Text: The Norman Conquest

Subject: History | Year: 7

Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________

In January 1066, the death of King Edward the Confessor caused a significant succession crisis because he died without an heir. Consequently, three powerful men claimed they had the right to be the next King of England. Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, was the only Englishman and was crowned immediately by the Witan. However, William, the Duke of Normandy, argued that Edward had promised him the throne many years earlier. Furthermore, the Viking leader Harald Hardrada invaded from the north to reclaim old Viking lands. This led to a year of intense conflict as each claimant fought to secure their place on the English throne.

The most famous battle took place on 14 October 1066 near Hastings on the south coast. Harold’s army was very tired after marching hundreds of miles to defeat the Vikings at Stamford Bridge just days before. The English soldiers formed a strong shield wall at the top of Senlac Hill to block the Norman advance. William’s army included skilled archers and knights on horseback, but they could not break the English line at first. Eventually, the Normans used a clever tactic called a feigned retreat where they pretended to run away in fear. When the English broke their wall to chase them, the Norman knights turned back and slaughtered the scattered soldiers.

After the battle, William was crowned King on Christmas Day, but he still needed to control the rebellious English population. To do this, he ordered the construction of hundreds of motte and bailey castles across the countryside. These early castles were built quickly from wood and earth to provide a safe base for Norman soldiers. Furthermore, the sight of these high towers reminded the local people that the Normans were now in charge. When people in the north of England tried to rebel, William responded with the Harrying of the North. He destroyed crops and livestock to ensure that no one could survive to fight against him again.

To keep order permanently, William introduced a new social structure called the Feudal System. He claimed that all the land in England belonged to him, and he divided it amongst his loyal Norman barons. In exchange for this land, the barons had to provide the King with soldiers and money. These barons then shared their land with knights, who promised to fight for them whenever they were needed. At the bottom of this hierarchy were the English peasants, who worked the land to provide food for the lords. Consequently, the Feudal System ensured that every person had a specific duty to the person above them.

In 1085, William wanted to know exactly how much wealth he could tax, so he ordered a massive survey of the entire country. This information was collected into the Domesday Book, which recorded every farm, mill, and animal in England. People called it 'Domesday' because its records were as final as the Day of Judgement. The conquest also changed the English language by introducing thousands of French words that we still use today. Furthermore, the Normans built massive stone cathedrals and changed the laws of the land. Therefore, the Norman Conquest was a turning point that fundamentally reshaped the culture and government of England.

Key Definitions

• Claimant: A person who believes they have a legal right to a position, such as the throne.
• Feigned Retreat: A military tactic where an army pretends to run away to trick the enemy into leaving their position.
• Motte and Bailey: A type of castle with a wooden tower on a hill (motte) and a fenced area (bailey) below.
• Feudal System: A social hierarchy where land is exchanged for work, loyalty, and military service.
• Survey: A detailed study or inspection of something to gather specific information.

Comprehension Questions

1. [Retrieval] Who were the three main men who claimed the English throne in 1066?
2. [Vocabulary] What does the author mean by the phrase "succession crisis"?
3. [Explain] How did the "feigned retreat" help the Normans win the Battle of Hastings?
4. [Inference] Why would William want to build motte and bailey castles "quickly" after he became King?
5. [Compare] Contrast the roles of a Baron and a Peasant within the Feudal System.

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

💡 Pedagogical Pulse

• Oracy & Delivery: For Year 7 students, focus on the "Game of Thrones" style narrative of 1066 to build engagement. Use a "Think-Pair-Share" activity to discuss which claimant had the strongest right to the throne before reading the text.
• Misconception Alert: Students often think the Battle of Hastings lasted for weeks; clarify that it was a single, albeit long, day of fighting (roughly 9 am to dusk).
• Nuance Check: When discussing the "Harrying of the North," ensure students understand the scale of the destruction while maintaining a neutral, historical perspective on William’s methods of control.

✅ Answer Key & Mirror-Labeling

• Question 1 Answer: The three men were Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy, and Harald Hardrada.
• Question 2 Answer: A "succession crisis" is a situation where there is no clear or agreed-upon person to follow the previous leader (in this case, King Edward).
• Question 3 Answer: The feigned retreat tricked the English into breaking their strong shield wall. Once the English left the high ground to chase the Normans, they were easily attacked and defeated.
• Question 4 Answer: William was a foreign invader with a relatively small army; he needed immediate protection and a way to show his power to prevent the English from rebelling against him.
• Question 5 Answer: A Baron was a high-ranking noble who received large amounts of land directly from the King and provided soldiers. A Peasant was at the bottom of the system, had very little power, and performed physical labour on the land.