What do we mean by Landholding and Lordship? Landholding and Lordship! What do I need to know: William and his had more power  To define the ‘Landholding’ and ‘Lordship’. We mean who control and owned the land, how William used the than their predecessors, but the basic  To understand how William used this to gain control Feudal system to distribute land and how he divided it up between his framework of Anglo-Saxon  To know who the Marcher are. Lords in Lordships. remained the same.  To understand how landownership changed. For example: Lordship! Although William’s distribution of land made lordships more compact Wales was not a united the impact of this would have been affected by nobles who then It was important that the gave out land to his country with a single Key Words: granted out pieces of land to their followers. When there were followers it was given out in much more compact leader but 5 kingdoms revolts by nobles William broke up the compact lordships such as • Barons units rather than the old Anglo-Saxon estates which • each ruled by a warrior with the , who controlled most of Shropshire. Bishops tend to be more widely scattered. William would • Earldoms . • Lords lump together the lands of small landholders and • Patronage William could not conquer give them to a single new Norman . This was • Thanes it as he had England. important because it would have been a big How did landholding change? change. Wales and the Marcher Lords?

Anglo-Saxon On several occasions William attempted to take over north and west Wales using his • They had about 4,000 - Landholding became more army, but he failed. The did in theory swear loyalty to him in exchange for his . concentrated. protection. However, they were not very co-operative and the border was an area of • - By 1086 only 4 English attack. granted very large areas of Thegns still had any land. land to his earls. They got too - The King, the Church and 200 The borders between Wales and England needed to be powerful. Where William feared big and powerful. Norman Barons and Bishops invasion or rebellion he granted large pieces of land to his most trusted followers. held the land. - William did not let any one He granted land to the Earls of: person have too much land. • Shrewsbury - Apart from the Marcher • Hereford Lords- who were a special • Chester case. The border area was known as the Marches and so the barons were known as the - Barons were granted smaller Marcher Lords. amounts of land- often confined to one . This made it much harder for The role of the Marcher Lords! them to build a power base The Marcher Lords were almost independent rulers in their areas. They were tasked with from which to challenge the preventing any raid by the Welsh. Their extra powers including: Keeping their own King’s position. armies, building castles without the permission and making laws in their area. How was land controlled by the Anglo-Saxons? Landholding and Lordship! What do I need to know:  To define the ‘Feudal System’ Before the Normans arrived in 1066, the English were ruled by the King The Feudal System was how William Edward the Confessor and the Anglo-Saxon-aristrocracy- the earls. England used land to ensure loyalty.  To explain why William tried to retain leading Anglo-Saxons and was divided into earldoms (areas of land). The King could make anyone an failed. earl, and given them an earldom, but he could also take land away. He  To know the roles, rights and responsibilities of government. could request troops from earls during times of war and service of their and Fyrd if they were to keep the King happy! King: • William directly owned 20% of the land. What happened to English Landowners? • 25% was owned by the Church. • William wanted to reward mercenaries loyal service with land as • The rest was shared out amoangst William’s supported. well as money. • 200 Bishops and Barons. • By 1076 the last English Earl Waltheof had been beheaded. • There were only 2 Englishmen who held land directly from the King: Thurkill of Arden and Colswein of Lincoln. Barons and Bishops: • By 1096 all of the Senoir positions in the Church were held by • They were granted land (they did not own it- they held it in Normans. tenure) • Anglo-Saxons lack of loyalty meat that they were replaced by • In return they swore fealty and paid homage to William. Normans. • They also promised money and service. • William instead used the Feudal system to favour those who had helped him conquer his new Kingdom. : • Under-tenants It was the organisation of society whereby the higher layers of society Oath of Fealty: • They promised to be loyal to their or bishop. gave land to the lower in return for an oath (a promise). The Oath of Fealty was William developed the system to • A also be called a . an oath of loyalty. IT his advantage: • They served as knights in the army. • They granted some of their land to the peasant. was a promise to serve 1. Norman Lords replaced Anglo-Saxons. The feudal the Lord and be 2. The King had far more system faithful. IT was a power. Peasants provided religious act 3. The peasants were more • They had to obey the Lord their manor in return for their land. William with an exploited. • They also gave the lord some of their crops and worked a set army and made Key Words: number of days on his lands without pay. sure the • Administration The Norman Feudal system was • Most could not leave the Lord’s land without permission- population was • Aristocracy more formal that the Anglo-Saxon therefore most were not freemen. kept under • Earldoms system. control. Loyalty • Feudalism For example the Anglo-Saxon kings to the King was • Lords Slaves • Patronage had raised armies for their tenants the first • They made up 10% of the population in 1086 • Social hierarchy as they were needed. obligation of all • • Thanes This continued but was more Rapidly declined as they were expensive to keep and the Church noblemen and • Villein formal with knights guaranteeing a disapproved. knights. certain number of days service.