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- William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066 to 87
William I in power: securing the kingdom, 1066 to 87
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Winning at Hastings was only the start. William had to crush revolts and take control of the land.
Establishing control
Earls and leading English nobles submitted at Berkhamsted. William was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.
He rewarded followers with land and created Marcher earldoms (Hereford, Shrewsbury and Chester) to guard the Welsh border.
Castles, often motte and bailey, were built quickly in key towns. They were bases for soldiers, symbols of power, and hard to attack.
He rewarded followers with land and created Marcher earldoms (Hereford, Shrewsbury and Chester) to guard the Welsh border.
Castles, often motte and bailey, were built quickly in key towns. They were bases for soldiers, symbols of power, and hard to attack.
Resistance, 1068 to 71
1068: Earls Edwin and Morcar rebelled; William built castles at Warwick and Nottingham and they submitted.
1069: rebellions in the North, with Edgar the Aethling and Danish help. York was attacked.
1070 to 71: Hereward the Wake held out at Ely in the marshes, with the Danes at first. William built a causeway and the rebellion collapsed.
1069: rebellions in the North, with Edgar the Aethling and Danish help. York was attacked.
1070 to 71: Hereward the Wake held out at Ely in the marshes, with the Danes at first. William built a causeway and the rebellion collapsed.
Harrying of the North and the Revolt of the Earls
In the winter of 1069 to 70 William's men destroyed crops, animals and villages across the North. Many died of famine; years later the Domesday Book still recorded much land there as 'waste'.
By 1087 land had passed almost entirely from Anglo-Saxon to Norman hands.
Revolt of the Earls (1075): Ralph de Gael, Roger de Breteuil and the English earl Waltheof plotted while William was in Normandy. Lanfranc led the response and the revolt was crushed. Waltheof was executed in 1076.
By 1087 land had passed almost entirely from Anglo-Saxon to Norman hands.
Revolt of the Earls (1075): Ralph de Gael, Roger de Breteuil and the English earl Waltheof plotted while William was in Normandy. Lanfranc led the response and the revolt was crushed. Waltheof was executed in 1076.
Explain why William carried out the Harrying of the North.
- The North had rebelled repeatedly, with Danish help.
- Destroying food and shelter stopped future rebels and invaders being supplied.
- It also terrified the population into submission.
Answer: To end northern rebellion and stop the Danes being supported.
Submission at Berkhamsted; crowned Christmas 1066. Marcher earldoms and motte and bailey castles. Revolts: Edwin and Morcar 1068; North 1069; Hereward at Ely 1070 to 71. Harrying of the North 1069 to 70. Revolt of the Earls 1075.
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