Absenteeism + Regents

1. Key Exam Question Focus – Section 6 To what extent did William I change the government and administration of England? Absenteeism + Regents William spent the vast majority of his reign in Normandy and can therefore be described as an absentee monarch. He left trusted regents in charge such as William fitzOsbern, Bishop Odoor Archbishop Lanfranc.

2. Key Exam Question Focus – Section 6 To what extent did William I change the government and administration of England? Foreign Aristocracy (Waltheof) William began his reign with a large number of English thegns and earls but by 1070, in the aftermath of the many rebellions from 1066-70, many had lost their positions to be replaced with foreigners. This removal of English magnates in favour of usually Norman men continued until by 1086 there were just a handful of English minor nobles left such as Almaer, Lord of Bourn.

3. Key Exam Question Focus – Section 6 To what extent did William I change the government and administration of England? Sheriffs Sheriffs existed pre-1066 but there power was nothing like on the scale enjoyed by sheriffs post-1066. The removal of the great earls was the reason that most historians give for this but undoubtedly the importance of writs during the reign of William also made a significant contribution. The sheriffs sat on the hundred courts which men regularly to judge various legal issues. They would also sit on shire courts alongside barons and would administer justice in more important cases. Sheriffs were responsible for collecting taxes. They were also responsible for ensuring that the king’s wishes were carried out when they received writs.

4. Key Exam Question Focus – Section 6 To what extent did William I change the government and administration of England? Chancellery + Writs The first person to be described as chancellor was Regenbald during the later years of Edward’s reign. He was soon dropped by William in late 1067 in favour of men that were more likely to be loyal. The role of chancellor was to oversee the writing and copying of writs which were then sent to the sheriffs so that the king’s wishes could be carried out in the shires. Due to William’s absenteeism writs became significantly more crucial to the governance of England than they were during Edward’s reign.

5. Key Exam Question Focus – Section 6 To what extent did William I change the government and administration of England? Shire Courts and Hundred Courts – Trial by ordeal through holding a hot iron rod (English), trial by combat (Norman) were examples of how cases could be decided. England was divided into shires and hundreds, the shire being the biggest of the two and shires were sub-divided into hundreds. Most disputes would be settles in the hundred courts which met regularly but more important cases were settled at the shire courts. The sheriffs oversaw the hundred courts and often the shire courts too but other important men such as barons would be present at shire courts which only met about twice a year. The shire and hundred courts are an excellent example of how William used an English system that wasn’t present in Normandy to his advantage.

6. Key Exam Question Focus – Section 6 To what extent did William I change the government and administration of England? Crown wearing William introduced a new feature of kingship in that he publically wore the crown at ‘crown-wearing’ sessions. These took place in Winchester at Easter, in Gloucester at Christmas and at Westminster at Whitsun. William was clearly conscious that people should see who was in charge. He held a special crown-wearing session at York after defeating the rebels in 1070 and just before the harrying of the north was carried out.