1.2.8

Castles

Test yourself

Castles

Although William had won the Battle of Hastings, his position as king was still very insecure. He used several methods to secure his throne and establish himself as king.

Illustrative background for ControlIllustrative background for Control ?? "content

Control

  • Another key way that William kept control of England was through his use of castles (another idea that he brought over from Normandy).
  • William had been an invader and many of the English did not want him as their king, so he had to find a way to keep them under control.
Illustrative background for CastlesIllustrative background for Castles ?? "content

Castles

  • In many towns across the country, William had castles built.
  • They were usually built on the top of a hill so that they looked out for miles into the distance.
Illustrative background for Motte and bailey castlesIllustrative background for Motte and bailey castles ?? "content

Motte and bailey castles

  • These early castles were known as ‘motte and bailey’ castles.
  • Soldiers lived within the castle grounds and would defend it if necessary.
  • William placed a loyal knight in the castle (either Norman or English) to keep control.
  • The knight would oversee the soldiers in the castle and collect taxes from them.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson