William I – how did he make sure he was safe after Hastings ?

What did William have to do ? William may have won the battle of Hastings, but it would be very difficult to control a hostile country with a small force of soldiers …William may have won the battle of Hastings, but it would be very difficult to control a hostile country with a small force of soldiers … It was difficult to win a battle, but even more difficult to hold onto itIt was difficult to win a battle, but even more difficult to hold onto it But William was used to difficult situations – he had had to work hard to hold onto Normandy when youngerBut William was used to difficult situations – he had had to work hard to hold onto Normandy when younger There were three solutions for William …There were three solutions for William …

Solution 1 … build up his army He gave gifts of land to his best supporters, and in return they gave knights for William’s armyHe gave gifts of land to his best supporters, and in return they gave knights for William’s army Each baron was to give 30 knights in return for their feudum (land) – he gained an army of about 6000 menEach baron was to give 30 knights in return for their feudum (land) – he gained an army of about 6000 men The was the beginning of the Feudal System in EnglandThe was the beginning of the Feudal System in England

How did the feudal system work ? The basic principle was a system of holding land in return for military service.The basic principle was a system of holding land in return for military service. A king would give out land to his supporters and in return they would obey him and do military service for a certain number of days in a yearA king would give out land to his supporters and in return they would obey him and do military service for a certain number of days in a year The barons would hand on land to knights, also in return for servicesThe barons would hand on land to knights, also in return for services The knights would hand on land to the peasants in return for work on the land.The knights would hand on land to the peasants in return for work on the land. The system looks organised, but there were lots of people taking oaths (promises) to each other, and there was a lot of chances for quarrels to happen What might happen if you had given an oath to two knights from different villages and they were fighting each other ? What would you do ? The system also depended a lot on the ability and character of the King at the top of society.

Solution 2 – building strongholds William’s knights needed bases so they could control the ordinary SaxonsWilliam’s knights needed bases so they could control the ordinary Saxons Both the knights and William began to build castlesBoth the knights and William began to build castles The first castles were built of wood and earthen banks – motte and bailey castlesThe first castles were built of wood and earthen banks – motte and bailey castles The building of the first castle at Hastings, October 1066

Motte and Bailey castles Motte Bailey Tower Wooden palisade

Motte and Bailey castles Motte Bailey Stone Keep

Motte and Bailey castles The early castles were built in two stages …The early castles were built in two stages … The often man-made mound of earth (motte) with a wooden tower on top [later stone] – here lived the knightsThe often man-made mound of earth (motte) with a wooden tower on top [later stone] – here lived the knights The large yard (bailey) surrounded by a wooden palisade – here lived the animals and servantsThe large yard (bailey) surrounded by a wooden palisade – here lived the animals and servants What were castles for ? A place of defence A place of local government and administration A barracks for soldiers Centre of local justice A place from which to dominate the local Saxon population A home for the knight

Solution 3 – putting down opponents Even in 1069, many English people refused to obey William in the north and eastEven in 1069, many English people refused to obey William in the north and east In January 1069 he sent Robert Commines to take control of the north – but he was attacked in Durham by the ordinary people and burned to death in the bishop’s house.In January 1069 he sent Robert Commines to take control of the north – but he was attacked in Durham by the ordinary people and burned to death in the bishop’s house. In September 1069 a Danish fleet attacked the east coast, the local Saxons rose and joined with the Danes to take over York, killing the local Normans.In September 1069 a Danish fleet attacked the east coast, the local Saxons rose and joined with the Danes to take over York, killing the local Normans. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle … ‘Soon thereafter three sons of King Swein with two hundred and forty ships came from Denmark into the Humber. There they were met by Prince Edgar, Earl Waltheof, Maerleswein and Earl Gospatric with the Northumbrians and all the people of the country. Forming an immense army, riding and marching in high spirits, they all marched on York and stormed and destroyed the castle. They seized countless treasures in it, slayed many hundreds of French men and carried off great numbers to their ships.’

Solution 3 – putting down opponents William came north with his army, marching on York.William came north with his army, marching on York. They destroyed villages and killed the locals as they passed through.They destroyed villages and killed the locals as they passed through. Cattle, sheep and pigs were slaughtered, and stores of food set on fire.Cattle, sheep and pigs were slaughtered, and stores of food set on fire. Many thousands of people were killed from the resultant famineMany thousands of people were killed from the resultant famine William reached York by December 1069William reached York by December 1069 Orderic Vitalis … ‘He [the Conqueror] harried the land and burnt homes to ashes. Nowhere else had William shown such cruelty. In his anger he commanded that all crops and herds, chattels and food of every kind, should be brought together and burned to ashes with consuming fire, so that the whole region north of the Humber might be stripped of all means of sustenance. In consequence, so serious a scarcity was felt in England, and so terrible a famine fell upon the humble and defenceless populace, that more than 100,000 Christian folk of both sexes, young and old, perished of hunger’

Destroying the North, Destroying the North was a terrible revenge for the uprising.Destroying the North was a terrible revenge for the uprising. For nearly a century, the villages of Yorkshire were like a desert.For nearly a century, the villages of Yorkshire were like a desert. Look at the map opposite to see the distribution of destroyed villages …Look at the map opposite to see the distribution of destroyed villages … The Danish army moved south to Lincolnshire and joined up with a Saxon rebel leader … Hereward the Wake.The Danish army moved south to Lincolnshire and joined up with a Saxon rebel leader … Hereward the Wake. Areas laid waste by William,

Who was Hereward the Wake ? In the fens of East Anglia a man called Hereward the Wake led a revolt against William. He was supported by the earls Morcar and Edwin.In the fens of East Anglia a man called Hereward the Wake led a revolt against William. He was supported by the earls Morcar and Edwin. In 1070 William offered the Danes a bribe to go home.In 1070 William offered the Danes a bribe to go home. Hereward was based in the marshes and swamps near Ely, and it would be hard for William to get at the Saxon rebels.Hereward was based in the marshes and swamps near Ely, and it would be hard for William to get at the Saxon rebels. Thanks to the Ely monks, William’s men managed to round up some of the rebels, though Hereward managed to escape.Thanks to the Ely monks, William’s men managed to round up some of the rebels, though Hereward managed to escape.

What happened next ? William divided Saxon land among his followersWilliam divided Saxon land among his followers He built castles to keep control, destroying villages if necessaryHe built castles to keep control, destroying villages if necessary Saxon earls who had fought in 1066 were executed or had their land confiscatedSaxon earls who had fought in 1066 were executed or had their land confiscated Saxon noble women were forced to marry Normans, or enter the churchSaxon noble women were forced to marry Normans, or enter the church Castles in existence by 1086

Domesday Book, At Christmas 1085 William ordered a survey of England, to find out who owned what in order to work out how much tax he should demand.At Christmas 1085 William ordered a survey of England, to find out who owned what in order to work out how much tax he should demand. The survey was completed in 8 months and was an astonishing achievementThe survey was completed in 8 months and was an astonishing achievement Two facts were established … all the land was controlled by only 250 people; all but 2 of the 250 local nobles were Normans.Two facts were established … all the land was controlled by only 250 people; all but 2 of the 250 local nobles were Normans. He could now work out how much each area could afford to pay for his army.He could now work out how much each area could afford to pay for his army.