William the Conqueror 1066-1087

William Rufus 1087-1100

Henry 1st  100-1135

Steven 1135-1154 

Normans were recent descendants of Vikings who had settled by force in North East France around the mouth of the Seine River. The land they occupied became known as Normandy from Land of Northmen.  Normandy is well remembered in recent history (World War 2) as the landing place for the British, American and Canadian troops as the first phase of driving Hitler and his German military out of France and to eventual submission.

The Norman Duke, William was friendly with English King, Edward the Confessor and attacked England on Edwards death because he had been promised the English crown by Edward but denied it by the Saxon usurper Harold.

The Normans were militarily three centuries ahead of Anglo Saxon England through the massive use of horses (cavalry) and archers against England’s infantry with old fashioned swords, battle axes and spears. 

England before the Normans had been the best run country in Europe. Norman England plus Norman France became the most powerful and richest territory in Europe but the locals in England were subjected to a ruthless regime and ruled by fear, both by the King’s Norman-French regional henchmen called Barons and Norman-French Clergy. Times could be tough and unjust even though the best Norman Kings tried to bring back old Anglo Saxon rules of law. At least one Norman King was noted to use the punishment of “gouging out of eyes” but it should be remembered that this practice was used all over Europe as far east as Constantinople during this period.

The last Norman King should not have been Stephen but a Queen, Matilda, however the male dominated society at the time could not bring its self to crown a woman. Matilda however got her revenge by negotiating (using the military force of her supporters) her son Henry as leader of the Plantagenet Dynasty which succeeded the Normans.

In brief

• To the Normans their most important territory was always Normandy, not England even though England was easier to defend and much richer.
• Today their visible legacy are Castles and Churches through which they ruled with a rod of iron. These impressive building were all built in stone and generally stretched the architects of the day who were the Masons from France. (Stone Masons)
• The Doomsday Book inventory of England, written largely by the clergy as they were the only people who could read and write, was instigated by William 1st and which still exists as a unique record of the wealth of the country at the time. Similarly the Bayeux Tapestry, instigated by William’s half brother, Odo and now on permanent exhibition in Bayeux cathedral, Normandy, France, visually provides a record of the times in 1066. Said to have been produced by William’s wife Matilda.
• The New Forest on the North East of Southampton was forcibly commandeered by William 1st as an exclusive hunting ground for the King and his party. The area remains a valuable national park to this day.