What were the consequence s of the unrest in England on the consolidation of William I's power?

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  • Created by: Alasdair
  • Created on: 14-06-17 22:42
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  • What were the consequence s of the unrest in England on the consolidation of William I's power?
    • Measures taken by Normans to protect themselves.
      • E.g. 'murdum' fines imposed for killing Normans and belief  English had betrayed lawful king by rebelling and therefore should be dealt with brutally.
    • William began to adopt more conciliatory policy towards English earls
      • William felt he could not afford to alienate whole country at start of reign?
      • Edwin and Morcar retained earldoms until they fled in 1068
      • Following murder of Robert of Durham, William made Gospatric (Saxon) Earl of Northumbria in 1069 possibly to placate local population (realised hold over them was tenuous)
      • Gospatric took part in rebellion later in year and was replaced by Waltheof, son of previous Earl Siward (successor to Tostig Godwinson)
      • Waltheof betrayed William by either having knowledge of or joining a rebellion in 1075
        • Put to death making him last Anglo-Saxon earl and portrayed as martyr by Orderic Vitalis
    • Because of rebellions in 1069-70 rebellions were brutally suppressed, government became more ruthless and more closely identified with Norman personnel and interests
    • Rebellions portrayed as nationalist resistance to foreign rule.
    • William attempted to work with aristocratic members of English society
      • Gave them opportunities to prove loyalty but abandoned policy after persistent betrayals
    • Number and severity of rebellions forced William to abandon concessionary policy and bring in Norman personnel to replace Saxon earls.
    • Rebellions resulted in redistribution of land
      • Often English being dispossessed for taking part in rebellions and it being rewarded to loyal Norman
        • This helped secure Conquest (William previously too weak to do after Hastings)
    • William used land to reward followers and William began to dispossess English landholders on largescale (greatest transfer of land in English history)
    • Little changed for peasantry who continued to be exploited by new lords (perhaps more exacting) and working on new castles
    • Towns (e.g. York), suffered much became of unrest

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