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Year 10
AQA

Key figures in the government of Norman England

I can recall some of the key figures in Norman government.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Key figures in the government of Norman England

I can recall some of the key figures in Norman government.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. At first, William planned to share government with Anglo-Saxon nobles and Church leaders.
  2. After 1070, William replaced Anglo-Saxon nobles and churchmen with loyal Normans.
  3. William FitzOsbern and Odo of Bayeux were important figures in government.
  4. Lanfranc became a key figure in government after 1070.
  5. Matilda of Flanders became the first Queen of England, though was most influential as William's regent in Normandy.

Common misconception

William always planned to replace Anglo-Saxons in key government positions with loyal Normans.

At first, William intended to boost his claim to be the legitimate heir of Edward by keeping earls Edwin, Morcar and Waltheof in place in his government of England - alongside new earls such as Earl Odo of Kent or Earl William of Hereford.

Keywords

  • Prelate - a senior official in the Church, for example, a bishop or abbot

  • Regent - a person appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or ill

  • Flanders - a region (now in modern-day Belgium and France) ruled in the medieval period by a count as a vassal of the king of France

The lesson could start with a recap of William's claim to the throne of England and a discussion as to why William was keen to portray himself as legitimate king not just as a conqueror.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes a person who pays for the use of land or a building?
Correct Answer: tenant, Tenant
Q2.
Whose land did William not claim for the Normans?
Correct answer: only the House of Godwin
Correct answer: all Anglo-Saxon earls
Anglo-Saxons who had fought against him
Q3.
Which keyword describes the large Norman landholders who held land directly from the monarch?
Correct Answer: tenants-in-chief, Tenants-in-chief, tenants in chief, Tenants in chief
Q4.
Complete the sentence: William used his control over England’s land to transfer power from Anglo-Saxons to .
Correct Answer: Normans, normans
Q5.
Complete the sentence with this missing names: At first William allowed Earls and to keep their earldoms, to help him be accepted as England’s new king.
Tostig and Godwin
Correct answer: Edwin and Morcar
Gospatric and Odo
Q6.
By 1086, what percentage of the land in England was held by Norman lords?
25%
Correct answer: 50%
75%
100%

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:Flanders,a region ruled by a count as a vassal of the king of France

a region ruled by a count as a vassal of the king of France

Correct Answer:prelate,a senior official in the Church, for example, a bishop or abbot

a senior official in the Church, for example, a bishop or abbot

Correct Answer:regent,person appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or ill

person appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or ill

Q2.
Complete the sentence: At first, William planned to share government with nobles and Church leaders.
Correct Answer: Anglo-Saxon, Anglo Saxon, anglo-saxon, anglo saxon
Q3.
Which of the following people were part of William’s government of England before 1070?
Correct answer: Earl Edwin
Correct answer: Archbishop Stigand
Earl Tostig
Correct answer: Earl Morcar
Archbishop Lanfrac
Q4.
Which of the following statements relate to Odo?
Correct answer: He was the Earl of Kent.
He was a Marcher earl.
Correct answer: He was imprisoned in 1082.
Correct answer: He put down the Revolt of the Earls.
He put down Eadric the Wild's revolt.
Q5.
Which of the following statements show the importance of Lanfranc to the government of Norman England?
Correct answer: Lanfranc’s reforms were influential in how Church administration was organised.
Lanfrac married Matilda of Flanders to form an alliance.
Correct answer: He was influential in his role as William’s regent in 1075.
He helped put down Eadric the Wild's revolt.
Correct answer: He made sure that Church land was protected from land grabs.
Q6.
In what ways was Matilda of Flanders a key figure in Norman England?
She made sure that Church land was protected from land grabs.
Correct answer: She was the first person to be crowned queen of England.
Correct answer: Her role as regent in Normandy allowed William to go to England when he needed.
Her reforms were influential in how Church administration was organised.
Correct answer: She was important in channeling English money into Church projects in Normandy.

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