OCR Specification focus:
‘military organisation; change in urban and rural areas; Domesday Book’
The Domesday Book was a monumental survey ordered by William the Conqueror, offering a snapshot of landholding, resources, and regional changes in 1086 England.
The Military Organisation of Norman England
Following the Norman Conquest, military organisation was restructured to strengthen royal authority and ensure rapid mobilisation against threats. William retained elements of Anglo-Saxon systems, such as the fyrd (militia service), but adapted them to Norman needs.
Feudal Military Obligations
Tenants-in-chief (major landholders granted land directly from the king) provided mounted knights in return for land.
Knight service was formalised: a set number of days’ military service per year (often 40).
Local militias were retained for defensive purposes but under stronger Norman supervision.
Strategic Distribution
William ensured that castles and military resources were concentrated in sensitive border areas and regions prone to rebellion, such as the Welsh Marches and the North.
Garrisons served both as defensive forces and symbols of Norman dominance.
Coastal regions were fortified to guard against Scandinavian or continental threats.
The Domesday Book
The Domesday Book (1086) was an unprecedented administrative and fiscal survey.
Domesday Book: A comprehensive survey commissioned by William I to record landholding, resources, and taxable values across much of England for administrative and taxation purposes.
Purpose and Motivation
Assess the kingdom’s taxable capacity and military resources.
Resolve disputes over land ownership following post-Conquest redistributions.
Provide an authoritative record for legal reference.
Scope and Content
The survey covered:
Landholders (from tenants-in-chief down to subtenants).
Land measurements in hides (a unit of land assessment, not a fixed acreage).
Resources such as ploughs, mills, fisheries, woodland, and livestock.
Economic value at the time of Edward the Confessor, after the Conquest, and in 1086.
Process of Compilation
Royal commissioners were sent into each shire.
Inquisitions were held in front of juries made up of Normans and Anglo-Saxons.
Data was cross-checked to ensure accuracy.
The findings were compiled into the Great Domesday and Little Domesday volumes.
Change in Urban Areas
Urban development accelerated under Norman rule due to both strategic and economic considerations.
Expansion of Towns
Growth of boroughs to stimulate trade and provide royal revenue.
Founding of new towns, often near castles, to encourage settlement under Norman control.
Introduction of markets and fairs, with royal charters granting privileges.
Urban Administration
Towns paid geld (land tax) collectively, encouraging organised governance.
Fortified boroughs served both economic and military functions.
Urban populations became more diverse, with an influx of Norman merchants and craftsmen.
Change in Rural Areas
The countryside saw significant shifts in landholding patterns, agricultural practice, and social hierarchy.
Redistribution of Land
Almost all major Anglo-Saxon earls and thegns were replaced by Norman barons.
Land was granted in scattered holdings to prevent the emergence of rival power bases.
Agricultural Developments
Introduction of new manorial systems consolidating peasant labour under a lord.
Greater emphasis on demesne farming (lord’s own land), worked by villeins and serfs.
Expansion of arable farming in some regions, though others suffered due to the devastation of the Conquest (notably the Harrying of the North).
Social Reordering
Villein: A peasant under the feudal system who was tied to the land and obliged to provide labour services to their lord.
The shift from free peasantry to a predominantly unfree rural workforce reflected increased control by Norman lords.
The Domesday Book as a Reflection of Regional Change
The survey revealed stark regional contrasts:
Prosperous regions (e.g., East Anglia, Kent) with growing markets and trade links.
Depopulated or economically weakened areas (e.g., Yorkshire) following rebellion and repression.
Differing patterns of land use: arable dominance in the South and East, pastoral farming in the West and North.
Political and Fiscal Implications
Provided William with the means to levy taxes efficiently.
Strengthened central authority by creating a definitive record of rights and obligations.
Demonstrated the king’s reach into every corner of the realm.
Legacy
While primarily an administrative tool, the Domesday Book has become an enduring symbol of Norman governance. Its detail and scope were unparalleled in medieval Europe, reflecting both the military organisation needed to defend the realm and the profound changes in urban and rural areas under Norman rule.
FAQ
It is unique for its scale, detail, and administrative purpose. No other medieval European kingdom compiled such a comprehensive survey covering land ownership, resources, population estimates, and economic value.
It also recorded comparative values for three points in time (before the Conquest, after the Conquest, and in 1086), allowing for direct measurement of change.
Its legal authority meant disputes could be settled by referring to it, giving it enduring administrative significance.
In addition to land and its value, the Domesday Book listed:
Mills and fisheries, which were valuable income sources.
Meadows, pastures, and woodland for grazing, timber, and pannage.
Livestock numbers, including oxen, sheep, and pigs.
This allowed the crown to assess both agricultural productivity and potential taxable wealth.
London was omitted due to its complex economy, diverse population, and independent governance, making it difficult to assess in the same way as rural shires.
Parts of the north, particularly beyond the River Tees, were excluded largely because of devastation from the Harrying of the North and ongoing instability, which made accurate surveying impractical.
It reinforced royal authority by:
Establishing an authoritative record of land tenure, reducing disputes.
Making it harder for lords to conceal taxable assets.
Demonstrating the king’s capacity to gather detailed information from every shire, symbolising administrative dominance.
The act of compiling it also reminded the population of the crown’s reach and organisational power.
Commissioners were royal officials assigned to specific circuits (groups of counties).
Their tasks included:
Holding public inquests with juries made up of locals (both Norman and Anglo-Saxon).
Recording sworn testimonies about landholding, resources, and values.
Ensuring consistency by cross-checking information between different sources.
They acted as the crown’s direct representatives, bridging local knowledge and central authority.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year was the Domesday Book commissioned, and for what primary purpose did William I order its creation?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for correct year: 1086.
1 mark for correctly identifying the primary purpose: to record landholding, resources, and values for administrative and taxation purposes.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain two ways in which the Domesday Book reflected regional change in England after the Norman Conquest.
Mark scheme:
Award up to 3 marks per point; maximum of 5 marks overall.
1 mark for identifying a relevant way the Domesday Book reflected regional change.
1–2 further marks for explaining the identified change with accurate detail and historical context.
Examples of acceptable points:
Economic variation between regions – The Domesday Book showed prosperous areas like East Anglia and Kent with thriving markets, while areas like Yorkshire were depopulated and economically weakened after rebellions (up to 3 marks).
Changes in landholding patterns – The survey recorded that almost all major Anglo-Saxon landholders had been replaced by Norman barons, reflecting the redistribution of land and shift in social hierarchy (up to 3 marks).
Shift in agricultural emphasis – It revealed the spread of manorial farming and increased demesne land, demonstrating the transformation of rural production systems (up to 3 marks).
Only the best two explained points are credited; no additional marks for extra points beyond two.
