterly as a rich corporation that required taxing. In 1093, he
appointed the Norman abbot Anselm. Anselm was a scholar monk and had sworn to obey
Urban II; but England did not recognize Urban II as pope. Then in 1095 the king called a council
at Rockingham to settle the disputing matters with Anselm. In response to this Anselm
appealed to Rome, asserting that as Archbishop of Canterburry he could not be judge in a
secular court. One can see the growing significance of the papacy through the quarrel between
William and Anselm. The reason was the Eleventh century Gregorian reform movement, after
which the bishops of Rome began to have an influence. Alternatively, for the time being,
William II had gained from the quarrel. Then came his sudden death, when he was struck down
by an arrow while hunting. He died childless on 2 August 1100 as he never married. He was
succeeded by his ambitious brother Henry 1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Fraser, Antonia. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England. Oakland: University of California
Press; Revised Edition. 1998. Print.
Burns, William E. A Brief History of Great Britain. New York: Checkmark Books.2009. Print.
Fisher, H.A.L. A History of Europe. London: E. Arnold & Co. 1946. Print

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NotesVilla Academic Team

Academic Level: High School

Norman England:1066 CE to 1100 CE

William the Conqueror

Early life and Boyhood

William’s Early Challenges:

Reforms and Style of Government:

William Rufus and Clergy:

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