The art of building castles was not a Norman invention, but the Normans became masters in the use of the simple yet enormously effective motte-and-bailey castle—a mound (motte) topped by a timber palisade and tower, surrounded by a ditched and palisaded enclosure (bailey). These little for...
G.K Holloway takes us on a sweeping trek through England and even into Scotland and Denmark, following the story of the conquered English and triumphant Normans. The post-Conquest years were years of struggle and betrayal on both sides andIn the Shadows of Castlesdraws the reader into this am...
Did Medieval Castle Building in England Start with the Norman Invasion? Domesday Book Overview Exploring the Top 10 Most Famous Norman Castles Famous Norman Battles Famous Norman People Feudalism and the Norman Conquest of England 1066 From Norman Motte and Bailey Castles to Concentric Fortresses: A ...
Norman Conquest, the military conquest of England by William, duke of Normandy, primarily effected by his decisive victory at the Battle of Hastings (October 14, 1066) and resulting ultimately in profound political, administrative, and social changes in
William the Conqueror was king of England from 1066 until his death in 1087. He made himself the mightiest noble in France and then seized control of England in 1066, crowning himself King William I. He was one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of the
The rebellions that began that year reached their peak in 1069, when William resorted to such violent measures that even contemporaries were shocked. To secure his hold on the country, he introduced the Norman practice of building castles, including the Tower of London. The rebellions, which ...
William and his friends had to overcome enormous obstacles, including William’s illegitimacy (he was generally known as the Bastard) and the fact that he hadaccededas a child. His weakness led to a breakdown of authority throughout the duchy: private castles were erected, public power was us...
The subjection of the country was completed by the rapid building of a great number of castles. Consequences of the conquest The extent and desirability of the changes brought about by the conquest have long been disputed by historians. Certainly, in political terms, William’s victory destroyed ...