William I Maintains Royal Power

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How Did King William I Maintain Power?

To keep power, King William I used a mixture of force alongside attempts to win over the population.

The Marcher Earldoms

The Marcher Earldoms were a way to protect England against any potential attacks from Wales (which was a separate country then).
They also weakened the existing English earls. Creating more influential people in England who supported William rather than the old English nobility.

Land and inheritance laws

Rather than seizing thegns land straight away, which may have caused another revolt, William used inheritance laws to seize control of England.
When a thegn died, William would take the land and distribute it to his followers, instead of giving it to the thegns' family.
This caused a gradual shift in power away from Anglo Saxon nobles and towards Normans and the king.

William I's image and the cult of personality

William I used his own personal image as a tool to gain power. Like Hitler and Stalin used the 'cult of personality' to grow their power base in the 20th century, William made sure that his image (or likeness) appeared on royal writs, on coins in England.
William also visited different towns across the country and wore his crown frequently, so that people could see his person, likeness and power in real life.

Castles

Castles were important for 2 reasons:
1. Castles helped to defend England from foreign invasion. Castles were built in vital strategic locations across England. Places like the border between England and Wales and outside key towns helped defend Norman England against foreign attackers.
2. Castles helped to maintain William of Normandy's control over the local population. Many local earls did not like William. Having a military presence in each town helped to secure the local area and the size of castles was physically intimidating, scaring people away from rebelling.

The destruction of the North

The Harrying of the North effectively destroyed a large part of England, making it 'waste'. Rebels could not even live in the north, let alone organise rebellions against William from there.

Permanent military

William the Conqueror funded his permanent army of mercenaries using the geld tax. This had 2 effects:
1. He had a strong military to stop any potential rebellions.
2. The tax was mainly paid by the English nobles, so they were financially weaker as the king became financially stronger.

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

1.1Anglo-Saxon Society

1.1.1The Monarchy & Government

1.1.2Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

1.1.3The Legal System

1.1.4Local Government

1.1.5The Economy & Social Structure

1.1.6Towns

1.1.7The Church

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.9Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon Society

1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis

1.2.1The House of Godwin

1.2.2Harold Godwinson's Succession

1.2.3The Rebellion Against Tostig

1.2.4Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Edward the Confessor

1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne

1.3.1William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada & Edgar

1.3.2The Witan & the Reign of Harold Godwinson

1.3.3The Battles of Gate Fulford & Stamford Bridge

1.3.4Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

1.4The Norman Invasion

1.4.1The Battle of Hastings

1.4.2Reasons for William's Victory

1.4.3End of Topic Test - Rival Claimants for the Throne

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

2.1Establishing Control

2.1.1The Submission of the Earls

2.1.2Getting Control of England

2.1.3Reasons for Building Castles

2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance

2.2.1The Revolts against William

2.2.2End of Topic Test - William I in Power

2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087

2.3.1Harrying of the North, 1069-70

2.3.2Changes in Land Ownership 1066-1087

2.3.3William I Maintains Royal Power

2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075

2.4.1The Revolt - 1075

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Legacy of Resistance

2.4.3Grade 9 - Legacy of Resistance

3Norman England, 1066-88

3.1The Feudal System & the Church

3.1.1The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

3.1.2The Nature of Feudalism & Forfeiture

3.1.3The Role of the Church in England

3.1.4The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

3.1.5End of Topic Test - The Feudal System

3.2Norman Government

3.2.1Norman Government - Regents

3.2.2The Sheriff & the Forest

3.2.3The Domesday Book

3.3The Norman Aristocracy

3.3.1Aristocratic Culture & Language

3.3.2Bishop Odo

3.4William I & His Sons

3.4.1William I

3.4.2William's Death & the Succession

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Norman Government

3.4.4Grade 9 - Norman Government

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