William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror managed to secure his Norman empire by using his military and political experience. He introduced a rigid feudal system in order to make it harder to revolt. Although he was an efficient leader he also had a lot of luck. The main reason he was successful was in his alliance making with Welsh, Scottish and Scandinavian kings. William also had loyal barons who helped him to control his empire. Furthermore, he built a network of castles, which made it harder for rebels to revolt. Not only did his military experience help him but so did his ruthlessness, which was shown in the Harrying of the North. His political experience was also demonstrated when he ordered the Domesday Survey to be carried out. This survey helped him tax the English. Secondly, when he took over the church in order to make sure everyone would believe that god had chosen him to be king of England.

William used his experience well, it was a great advantage, especially against the disunited English. For example, he came to England with ready-made castles that he could use as a base after defeating the English. Once crowned king he changed the English church to a Norman church. The church was very important in the medieval period and most people believed that the church was always correct, which meant that William could get Norman priests to say that god had chosen him to be king of England. By using his experience he knew that he would be able to terrorise the English into doing his bidding by being cruel, ruthless and merciless.

Although the feudal system was already in use before the Norman invasion William the Conqueror changed it, making it more rigid. In doing this new laws were introduced such as the forest law, which meant no peasants could hunt in the king’s forests. If the law was broken punishments were swifter and hasher than under English rule.

However efficient and experienced William and his army were, they also had a lot of luck, which included rebel revolts and the weather. When the Harrying of the North happened he took a massive risk by marching in the winter of 1069. This took the rebels by surprise as medieval armies almost never marched in winter. The army could have got stuck in the snow, drowned in heavy rain at river crossings or suffered from severe frostbite. He was also lucky that the revolts were not co-ordinated which allowed him to crush them one at a time.

William was also very efficient at alliance making. Without the alliances the Welsh, Scottish and Scandinavian kings could have helped the English rebels revolt. William had either persuaded or bribed the foreign kings to stop supporting dangerous rebel armies.

In conclusion, one of the main reasons William secured his empire, was because the English were disunited after the battle of Hastings. He was able to take control before any major revolts occurred. Furthermore, however, well planned the invasion, William was very lucky that the rebel attacks were not co-ordinated and that the Welsh, Scottish and Scandinavian kings agreed not to support the English rebels.