The Norman Conquest 1065–1087

This is one of the three optional British depth studies for Paper 3. If your centre chose this topic, expect a large data/source question on the historical environment site study AND a 20-mark extended essay. The Norman Conquest tests AO1 (knowledge), AO2 (change/causation) and AO4 (interpretations).

The succession crisis 1066

Edward the Confessor died in January 1066 without a clear heir. Three main claimants:

Claimant	Claim	Strength
Harold Godwinson	Most powerful English earl; on his deathbed Edward supposedly promised him the crown	Had English support; crowned immediately
Harald Hardrada (Norway)	Claimed via old agreement with previous Danish king of England	Strong Viking military
William, Duke of Normandy	Claimed Edward had promised him crown; Harold had supposedly sworn an oath to support him (on holy relics)	Strong Norman military machine

The Battle of Hastings, October 1066

Harold defeated Hardrada at Stamford Bridge (25 Sept) then force-marched south. At Hastings (14 Oct 1066):

• Normans: cavalry, archers, infantry.
• English: shield wall on high ground.
• Key moment: Harold killed (possibly by arrow to eye; disputed); English broke.
• William victorious; crowned at Westminster Abbey, 25 December 1066.

Feudalism

William imposed a strict feudal system on England:

• The King owned all land.
• Tenants-in-chief (barons and bishops) held land from the King in exchange for military service.
• Knights held land from barons; provided mounted warriors.
• Villeins/serfs worked the land; tied to the manor.

This replaced the looser Anglo-Saxon thegn system. Feudalism gave William tight control over land, men and military resources.

The Domesday Book (1086)

William commissioned a great survey of England:

• Officials visited every manor; recorded land ownership, livestock, population and value.
• Purpose: assess taxable wealth; verify who held what and owed what service.
• Nickname "Domesday" (given later) — because there was no appeal against its findings, like the Day of Judgement.

Norman castles

Castles were instruments of control and intimidation:

• Motte-and-bailey: earth motte with wooden tower; quick to build; built immediately after conquest.
• Later: stone keeps (e.g. Tower of London); more permanent and imposing.
• Built at strategic points (river crossings, town centres); garrisoned by Norman soldiers; replaced native English administration.
• By 1100: over 500 castles in England — a vast exercise in occupation.

Resistance and revolts

English resistance was significant but ultimately failed:

• 1067–69: Revolts in Kent, Devon and the North. The Harrying of the North (winter 1069–70): William devastated Yorkshire to suppress rebellion — crops burned, livestock slaughtered; Domesday Book recorded many northern villages as "waste" years later.
• Hereward the Wake (1070–71): last major English resistance; held the Isle of Ely; eventually betrayed and defeated.

Impact on England

By 1087 (William's death) England was transformed:

• Almost all Anglo-Saxon landholders replaced by Normans (only 2 of 180 major landholders were English by 1087).
• Norman French became the language of court and law for 300 years.
• English Church reorganised: English bishops replaced by Normans; cathedral building programme began.
• Population traumatised, especially in the North.

Common OCR exam mistakes

1. Saying the Battle of Hastings was at Hastings — it was fought at Senlac Hill, several miles north of Hastings town.
2. Confusing Harold Godwinson (English king) with Harald Hardrada (Norwegian claimant).
3. Forgetting the Harrying of the North as evidence of the brutality of the conquest.
4. On interpretations questions: OCR requires you to evaluate why historians might interpret events differently (different evidence, different priorities) — not just describe what each historian says.