Norman society

At the bottom of society, the free peasantry of the Anglo-Saxon era was largely replaced by the villein. These unfree peasants were tied to their lord's land and forced to complete boon work in exchange for a small plot to farm. Following 1066, William used this strict system to replace approximately 4,000 Anglo-Saxon thegns with just 200 Norman tenants-in-chief.

Norman Warfare: Heavy Cavalry and Castles

Imagine trying to stay seated on a galloping horse while holding a heavy spear and crashing directly into a wall of enemy shields. This was the terrifying reality of the Norman heavy cavalry, a unit of full-time professional knights who acted as a devastating shock force. Their effectiveness relied on technological advancements like stirrups and high-backed saddles, which "locked" the rider into position, allowing them to absorb the massive shock of a collision without being unhorsed.

These knights wore a chainmail shirt called a hauberk, a conical helmet featuring a protective nasal guard, and carried a kite-shaped shield to defend their left side and leg. To maximize their impact, they trained on a spinning target called a quintain and mastered the couched lance technique, tucking their weapons securely under their arms to transfer the horse's full momentum into the strike. On the battlefield, they were highly disciplined, frequently executing a feigned retreat to trick enemy infantry into breaking their defensive formations.

Alongside elite cavalry, the Normans dominated their landscape by building highly intimidating fortresses. Unlike Anglo-Saxon communal towns, Normans built private strongholds designed to control rebellious locals and secure strategic choke points like river crossings.

A classic Norman fortress could be built by unskilled labour in just 8 to 14 days following these clear steps:

• First, dig a deep, wide, circular ditch known as a fosse.
• Then, pile up the excavated earth to create a steep, 25 to 80-foot man-made mound called a motte.
• Next, construct a secure wooden tower, known as a keep, on top of the mound for the lord's residence.
• Finally, lay out a flat enclosed courtyard at the base called a bailey, and surround the entire complex with a wooden fence of sharpened stakes known as a palisade.

Norman Culture, Architecture and Religion

Understanding medieval church architecture explains how the Normans projected total power and divine authority over their subjects. The Normans championed the Romanesque style, which was characterised by its massive scale, sturdy pillars, rounded arches, and incredibly thick walls. These buildings were typically constructed in a cruciform shape, featuring a long central nave, a crossing transept, and an upper row of windows called a clerestory. Stonemasons decorated these structures with geometric V-shaped carvings known as chevron patterns.

Beyond architecture, Norman culture was defined by its language and education. While the majority of the population was illiterate, the elite used Norman French for everyday business, while Latin remained the essential language for the Church and legal records. Under the influence of Archbishop Lanfranc, education also shifted, with schools moving from the isolation of monasteries into growing towns.

The religious devotion of the Norman aristocracy was immense; between 1035 and 1066, they founded at least 20 new monastic houses. William used religion as a tool for political control and reform. He fiercely opposed simony and clerical marriage, while strictly enforcing the Truce of God to ban private fighting on holy days. By framing the Anglo-Saxon church as corrupt, William successfully secured the Papal Banner from Pope Alexander II, transforming his 1066 invasion into a holy war.