Life in Norman England, 1066-1088 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Disobeying the Church.

Not fulfilling their knight service obligations.

Refusing to marry a Norman noble.

Learning to speak English.

The Normans gained the biggest allocation of the forests.

The Forest Laws made growing trees a much more serious crime in Norman England than it had been in Anglo-Saxon England.

The Normans took land away from Anglo-Saxon nobility to create the royal forests.

Ordinary Anglo-Saxons could be fined for grazing their animals, cutting down trees and hunting on forest land.

Bishop Odo was responsible for the Revolt of the Earls in 1079.

Some historians claim that Odo tried to take some peasant farmers with him to Rome. This went against the feudal system.

As co-regent in 1067, Odo robbed the Church and pillaged villages.

In 1081, Odo took land that belonged to the Church. William could not accept this action.

Odo succeeded in rebelling against William I. He successfully placed William's eldest son, Robert Curthose, as King of England.

Odo succeeded in rebelling against William II. He successfully placed William I's eldest son, Robert Curthose, as King of England.

Odo’s rebellion failed. Odo lacked support from the Church, Norman aristocracy and the Anglo-Saxon population.

Odo’s rebellion failed. Odo and Robert of Mortain hid in Dover Castle. William II sieged the castle for six weeks, preventing Odo from receiving supplies.

William I did not believe that Robert could rule England effectively. He believed that Robert was too weak to make key decisions.

Robert begins to launch raids against William, with the support of William’s enemy, King Philip of France. 

In 1078, Robert knocks William off of his horse in battle. William could never get over this embarrassment.

William mocked Robert’s physical appearance. William gave Robert the nickname 'Rufus', which means ‘Red-Haired’.

By requiring them to swear loyalty in a public ceremony.

By giving them more land for military obligations.

By gifting them money and land for building castles.

By appointing them to Church positions.

Church courts were abolished.

Church courts were established to hear and try legal cases involving the clergy. 

The population was allowed to participate in Church trials.

The Church delivered all trials by jury.

Normanisation reduced William’s power. The pope continued to choose who would become a bishop in England.

Normanisation reduced William’s power. William did not have the power to oversee the church courts

Normanisation increased William’s power. William controlled what the Church could communicate to the Pope.

Normanisation increased William’s power. Every decision in the Church had to gain William's approval as well as the Pope.

William introduced a de-centralised system. He gave more power to the tenants-in-chief to govern England on his behalf.

During his reign, William began leaving regents in England to rule Normandy. He believed that England was easier to govern than Normandy. 

Tenants-in-chief had less power and wealth than Anglo-Saxon earls.

William abandoned the units of measuring land such as the hide, the hundred and the shire.

The succession of William Rufus was very problematic. As the eldest son, Robert opposed William Rufus becoming King of England.

The succession of William Rufus was very problematic. Robert used extreme tactics to weaken William’s position. He used money to bribe the Norman barons, forcing William Rufus to share the rule of Normandy. 

The succession of William Rufus was somewhat problematic. Robert's alliance with FitzOsbern made his claim to the English throne weaker once William Rufus ended FitzOsbern’s rebellion.

The succession of William Rufus was not problematic. William I allowed two sons to inherit his titles. Robert would become the Duke of Normandy and William Rufus to become King of England.