THE FEUDAL SYSTEM NORMAN GOVERNMENT William CENTRALISATION OF POWER Earls: Much less powerful than before. William made Social structure was similar to Anglo- William kept many elements of Anglo-Saxon earldoms smaller – did not want earls becoming too powerful Saxons’. Tenants- in-chief government (e.g. land measurements, Witan). His (like the Godwins did). Main difference was that William alone arons, main change was to centralise power on himself: Regents: William used regents to rule England while he was now owned all land; others were given Under- in Normandy, e.g. Archbishop Lanfranc. He would usually land in return for carrying out a duty to tenants Feudal system – all landholders depended on return if there was any trouble. someone else. William and swore loyalty (homage) Sheriffs: Role stayed similar to Anglo-Saxon times, but they Encouraged loyalty to William because Peasants Knight service – all troops were loyal to him now had more power: they kept a share of the taxes everyone depended on him for land – if Normanisation – Church was easier to control collected in their shire (very rich); they often took land from they upset him he would take it away. Tenants-in-chief: Held their land directly Royal demesne – kept land for his own Anglo-Saxons (land grabs). from the king; expected to help the king personal use and revenue Forest: Land reserved for William’s hunting. Had strict rules Relief: A payment that heirs had to make fight; looked after baronial courts; very Domesday Book – record of who held what to protect animals and plants, and harsh punishments for when they inherited land (like an important people e.g. bishops; divided their Taxes and reliefs – raised money and breaking them. Significant because it showed William’s inheritance tax). William could charge a land up among under-tenants. encouraged loyalty to William power and meant he directly controlled more land. small relief to people he liked or threaten Knights (under-tenants): Had to provide difficult people with a high relief. knight service (40 days); best soldiers in DOMESDAY BOOK Homage: An oath of loyalty to William, England; often based in castles; had taken by all landholders (“I become your weapons such as couched lances; looked Giant survey of Financial: Told William how much tax people were paying, after manorial (local) courts. England, written 1086. and whether he could charge them more. man”). NORMAN Forfeiture: Punishment if a landholder Peasants: Had to provide labour service to Recorded who owned Legal: Settled land disputes between Anglo-Saxons and didn’t carry out their duty; they were their under-tenant; this involved doing farm ENGLAND what and how much Normans, which boosted William’s image as a fair king. fined or had their land taken away. work or providing food they had grown. tax they could pay. Military: Showed how many soldiers each area could Significant in 3 ways provide, meaning William could be prepared for an attack. THE CHURCH WILLIAM & HIS FAMILY Church was very important: ARCHBISHOP LANFRANC’S REFORMS NORMAN ARISTOCRACY o Had lots of land Aristocracy = the upper class; rich, BISHOP ODO OF BAYEUX WILLIAM’S DEATH o Kept laws and documents Lanfranc replaced Stigand as important people. Norman o Bishops were well-educated Archbishop of Canterbury in 1070. William’s half-brother; Earl of Kent William died in 1087 after falling from aristocrats loved to show off wealth: and advised the king Lanfranc was in charge of the Church and co-regent in 1067. his horse several weeks earlier. o Archbishop Lanfranc was in the whole country, whereas Buildings: Built huge cathedrals, Odo was power-hungry and got His death was full of bad omens, e.g. William’s regent Stigand had just controlled his area. churches and castles – himself into trouble: he illegally took his fat corpse burst in the cathedral! o Church leaders owed knight He wanted Church members to lead a impressive and experimental. land; he looted Northumbria in 1079; William had stated that eldest son service more spiritual life. He was against Fashion: Men shaved the backs he tried to take some of William’s Robert would inherit Normandy, and pluracy and simony (Stigand had of their heads (luxury!). personal knights on a trip to Rome. favourite son William Rufus would NORMANISATION been guilt of both!). Names: Family names based on Put in prison by William in 1082 – inherit England… Lanfranc brought in reforms: where they lived. only released on William’s deathbed. William Normanised the Church: o WILLIAM II Created more monasteries Chivalry: Moral code about how o Churches and cathedrals o ROBERT CURTHOSE Priests were no longer allowed to they treated enemies. were rebuilt in Norman style marry/have sex William Rufus was crowned William II Beliefs: Strongly Christian, o Almost every Anglo-Saxon o Created special church courts Robert was William’s eldest son, but in September 1087. believed in penance. Destroyed bishop was replaced by a o Rural cathedrals were knocked the two did not get on. Robert Curthose felt hard done by; as Saxon church relics and tombs. Norman down and rebuilt in bigger towns They fell out in 1077, after Robert had eldest son, he thought he should have o Churches were made to o Brought in more archdeacons to LANGUAGE a fight with two of his brothers. Normandy and England. follow Norman procedures look after priests and courts Robert went to France and launched His uncle Odo agreed, and began a Most couldn’t speak English raids against William. rebellion against William II. Smaller (including William & Lanfranc!). William and Robert fought in 1079 – This strengthened William’s power because… rebellions broke out across the Legal/Church documents were William was knocked off his horse and country. Norman bishops/priests spread William’s messages and were less likely to rebel. written in Latin. humiliated! Crucially, majority of population did William could control communication between the Church and Pope. English became vernacular: spoken The two eventually made up in 1080 not support the rebellion, and it failed. William chose bishops and had a say in any important Church decisions. only by the common people. (reunion organised by Matilda). William II was popular afterwards. .