The Domesday Book
History: KS3, topic 2.2.9
The Domesday Book
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.
Tax
- In order for William to feel secure on his throne, he needed to ensure he had the money to raise an army and defend himself against an invasion if necessary.
- To do this, he would have to tax his people.
- To do this, he would have to know how much they had.
The Domesday Book
- So, William introduced the Domesday Book.
- He sent commissioners around the country with instructions to find out what people had.
- For example, how much land they had, how many cows or sheep or pigs they owned, how many peasants worked on their land etc.
Objections
- This information was collected from across the country, and compiled in the Domesday Book.
- This meant that the king knew exactly how much his subjects had, and how much tax he could raise from them.
- Although this information was useful for the king, many people thought it was an invasion of their privacy, and did not like the way this was carried out.
Test yourself on The Domesday Book
What did William introduce to make levying taxes easier for him?
What was NOT something the commissioners were sent to find out?