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To understand the Norman Conquest, you must first understand the England that the Normans invaded. Anglo-Saxon England was a sophisticated and well-organised kingdom, with its own system of government, law, and social hierarchy. This lesson covers the political, social, and economic structure of England on the eve of the Conquest.
Anglo-Saxon society was rigidly structured. Every person had a defined place and role, and the system was based on land ownership and loyalty.
| Social Rank | Role and Status |
|---|---|
| King | Ruler of England; chosen by the Witan from the royal family. Held ultimate authority over law, taxation, and defence. |
| Earls | The most powerful nobles below the king. Controlled large regions (earldoms) such as Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria. Collected taxes and raised armies. |
| Thegns | Local lords who held land from the king or earls. Served as warriors and administrators. Required to provide military service. |
| Ceorls (Churls) | Free peasant farmers who worked their own land. Paid taxes and could be called up for military service in the fyrd. |
| Slaves (Thralls) | The lowest class. Had no legal rights and were owned by others. Could be bought, sold, or freed. |
Exam Tip: Make sure you can explain the difference between earls and thegns. Earls controlled entire regions, while thegns were local landholders. This distinction is important when analysing the feudal changes after 1066.
Anglo-Saxon England had a remarkably advanced system of government for its time.
The Witan was the king's council of advisors. It was made up of the most important earls, bishops, and thegns. The Witan had several important functions:
England was divided into shires (similar to modern counties). Each shire was overseen by a shire reeve (sheriff) who collected taxes, enforced the law, and raised the fyrd. Shires were further divided into hundreds, each with its own court.
| Administrative Unit | Leader | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Earldom | Earl | Defence, raising armies, collecting taxes for the crown |
| Shire | Sheriff (Shire Reeve) | Law enforcement, tax collection, local administration |
| Hundred | Hundred-man | Local court, settling disputes, minor law enforcement |
Anglo-Saxon England had a prosperous economy based primarily on agriculture. The open-field system was widely used, where peasants farmed strips of land in large communal fields. Key crops included wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
Trade was also important. Towns such as London, Winchester, and York were thriving centres of commerce. England produced high-quality wool that was exported to Europe. The coinage system was well regulated, with the king controlling all mints.
Key Term: The Danegeld was a land tax originally raised to pay off Viking raiders. By 1066, it had become a regular tax that demonstrated the efficiency of Anglo-Saxon government — the king could raise large sums of money quickly across the whole kingdom.
The Church played a central role in Anglo-Saxon life. Bishops and abbots were wealthy and powerful, sitting on the Witan alongside earls. Monasteries were centres of learning and literacy. The Archbishop of Canterbury was the most senior churchman in England.
The Church also provided legitimacy to the king. Coronation was a religious ceremony, and the king was seen as God's chosen ruler. This would become important when the succession was disputed in 1066.
Anglo-Saxon England relied on two main military forces:
Exam Tip: When writing about the Battle of Hastings, you should discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both the housecarls and the fyrd. The housecarls were formidable in defence but few in number. The fyrd was large but poorly trained and could only serve for limited periods.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 871–899 | Reign of Alfred the Great; united much of England against the Vikings |
| 1016–1035 | Reign of Cnut (Canute); England ruled as part of a Scandinavian empire |
| 5 January 1066 | Death of Edward the Confessor; succession crisis begins |
Anglo-Saxon England in 1066 was a wealthy, well-governed, and culturally sophisticated kingdom. Its systems of government, taxation, and law were among the most advanced in Europe. Understanding this context is essential for evaluating the scale of change brought about by the Norman Conquest.