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How William controlled England
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Winning one battle did not mean controlling a whole country. William used castles, force, land and a giant survey to keep England.
Castles
The Normans built hundreds of castles. The first were motte and bailey castles: a wooden tower on a mound of earth (the motte), with a fenced yard below (the bailey).
They were quick to build and showed the English who was in charge. Later many were rebuilt in stone, like the White Tower at the Tower of London.
They were quick to build and showed the English who was in charge. Later many were rebuilt in stone, like the White Tower at the Tower of London.
Force: the Harrying of the North
In 1069 to 1070 William crushed rebellions in the north of England.
His soldiers burned villages, crops and animals. Many people starved. This was the Harrying of the North.
It was brutal, but it ended serious resistance.
His soldiers burned villages, crops and animals. Many people starved. This was the Harrying of the North.
It was brutal, but it ended serious resistance.
Land and the feudal system
William said all land belonged to the king. Under the feudal system he gave land to barons in return for loyalty and knights. Barons gave land to knights in return for fighting. Peasants (villeins) worked the land and gave food and labour.
In 1086 William ordered the Domesday Book, a survey of who owned what land and animals, so he knew what he could tax.
In 1086 William ordered the Domesday Book, a survey of who owned what land and animals, so he knew what he could tax.
Explain how the feudal system helped William control England.
- Everyone held land from someone above them, ending with the king.
- In return they owed loyalty and service, so barons and knights were tied to William.
- Loyal Normans held the land, so English rebels had little power.
Answer: Land was swapped for loyalty and service, so everyone depended on the king.
William controlled England with castles (motte and bailey, later stone), force (the Harrying of the North, 1069 to 1070), the feudal system and the Domesday Book (1086).
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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