Pre-U History CAIE

Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest, 1035–1107

Anglo-Saxon England (1035-1066)

• Edward the Confessor ruled England from 1042-1066, preceding the Norman Conquest.
• Edward's reign was marked by his favouring of Norman advisors and clergy, leading to resentment from the powerful Anglo-Saxon earls.
• The Witan, a council of nobleman, had substantial influence over matters of the kingdom - including succession.
• Harold Godwinson was one of the most powerful earls in England with a strong claim to the throne upon Edward's death.

Norman Invasions

• Upon Edward the Confessor's death in 1066, the Witan proclaimed Harold Godwinson the king, upsetting other claimants such as William of Normandy, Harold Hardrada and Edgar Atheling.
• William, convinced that the throne was promised to him, launched the Norman Invasion.
• The Battle of Hastings, fought in October 1066, saw William's forces defeat Harold Godwinson's army, leading to William's claim of the English throne.
• William consolidated his rule with the Harrying of the North (1069-1070), a violent campaign to subdue northern rebellion against his rule.

Norman England (1066-1107)

• Now known as William the Conqueror, he was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.
• The Normans build motte-and-bailey and stone castles across England to maintain control.
• Feudalism was introduced, restructuring English society into a well-organised hierarchy.
• The Domesday Book (1086) was commissioned, a document that recorded the wealth and resources of the nation.
• Under William’s successors, William II (1087-1100) and Henry I (1100-1135), Norman rule was further consolidated, with notable events such as the saga of the White Ship (1120) under Henry I.

The Church

• The Normans restructured the Church, replacing many Anglo-Saxon bishops with Norman ones.
• Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was a guiding force in the reformation of the English Church under Norman rule.
• Monasticism saw a revival under the Normans with the building of many large monasteries following the Romanesque style.

Social and Cultural The Repercussions

• The Norman Conquest had a profound effect on the English language, with it incorporating many Norman French words.
• A new style of Anglo-Norman literature emerged, blending elements of native Anglo-Saxon and Norman storytelling traditions.
• The architecture adopted the Norman Romanesque style known as Norman architecture, evident in numerous castles, cathedrals, and churches.

Note: In your revision, be sure to know key dates, names, and events. Also analyse the impacts and significances they had on Anglo-Saxon England and Norman England.