New
New
Year 10
AQA

Durham Cathedral and Norman government

I can explain how William I used the Church to help control the north.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Durham Cathedral and Norman government

I can explain how William I used the Church to help control the north.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. William I dealt with the rebellious north by enacting the Harrying of the North.
  2. Aethelwine, the Bishop of Durham, was imprisoned for involvement in rebellion and replaced by William Walcher.
  3. William I built a castle next to the cathedral to provide protection for the Bishop of Durham.
  4. William I created the role of prince-bishop which had increased powers to control the north.
  5. William of Saint Calais ordered the building of Durham Cathedral.

Common misconception

Bishops have always had a role equivalent to modern times.

In fact, bishops in the medieval period were involved in government and even led armies into battle, such as bishop Odo of Bayeux.

Keywords

  • Prince-bishop - a role created to give a bishop greater independence and powers to control the north

You could extend Task A by having pupils discuss (or write about) why the removal of Aethelwine as Bishop of Durham was so significant for Norman control of both the Church and the wider region of Northumbria.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why did Northumbrian customs differ from those in parts of southern England?
They followed the customs of the Welsh.
They followed the customs of the French.
Correct answer: They followed the customs of the Danelaw.
Q2.
Who was appointed as Bishop of Durham in 1056?
Correct answer: Aethelwine
Harold Godwinson
Tostig Godwinson
Venerable Bede
Q3.
Why was Durham such an important town for trade and government?
It had a large cathedral.
Correct answer: It was one of the main towns in Northumbria.
It had a large and famous university.
Q4.
When did Tostig have two of his Northumbrian rivals murdered?
1060
1062
Correct answer: 1064
1066
Q5.
What is the term for an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, against those who are in power?
Correct Answer: uprising, revolt, revolution, resistance, rebellion
Q6.
Match the following people to the positions they held.
Correct Answer:Tostig,Earl of Northumbria

Earl of Northumbria

Correct Answer:Aethelwine,Bishop of Durham

Bishop of Durham

Correct Answer:Edith,Queen and wife of Edward the Confessor

Queen and wife of Edward the Confessor

Correct Answer:Harold Godwinson,Earl of Wessex (and Tostig's brother)

Earl of Wessex (and Tostig's brother)

6 Questions

Q1.
Who did William the Conqueror appoint as Earl of Northumbria?
Aethelwine
Correct answer: Robert Cumin
William Walcher
Q2.
Which areas did not see uprisings against William in the period 1067-1070?
Yorkshire
Welsh Marches
Midlands
Correct answer: London
Q3.
Which country did William the Conqueror invade in 1072?
Denmark
Ireland
Correct answer: Scotland
Wales
Q4.
In what year was Bishop Walcher killed?
1060
1070
Correct answer: 1080
1090
Q5.
What is the term for a role created to give a bishop greater independence and powers?
Correct Answer: prince-bishop, bishop-prince
Q6.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - Robert Cumin, Earl of Northumbria, was killed.
2 - Aethelwine was imprisoned and died.
3 - William invaded Scotland.
4 - William of Saint Calais ordered the construction of a new cathedral in Durham.

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