OCR Specification focus:
‘The establishment of and challenges from a new elite; threats from Scotland, Norway’
The Norman elite transformed England's social and political structure, asserting power through landownership and military dominance, while facing external threats from Scotland and Norway.
Establishment of the Norman Elite
The Redistribution of Land
Following the conquest, William I systematically removed Anglo-Saxon nobles and replaced them with Norman barons, who became the backbone of the new elite. This redistribution of land was central to securing control over England.
William claimed all land as his own and granted it in tenure to his most loyal Norman followers.
By 1086 (as recorded in the Domesday Book), only around 5% of land remained in Anglo-Saxon hands.
The Norman elite received vast estates, often scattered across counties to prevent the rise of regional power bases.
Tenure: The condition or period of holding land or property, especially in return for service to a lord or king.
The Role of the Barons and Knights
The new elite formed a feudal hierarchy based on loyalty and military service:
Barons were major landholders who owed direct loyalty to the king.
They provided knights — armoured cavalrymen — for military service as part of their feudal duty.
In return, knights received smaller parcels of land (knight’s fees) from the barons.
This feudal arrangement ensured a decentralised but loyal network of military power, tied to the crown through land and service.
Castles as Tools of Control
Norman elites built castles throughout England as both symbols and instruments of their dominance:
Over 500 castles were constructed, particularly in strategic locations such as river crossings, towns, and rebel areas.
They were often motte-and-bailey structures — a wooden keep on a mound with a surrounding bailey (courtyard).
Labeled illustration of a motte-and-bailey castle showing the motte (raised mound with keep), bailey (enclosed courtyard), ditch and palisade. These features explain how early Norman fortifications enabled fast occupation and local dominance. The diagram includes architectural labels beyond what is strictly required, but all support understanding of Norman control mechanisms. Source
Motte-and-Bailey Castle: A type of fortification with a wooden or stone keep on a raised earthwork (motte), accompanied by an enclosed courtyard (bailey).
Integration and Cultural Influence
While power was initially consolidated through force, over time:
The Norman elite began to intermarry with Anglo-Saxon noble families.
French language and customs gradually influenced English court and administrative life.
The Church also became a channel for Norman authority, with key ecclesiastical positions filled by Norman clergy.
Challenges to the New Elite
Resistance from Anglo-Saxons
Despite the rapid establishment of Norman control, resistance lingered:
Localised rebellions, including those led by Hereward the Wake and northern earls, challenged Norman authority.
William's brutal response, such as the Harrying of the North (1069–1070), was designed to crush rebellion and deter further dissent.
Threats from Scotland
King Malcolm III of Scotland posed a continuous external threat:
He gave refuge to Anglo-Saxon rebels, notably Edgar Ætheling, the last legitimate male heir of the House of Wessex.
Malcolm’s raids into Northumbria destabilised Norman control in the north.
In response, William:
Led a campaign into Scotland in 1072, culminating in the Treaty of Abernethy, where Malcolm submitted to William.
View of the Abernethy Round Tower, a landmark in the village where William I and Malcolm III concluded the Treaty of Abernethy (1072). The tower predates the treaty but provides geographical context for this diplomatic resolution to cross-border pressure. The visible war memorial is not part of the medieval history. Source
Treaty of Abernethy (1072): A treaty in which Malcolm III of Scotland acknowledged William I as his overlord, temporarily easing tensions between the two kingdoms.
Threats from Norway
King Sweyn II of Denmark, seeking to revive Danish claims to England, launched an invasion in 1069, allying with northern rebels.
The Danish fleet landed in the Humber estuary, and participated in the capture of York.
William responded with a scorched earth campaign in the north, leading to the Harrying of the North.
This event was catastrophic for the region but highly effective in quelling rebellion and discouraging further Norse interference.
Military Readiness and Fortification
To guard against both internal unrest and external threats:
William maintained a network of garrisons in key castles.
The feudal obligation required barons to provide military support promptly.
Coastal defences were improved to deter further invasions, especially along the eastern seaboard.
The Legacy of the Norman Elite
The Norman elite fundamentally reshaped English society, politics, and culture.
Their dominance laid the foundation for a centralised monarchy, with strong ties between the king, nobility, and Church.
Despite early threats from Scotland and Norway, their position remained secure due to military strength, strategic fortification, and ruthless suppression of opposition.
This transformation was not just a replacement of rulers but a wholesale restructuring of power that would shape England for generations.
FAQ
The Norman elite were mostly foreign-born nobles loyal directly to William I, whereas the Anglo-Saxon nobility were long-established families with regional influence.
Norman lords:
Held land directly from the king as tenants-in-chief.
Were required to provide military service through knight service.
Had fragmented estates across different shires to prevent power consolidation.
In contrast, Anglo-Saxon earls typically controlled large, centralised earldoms, giving them significant independent power. William deliberately decentralised power among the Norman elite to avoid similar threats.
Norman castles were strategically placed to dominate key towns, trade routes, and previously significant Anglo-Saxon administrative centres.
By building on or near existing settlements:
The Normans could control local populations more effectively.
They asserted their dominance both physically and symbolically.
They utilised existing infrastructure, such as roads, rivers, and markets.
Examples include castles at York, Lincoln, and Norwich — all placed in or near former Anglo-Saxon centres of power.
The Church legitimised Norman rule and was integrated into the feudal hierarchy.
Key roles included:
Replacing Anglo-Saxon clergy with loyal Norman churchmen.
Providing spiritual justification for William’s conquest.
Supporting administrative governance, especially through bishops who acted as royal advisers and estate managers.
In return, the Norman elite endowed the Church with land and resources, reinforcing mutual support.
William granted land to Norman nobles conditionally, not permanently.
Land was:
Held in exchange for military and political loyalty.
Scattered across multiple counties to prevent regional autonomy.
Revocable — if a baron rebelled, land could be forfeited to the Crown.
This system made the elite dependent on William’s favour and discouraged collective resistance.
The northern border was sparsely populated, poorly fortified, and politically unstable.
Scottish threats were dangerous because:
Malcolm III supported Anglo-Saxon claimants like Edgar Ætheling.
Scottish raids destabilised areas recently subdued by the Normans.
The terrain made military defence difficult.
The need to secure this region prompted William’s 1072 campaign and increased castle building in areas like Durham and Newcastle.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Name two external threats faced by William I during his reign.
Award 1 mark for each correctly identified external threat from the list below (maximum 2 marks):
Threat from Scotland / King Malcolm III
Threat from Norway / King Sweyn II of Denmark
Threats supported by Edgar Ætheling
Invasion by Danish forces in 1069
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain why William I built castles across England after the Norman Conquest.
Level 1 (1–2 marks):
Basic explanation or general statement without detail.
E.g., "He built castles to defend England."
Level 2 (3–4 marks):
Sound explanation with some detail and relevance to Norman control.
E.g., "Castles helped William control England by showing his power and giving soldiers places to stay."
Level 3 (5–6 marks):
Detailed explanation showing understanding of multiple reasons, such as military, symbolic, and administrative purposes.
E.g., "William built castles to assert control over newly conquered areas, station Norman troops, and intimidate local populations. They were also administrative centres where Norman lords could govern the land."
Answers at the top of Level 3 will explicitly link castle building to the establishment and security of Norman rule across England.
