2.4.1
The Revolt - 1075
The Revolt of the Normans
The Revolt of the Normans
By 1075, William had quashed lots of rebellions by Anglo-Saxon English people, who had lost power to Normans and had their land taken. However, in 1075, a group that included Norman nobles rebelled.
Who rebelled?
Who rebelled?
- There were three senior earls who rebelled against William.
- Roger de Breteuil, who was the Earl of Hereford. Hereford was one of the Marcher Earldoms created after the Battle of Hastings.
- Ralph de Gael, who was the Earl of East Anglia.
- Waltheof was the third earl to rebel. He was not a Norman, but he did control the earldom of Northumbria. He was an Anglo-Saxon.
Why did the Earls rebel?
Why did the Earls rebel?
- A desire for power - Earls were seeing their families lose land to William as generations died. The Earls were losing power. Also, they believed that if they could remove William from power, they and their families would be even more important.
- Unfair inheritance laws - the Earls viewed English inheritance laws as unfair. The Normans had earned their land by William confiscating it from Anglo-Saxons after their fathers' deaths. However, he commandeered back some land from Norman nobles as part of his inheritance laws.
- Changes in the Marcher Earldoms - This reason mainly applies to Roger de Breteuil (as he ruled Hereford). However, power had shifted from the Earls of the Marcher Earldoms towards the king.
- Ralph de Gael's anger - Ralph de Gael was angry with William because he didn't support Ralph's latest marriage.
What happened at the start of the revolt?
What happened at the start of the revolt?
- King Sweyn of Denmark agreed to invade England, at the request of Ralph de Gael.
- Waltheof and Ralph de Gael decided to rebel against William.
- Waltheof, who was the Earl of Northumbria, changed his mind. He told the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Lanfranc, who was in charge of England whilst William was out of the country travelling.
- This advance warning allowed Lanfranc to put down the rebellion.
- Roger and Ralph had expected Anglo-Saxon soldiers and local people to rise up against William. Most people didn't care and lots of Anglo Saxons actually fought alongside Norman soldiers.
What happened at the end of the revolt?
What happened at the end of the revolt?
- The revolt was failing, with most Anglo Saxons trying to stop the revolt alongside the Normans.
- The Danish ships that King Sweyn had committed to an invasion saw the failing revolt and decided not to invade. They landed and then returned to Denmark.
- William travelled from France to England and captured the culprits. However, Ralph managed to flee to France.
Conclusions
Conclusions
- Roger de Breteuil and Ralph de Gael had all their land taken away.
- Ralph de Gael ran away to France.
- Roger de Breteuil was put in prison.
- Waltheof was executed on the 31st of May 1076.
1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66
1.1Anglo-Saxon Society
1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis
1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne
2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87
2.1Establishing Control
2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance
2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087
2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075
3Norman England, 1066-88
3.1The Feudal System & the Church
3.2Norman Government
3.3The Norman Aristocracy
Jump to other topics
1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66
1.1Anglo-Saxon Society
1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis
1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne
2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87
2.1Establishing Control
2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance
2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087
2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075
3Norman England, 1066-88
3.1The Feudal System & the Church
3.2Norman Government
3.3The Norman Aristocracy
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