POWER

1 Power in medieval Britain c1000–c1485
1.2 The Norman Conquest and its impact
KEY QUESTIONS
The Norman invasion of 1066
A Why were the Normans successful?
The table below lists several factors behind the
Normans’ success. Copy the table and look for evidence
of each factor at work (in 1066 or in the decade after) as
you read the topic. Record this evidence in column 2.
At the end of the topic, use column 3 to rank the factors.
Factor affecting Norman
success
luck
a strong legal claim
effective leadership
loyal support
the Church
military power
mistakes
Anglo-Saxon wealth
Anglo-Saxon administration
brutal suppression
other
Evidence of
this factor
at work
Importance
(rank from
most to least)
The real point of the research stage is to prepare you for
some serious thinking. Here is the kind of question you
might be asked:
The Norman Conquest was successful because the
Normans were brutal. How far do you agree?
FACTFILE
The question is guiding you to one factor: brutality.
However, you need to consider how important brutality
was in the success of the Norman Conquest and
whether other factors were more or less important.
Your completed table and your judgement should mean
you are ready to tackle this question.
B How far did the Norman Conquest change
England?
The table below lists some features of Norman
England. Copy the table and, as you work through the
topic, look for evidence of change or continuity from
Anglo-Saxon England. Add more rows if you need them.
Feature of Anglo-Saxon
England
the Church
land ownership
government, law and
administration
life for ordinary people
other
A map showing the key events of 1066.
Battle of Fulford
Harald Hardrada and Tostig defeat
Harold Godwinson’s supporters,
Earls Edwin and Morcar,
20 September
Berkhamsted 7
English leaders submit to
William, end of October
Wallingford 6
Archbishop Stigand
surrenders and ends
attempts to put
Edgar Atheling on
throne, October
Evidence of
change
Evidence of
continuity
As you read through the topic, think about the following
question. You will answer it at the end.
The Normans did not really bring any changes to England;
they simply took over what was already there. How far do
you agree with this view?
8
Brittany
Coast
ENGLAND
Winchester
Normandy
Coast
Canterbury
1 Battle of Stamford Bridge
Harold defeats Harald Hardrada
and Tostig Godwinson,
25 September
2 London
William crowned king,
25 December
3 Southwark
William repulsed,
mid-October
4 Battle of Hastings
William defeats Harold,
who is killed, 14 October
5 Pevensey
William lands in England,
28 September
Uncorrected proof
1 Study Sources 1–3. What
does each source say about
William’s or Harold’s claim
to the throne?
2 Explain the differences
between the three sources
and suggest reasons for
these differences.
Source 3 Norman writer William
of Jumièges, writing c1070.
Edward king of the English sent
his Archbishop of Canterbury to
appoint him heir to the kingdom.
But he also, at a later date, sent to
him Harold, the greatest of the earls
in the land, to swear loyalty to the
duke concerning the crown.
January 1066: Harold Godwinson becomes king
When Edward the Confessor died in January 1066, Harold Godwinson became
king. According to the ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE it was a simple succession (see
Source 1). Edward’s great-nephew, Edgar Atheling, had a better legal claim to the
throne than Harold, but he was only 15 years old and few Anglo-Saxon nobles
preferred him as king. The Witan wanted a strong leader who could defend and
run the country, and Harold Godwinson was the richest and most powerful man
in England. He was a proven war leader. In 1065 he had even exiled his own
brother, Tostig, for ruling badly and upsetting the thegns. Harold had England
united behind him.
William of Normandy claims the throne
Across the English Channel sat William, Duke of Normandy. England was
extremely wealthy – the richest country in Europe – and William saw it as a
tempting prize. He claimed that Edward the Confessor, who had strong links to
Normandy and was distantly related to William, had promised him the English
throne in 1051. He also claimed that Harold Godwinson had pledged loyalty to
him in 1064. This was true, but Harold argued that this oath of loyalty was forced
out of him while he was being held hostage by William after a shipwreck. To
boost his claim still further, William won the support of the POPE, which allowed
him to claim that God was on his side.
Source 1 An extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, published soon after 1066.
Harold Godwinson succeeded to the throne of England in 1066, just as King Edward had
granted it to him and as he had been chosen for the position.
Source 2 A scene from the Bayeux Tapestry, showing Harold promising loyalty to
William of Normandy.
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