Key figures in the government of Norman England
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can recall some of the key figures in Norman government.
Key learning points
- At first, William planned to share government with Anglo-Saxon nobles and Church leaders.
- After 1070, William replaced Anglo-Saxon nobles and churchmen with loyal Normans.
- William FitzOsbern and Odo of Bayeux were important figures in government.
- Lanfranc became a key figure in government after 1070.
- Matilda of Flanders became the first Queen of England, though was most influential as William's regent in Normandy.
Keywords
Prelate - a senior official in the Church, for example, a bishop or abbot
Regent - a person appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or ill
Flanders - a region (now in modern-day Belgium and France) ruled in the medieval period by a count as a vassal of the king of France
Common misconception
William always planned to replace Anglo-Saxons in key government positions with loyal Normans.
At first, William intended to boost his claim to be the legitimate heir of Edward by keeping earls Edwin, Morcar and Waltheof in place in his government of England - alongside new earls such as Earl Odo of Kent or Earl William of Hereford.
Teacher tip
The lesson could start with a recap of William's claim to the throne of England and a discussion as to why William was keen to portray himself as legitimate king not just as a conqueror.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which keyword describes a person who pays for the use of land or a building?
Q2.Whose land did William not claim for the Normans?
Q3.Which keyword describes the large Norman landholders who held land directly from the monarch?
Q4.Complete the sentence: William used his control over England’s land to transfer power from Anglo-Saxons to .
Q5.Complete the sentence with this missing names: At first William allowed Earls and to keep their earldoms, to help him be accepted as England’s new king.
Q6.By 1086, what percentage of the land in England was held by Norman lords?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword to the correct definition.
a region ruled by a count as a vassal of the king of France
a senior official in the Church, for example, a bishop or abbot
person appointed to govern a country while the monarch is away or ill
Q2.Complete the sentence: At first, William planned to share government with nobles and Church leaders.
Q3.Which of the following people were part of William’s government of England before 1070?
Q4.Which of the following statements relate to Odo?
Q5.Which of the following statements show the importance of Lanfranc to the government of Norman England?
Q6.In what ways was Matilda of Flanders a key figure in Norman England?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Key figures in the government of Norman England, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Key figures in the government of Norman England, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the British Depth Study: Norman England, c1066–c1100 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.