11.3 Norman consolidation of power and resistance movements

William's consolidation of power was a brutal affair. He crushed rebellions, built castles, and replaced Anglo-Saxon nobles with Norman loyalists. This military and political strategy cemented Norman control over England.

The Normans also reshaped English society. They introduced feudalism, redistributed land to create a new aristocracy, and imposed their language and customs. These changes had lasting impacts on England's social structure and culture.

William's Consolidation of Power

Military Campaigns and Castle-Building

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• William employed a combination of military campaigns and castle-building to assert his authority and suppress opposition
• Key military actions:
  • Harrying of the North (1069-1070): brutal campaign to suppress a major uprising in Northumbria, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life
  • Suppression of the Revolt of the Earls (1075): uprising led by three powerful Anglo-Saxon earls, ultimately suppressed by William's forces
• Castle-building: construction of fortifications (e.g., Tower of London, Windsor Castle) to secure strategic locations and maintain control over conquered territories

Political Appointments and Administrative Reforms

• William sought to establish a loyal Norman aristocracy by redistributing land confiscated from Anglo-Saxon nobles to his Norman followers
• Replaced Anglo-Saxon officials with Norman loyalists to ensure control over local government
• Used the pre-existing Anglo-Saxon administrative system, including the office of sheriff and the system of shires
• Compilation of the Domesday Book (1086): comprehensive survey of landholding in England, providing valuable information for taxation and governance purposes

Land Redistribution and Feudalism

Redistribution of Land

• Key element of William's consolidation of power, allowing him to reward Norman followers and establish a loyal aristocracy
• Confiscated lands from Anglo-Saxon nobles who opposed him or died during the conquest, as well as from the English Church
• Granted confiscated lands to Norman nobles as fiefs, creating a new land-holding class
• Consequences for the Anglo-Saxon population: many displaced from their lands or reduced to the status of peasants or serfs under Norman rule

Introduction of the Feudal System

• Created a hierarchical structure of land tenure and military service, with the king at the top and vassals holding land in exchange for loyalty and service
• Vassals' obligations:
  • Knight's service: providing a specified number of knights for military service based on the size of their landholdings
  • Other obligations: providing counsel, paying homage, and rendering financial aid in certain circumstances
• Ensured loyalty of the Norman aristocracy to the king, as their landholdings and status depended on their continued service and support

Anglo-Saxon Resistance

Major Uprisings

• Resistance in the north of England: Anglo-Saxon nobles and rebels, often supported by Scotland and Denmark, staged several uprisings
  • Harrying of the North (1069-1070): William's brutal campaign to suppress a major uprising in Northumbria
  • Hereward the Wake's resistance in the Isle of Ely (1070-1071): used the region's marshlands as a base for guerrilla warfare against the Normans
• Revolt of the Earls (1075): significant uprising led by three powerful Anglo-Saxon earls seeking to overthrow William and restore Anglo-Saxon rule

Other Resistance Movements and the Role of the Church

• Smaller-scale resistance centered around individual Anglo-Saxon nobles or outlaws who refused to submit to Norman authority (e.g., Eadric the Wild in the Welsh Marches)
• The Church's complex role: some Anglo-Saxon clergy supported the rebels, while others collaborated with the Norman regime

Effectiveness of Norman Control

Success of William's Policies

• Military campaigns effectively crushed organized opposition to Norman rule, though sporadic resistance continued for several years
• Land redistribution and the feudal system created a loyal Norman aristocracy and ensured a stable base of support for William's rule
• Administrative reforms (e.g., appointment of Norman sheriffs, compilation of the Domesday Book) centralized power and increased royal control over local government and taxation

Challenges and Long-Term Consequences

• Dispossession of Anglo-Saxon landholders and imposition of the feudal system created resentment among the conquered population
• Norman control remained contested in some regions, particularly in the north and along the Welsh Marches, where resistance and cultural differences persisted
• Long-term success of Norman rule depended on the ability of William's successors to maintain and build upon the foundations he had established, which proved challenging due to dynastic conflicts and evolving political and social conditions