The role of the Norman barons
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the role of barons in Norman Wales.
Key learning points
- Vassals were people who swore allegiance to their overlord and received land from him in return for service.
- The Marcher earls often relied on vassals to defend the border and expand Norman control in Wales.
- Norman barons exploited weaknesses in Welsh resistance during power struggles between Welsh rulers.
- Norman barons such as Robert of Rhuddlan used brutal tactics to take control of parts of Wales.
Keywords
Baron - an important local landholder in Norman England
Vassal - landholders who received land from their overlord in return for service
Common misconception
Students may think that the Marcher earls governed their earldoms themselves.
In fact, the Marcher earls were busy men with important matters to deal with in Normandy and England. They appointed deputies, including sheriffs, to govern their earldoms in their absence.
Teacher tip
A key discussion for the historic environment is whether it was Norman aggressiveness that was responsible for Norman expansion into Wales, or the divided resistance to the Normans due to conflict between the rulers of Wales.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A castelry is an area of land controlled by a castle which supplied the castle with...
Q2.Colonisation means settling on land that already had people living there, and taking away control from the owners.
Q3.The Normans constructed more than castles in Wales before 1215, with 100 built along the Welsh Marches.
Q4.Which of these sentences best describes the function of Norman castles?
Q5. Castle in north Wales was the beginning point of a chain of castles built along the north Wales coast by the end of the 11th century.
Q6.Which statement best describes the economic impact of castle building in Wales?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who were the vassals in the feudal system?
Q2.Which castle was built by William FitzOsbern along the border of Herefordshire?
Q3.After the death of William FitzOsbern, his son Roger of Breteuil led a failed revolt against the king in , which led to his imprisonment and the loss of his lands.
Q4.Which Norman baron built a motte-and-bailey castle at Caerleon within the remains of a Roman fort?
Q5.The Anglo-Norman chronicler Vitalis provides historians with valuable information about the Marcher earldom of Shrewsbury.
Q6.Which Norman baron expanded control in north Wales by taking advantage of a power struggle in 1075, and built a castle at Deganwy?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The role of the Norman barons, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The role of the Norman barons, 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 Norman Wales unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.