OCR Specification focus:
‘the fate of Anglo-Saxon earls; the role of Norman barons and knights; relations between the crown and the Church’
The Norman Conquest reshaped England’s ruling elite, redistributing power among Norman barons and knights while redefining crown–Church relations, profoundly altering the political and social order.
The Fate of the Anglo-Saxon Earls
Before 1066, earls (the highest-ranking nobles beneath the king) exercised considerable regional power.
Map of England in 1065 indicating the principal earldoms that anchored Anglo-Saxon regional authority. This clarifies the scale and location of earlship power just prior to Norman replacement. The map also includes other contemporary features not explicitly required by the syllabus. Source
Many leading Anglo-Saxon earls were killed in battle (e.g., Harold Godwinson at Hastings, Gyrth and Leofwine).
Survivors who resisted William I, such as Edwin and Morcar, faced confiscation of lands and titles.
Even those initially tolerated often fell from favour—rebellions in 1068–1071 sealed the fate of many remaining earls.
By the 1070s, Anglo-Saxon earldoms were largely extinguished, replaced by Norman holdings. This change was central to William’s strategy of eliminating potential power bases that could challenge his authority.
Earl: A senior noble responsible for the administration, justice, and military defence of a large territory in pre-Conquest England.
The Role of the Norman Barons
William rewarded loyalty with land grants, creating a new aristocracy drawn from his Norman followers. These barons owed their positions entirely to royal favour and were bound by feudal obligations.
Land was held directly from the king, often in scattered holdings to prevent over-concentration of power.
Barons provided knights and military service in return for their estates.
Strategic distribution of baronial lands near borders or in rebellious areas helped secure the realm.
The Norman barons also became vital for governance. Acting as tenants-in-chief, they administered justice, collected dues, and maintained fortifications, serving as an extension of royal control.
The Knights and the Feudal System
Knights were the backbone of Norman military power in England.
Detail from the Bayeux Tapestry showing Norman cavalry with supporting archers, exemplifying the social and military status of knights in the post-Conquest order. As a near-contemporary visual, it complements the explanation of feudal service and mounted warfare. This image focuses on combatants rather than legal-administrative relationships. Source
They were mounted warriors granted land (or the income from it) in return for service.
Typically, knights served their lord for 40 days of military service per year.
They lived on knight’s fees—land sufficient to support the costs of arms and armour.
Knights played a defensive role in garrisoning castles and an offensive one in royal campaigns.
This structure reflected the feudal hierarchy:
King granted land to barons.
Barons granted land to knights.
Peasants worked the land in return for protection.
Feudalism: A hierarchical system where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty, binding all levels of society to the king.
Relations Between the Crown and the Church
The Church was both a spiritual and political force in Norman England. William maintained close control over ecclesiastical appointments and sought to align the Church’s interests with his rule.
Royal Authority over the Church
Bishops and abbots were royal appointees, often Normans loyal to William.
Ecclesiastical courts were established, separating secular and church law.
The king retained investiture rights—the power to appoint bishops and grant them the symbols of office.
The Role of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Lanfranc, appointed in 1070, restructured the English Church:
Phased plan of Canterbury Cathedral beginning in 1070, illustrating Norman re-organisation and rebuilding under Archbishop Lanfranc. Early coloured zones correspond to the initial Romanesque work that supported tighter royal-ecclesiastical administration. Later phases to 1411 are shown as additional context beyond this sub-subtopic’s scope. Source
Reorganised dioceses to reflect Norman administrative priorities.
Introduced continental reforms to improve clerical discipline and education.
Strengthened ties between the Crown and Rome while ensuring royal supremacy in ecclesiastical matters.
Church Support for Norman Rule
The Church legitimised William’s kingship, promoting the idea that his conquest was sanctioned by God. In return, the king endowed monasteries and rebuilt cathedrals, often in the Romanesque style, symbolising Norman authority.
Impact of Social Reordering
The replacement of the Anglo-Saxon elite with Normans, coupled with feudal restructuring, cemented William’s grip on England.
Loyalty was ensured through land dependency.
Military readiness was guaranteed by the knightly class.
The Church acted as both moral authority and political ally, reinforcing the legitimacy of Norman governance.
This transformation created a centralised power structure in which every landholder, knight, and cleric owed their position to the king, ensuring that resistance was fragmented and manageable.
FAQ
Most confiscated land was redistributed directly to Norman followers of William I. These grants were often deliberately scattered across different counties to prevent any single lord from building a strong local power base.
Some strategic holdings were placed in border regions, such as the Welsh Marches, to guard against external threats. This redistribution not only rewarded loyalty but also ensured control through a network of interdependent nobles.
Norman barons used several mechanisms to consolidate local power:
Building castles to project military dominance and control trade routes.
Holding manorial courts to administer justice and settle disputes.
Maintaining a retinue of knights to enforce order and fulfil military service obligations to the Crown.
These actions embedded baronial authority within both the social and administrative structures of Norman England.
Knights were often tasked with garrisoning castles, providing security for trade routes, and acting as enforcers of baronial justice.
They also served as symbols of Norman cultural dominance, displaying martial skills at tournaments and religious festivals, reinforcing the martial ethos of the ruling elite. Knights could also oversee agricultural estates, ensuring steady income to support their military commitments.
Lanfranc aligned diocesan boundaries more closely with the new Norman administrative divisions. This reduced the influence of older Anglo-Saxon ecclesiastical networks and tied Church governance more tightly to royal authority.
The restructuring allowed William I to appoint bishops whose jurisdictions matched politically strategic areas, making them more effective agents of Crown policy and oversight.
William secured papal endorsement before the conquest, which framed his victory as divinely approved.
Post-conquest, religious ceremonies, such as his coronation, were staged to emphasise his God-given right to rule. Church-sponsored chronicles and sermons promoted the view of the king as a pious defender of the faith, making rebellion appear both politically and spiritually illegitimate.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Name two ways in which William I reduced the power of the Anglo-Saxon earls after 1066.
Question 1 (2 marks)
Award 1 mark for each correct point, up to a maximum of 2 marks.
Possible answers include:
Confiscation of lands from rebellious earls. (1)
Replacement of Anglo-Saxon earls with Norman barons loyal to the king. (1)
Breaking up large earldoms into smaller units to reduce individual power. (1)
Execution or exile of earls who resisted Norman rule. (1)
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain how the relationship between the Norman Crown and the Church helped William I to consolidate his control over England.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic description with limited reference to the crown–Church relationship; may be generalised or lack detail.
Example: “The Church supported William so people accepted him.” (1–2)
Level 2 (3–4 marks): Clear explanation with some specific detail about how crown–Church relations helped consolidation.
Example: “William appointed loyal Norman bishops and abbots, ensuring the Church supported his rule. Lanfranc reorganised the Church to match Norman administration, which reinforced William’s control.” (3–4)
Level 3 (5 marks): Developed explanation using detailed and accurate knowledge, showing clear understanding of the role of crown–Church relations in consolidating Norman power.
Example: “William appointed loyal Norman bishops and abbots, ensuring ecclesiastical support for his rule. The Church promoted the idea that William’s conquest was sanctioned by God, giving his kingship moral legitimacy. Lanfranc’s reforms reorganised dioceses, enforced clerical discipline, and aligned Church structures with Norman governance, further tightening royal authority.” (5)
