Anglo-Saxons and Normans (Topic 2)

The Witan elected Edgar Aethling as King.

William sent troops to seize Winchester and marched towards London. He needed control of the south coast to gett supplies from Normandy. The Normans forced people to submit by destroying homes and farms as they went.

At Berkhamstead (near London) Edgar Aethling, Edwin, Morcar and archbishops Stigand and Ealdred submitted to William and swore an oath to obey him.

Earls' advantages:

• London was fortified and had a large fyrd compared to William's army, as many of them were sick
• Edgar had a better claim to the throne and had been elected by the Witan
• William had Wessex but Mercia and Northumbria (Edwin and Morcar) supported Edgar

William's advantages:

• He had control of the Treasury at Winchester and could reward his followers
• He was a strong leader but Edgar was inexperienced
• England's best warriors had been killed at Hastings
• William's route through England threatened to cut London off from the North
• William's strategy of destruction meant people submitted quickly

William was crowned on the 25/12/1066. He swore that he would rule England like the best Anglo-Saxon Kings had if the English were loyal to him.

Rewarding Anglo-Saxons:

• William wanted a trouble free takeover
• Earls like Edwin and Morcar kept their earldoms
• Archbishops like Ealdred (York) and Stigand (Canterbury) kept their postitions
• Promised Edwin could marry his daughter

Rewarding Normans:

• Sent gifts to the Pope and Church supporters in Normandy
• Introduced a heavy geld tax to raise money to pay mercenaries
• Gave land to family and advisors. Odo, his half brother and Bishop of Bayeux was given Kent and Gospatric was made Earl of Northumbria

Established Marcher earldoms - three new earldoms on the border between England and Wales. Given as rewards for those loyal to William.

Earldom of Chester - given to Hugh d'Avranches. His father had provided 60 ships for the invasion.

Earldom of Shrewsbury - given to Roger Montgomery. He had governed Normandy while William was away.

Earldom of Hereford - given to William FitzObern. William's right hand man in the invasion.

Marcher earldoms were different to other earldoms:

• Smaller and easier to control
• Special rights only the King usually had e.g. create towns, establish churches
• Earls had almost full control of the legal system in their earldom
• Earls did not have to pay tax
• Free to build castles without the King's permission

Built around 500 to establish control. Built in strategic places.

Bailey - Enclosure surrounding barracks and stables

Gatehouse (& drawbridge) - Controls access

Keep - Strong wooden tower. Look out point

Motte - Large mound of earth the keep was on

Palisade - Strong wooden fence surrounding the castle

Different to burhs:

• Castles were usually private, burhs were public
• Castles were smaller and easier to defend
• Castles were harder to burn down as they were protected by earth
• Burhs were for protection, castles were for control

In 1068, Edwin and Morcar fled north and began a rebellion against William