Norman Conquest

NORMAN CONQUEST 

NORMAN RULER (1028–87) WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 

 

William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert II of Normandy and a tanner’s daughter. He became duke in 1047, aged 19. His early rule was insecure, with a revolt that year almost unseating him, and it was not until he defeated Henry I of France at Mortemer in 1054 that he was sure of survival. Continued trouble with rebels plagued him until 1060, and only then could William turn his attention to England. Yet, while his ally and cousin Edward the Confessor was on the throne, the battle-hardened Norman duke chose not to press his claims 

 

With the Norman invasion in 1066, Normans defeated centuries of Anglo-Saxon rule in England. The Duke of Norman, William came across many rebellions, but he overcame them. The feudal system was brought to England by Duke William.  

 

When Duke William set off to conquer England, it is claimed that William's army was not much 8,000. However; he won a major victory against one of the most established monarchies in Europe. King Harold was dealing with an invasion led by Harald Hardrada, King of Norway in the north, so Harold could not focus well against the Normans. William was lucky to be in Sussex.  

 

Crowning a Norman king  

The Norman army arrived in Dover, and then London. The Archbishop of Canterbury and other nobles refused to recognize William, but William was too strong, they had to respect him. Finally, William was King of England. William went to East Anglia in the New Year, and he came back to Normandy with a few nobles. A rebellion broke out in the west. Although this was put down, another one promptly erupted in Kent. Although William quickly dispersed the rebels, York fell on and Norman's venture in England seemed in peril.  

 

 

 

French Nobility 

After the rebellions of the north, William adopted the policy of replacing the remaining Anglo-Saxon with Frenchmen. William took for himself a large portion of the land, and he established a system of feudal tenancies. 

 

As native influence waned, so English came to be replaced as the language of government, with charters and writs being issued largely in Latin.  

 

The use of Latin  

Latin became the language of the Church as well as the government, and the old Anglo-Saxon bishops were largely replaced by Normans. Latin became the language of the Church as well as the government, and the old Anglo-Saxon bishops were largely replaced by Normans. It became the first example of the reform of the English church. 

 

Stamping out resistance 

William built new castles to reinforce the Norman counties. Instead of wood castles, stone castles were built. William started to the campaign off with an attack on Scotland to punish King Malcolm III, who had aided the northern rebels. He was never again seriously threatened and felt able to spend most of the rest of his reign in Normandy. 

The later part of William’s reign was occupied mainly with wars against Normandy’s neighbors, who were concerned that the acquisition of England had made the Duke of Normandy too powerful.  

 

A LAND DIVIDED  

William had decided to divide his territories between his eldest son Robert Curthose, who was to receive Normandy, and Richard his second son, who was to get England. Impatient and provoked by Philip I of France, Robert rebelled in 1078 and 1083 72–73 ❯❯, but was on both occasions reconciled to his father. The link between Normandy and England, however, was weakened. 

 

TUMULTUOUS REIGN 

Richard died in 1081 and a third son, William Rufus, inherited the English throne. He initially faced a coalition of barons, prominent among them Odo of Bayeux, who wanted to see England and Normandy united under Robert’s rule. The revolt was put down and Odo captured in 1088. William invaded Normandy in 1091, forcing his brother’s submission. A campaign in Scotland followed in 1091–92 to punish Malcolm III, who had been sheltering Edgar Atheling.  

 

ADVENT OF ANSELM  

In March 1093, William II fell dangerously ill and, in the hope of divine favor, appointed Anselm, an Italian monk, Archbishop of Canterbury. Anselm was an uncompromising supporter of reform and quarrels broke out between King and Archbishop. In 1097, Anselm went into exile in Rome and stayed there until William’s death. 

“William in the fullness of his wrath… ordered the destruction of all that could serve for the support of life… beyond the Humber.” 

 ORDERIC VITALIS, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, C1140 

Norman Rule 

Early in Henry I's reign in 1100, the transformation of Anglo-Saxon England into an Anglo-Norman kingdom had begun. Henry I, the son of William the Conqueror was the first Norman king to be born in England. Before Henry I became the king, he declared a solemn to restore the law of his father. 

 

The King and the Church 

There were problems between Henry I and the church because Archbishop Anselm returned to exile and he refused to respect Henry for Canterbury lands. He also insisted that the King give up his right to support bishops. As a result, the archbishop was excommunicated and renewed exiled. However, an agreement between Henry I and the archbishop finally was made. King agreed to give up his power to support to bishops.  

 

England and Normandy united 

Robert of Bellême joined the military force with William of Mortain to attack Henry’s interests in Normandy. Henry I who was not willing to give up his lands and supporters, started to move inside his country. At Tinchebray the army of Normandy was defeated by Henry’s force. Normandy and England were reunited under Henry’s rule. 

 

Justice reforms 

After the death of the conqueror William, the war of power blew out. Henry I who did not want to deal with these issues, enacted many reforms such as execution and castration. Thanks to the new law, many county sheriffs who use the law to their benefit, were dismissed by Henry I. He also began to send royal judges, so the economy of royal started to increase. 

 

Loss of an heir 

Henry’s later years were mournful. Louis VI was finally defeated in the war over Normandy. He accepted Henry’s son William Adelin as Duke of Normandy. However, his son died a shipwreck, Henry I lost his only legitimate son. The daughter of Henry I who married Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, was widow. She came back to England. Henry was thinking to leave his crown to Matilda. Henry’s reign was prosperous and peaceful for the next decade. However, his decision to leave his crown to Matilda ended in catastrophe.