What was the impact of the Norman Conquest

Authors Avatar

The Norman Conquest of England

Question 2: How much impact did the Norman Conquest have on society and government in England in the 11th century?

The Norman Conquest of England started in 1066, when William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy) led the invasion. His success at the Battle of Hastings, against Harold II (the last Anglo-Saxon King of England), allowed the Normans to rule over England (although it took until 1071 for the country to be fully subdued because of numerous rebellions). William I was finally crowned and became King of England on Christmas day 1066, after he had forced the submission of the Witan and other opposition leaders. But he still faced much resistance from the locals for many years, particularly Northern England, so he had them restrained.

After, he ordered the execution of the ‘Harrying of the North’ and its impact was immense; it had enormous burden costs to the economy, society, and culture. Thousands were massacred and entire villages were burned, leading to food shortages. The survivors of the initial attack would soon perish due to starvation over the winter cold. The Domesday Book, written almost two decades later, verifies that the area was destroyed and masses were killed. This brutal act ensured that there would never be any further noteworthy defiance against William, as a result of the fear generated from the violence. This cruel deed had long-term effects, such as the difference in economic growth and equality gap, between the Northern and Southern regions, and was eventually addressed from the Late Middle Ages.

Once England had been controlled William warranted an extensive survey to be carried out, similar to a census by a government of today. His royal officers held a public inquiry into the value of all homes and what they owned, and recorded all their data into what is known as the Domesday Book, which itself was divided into two parts - Little Domesday and Great Domesday. Surprisingly, it was prepared in the space of one year and was completed in 1086. The Domesday Book is a statistical document and was used as an administrative tool; a basis for more decisive taxation of the Norman’s new realm and to fund William’s warfare. It involved the first kingdom-wide poll taken in Europe since the Roman era and it helped the Normans to integrate with their conquered territories. Despite its thoroughness, it was prepared in an unstable period when fortunes of several families were changing. It also briefly mentions some names that never seem to crop up in history ever again. Yet nowadays it is still used by historians as a tremendous piece of evidence and reveals an excellent insight into England’s wealth at the time. Amazingly, on rare occasions it is even used now as proof in certain law cases such as land and property disputes.

While William’s repressive measures were taking place, there were needs for fortification. Motte and Bailey castles were built commonly, both to consolidate peace and in response to local rebellions in the turbulent times. They were relatively quick and easy to build, and lots of them were erected at key strategic points on routes to the North and the Midlands, called ‘the spine’. The first castles at Hastings and Pevensey were vital because they provided defensive points, and also acted as a base for further expansion. These castles led as examples and catalysed the construction of hundreds more all over England at major centres. They presented clear physical evidence of Norman military and political supremacy, as well as illustrating their establishment in the country. However, due to the vast productions of castles, William was well aware of the danger posed by the rapid spread of private defences. In order to prevent anarchies, he forbade the concept of creating castles without a license. This helped to assure that he remained a strong central authority.

Join now!

Over the next couple of years the wooden prototype evolved into stone castles. Most of them were situated in the North-Western (Welsh Marshes) region because there were constant revolts in those areas, whereas the South contained fewer since they were less radical. One of the best-known great stone keeps is the White Tower of London, which is still intact, demonstrating the ability to endure centuries. The impact brought by the production of these grand structures was devastating in some cases. Their imposing stature wasted large amounts of land, including the buildings within enclosures, and sometimes the destruction was so much ...

This is a preview of the whole essay