Starter quiz
- Which keyword describes someone who is focused on things that have no connection with religion or the spiritual world, such as land and money?
- 'secular' ✓
- How did Lanfranc's life change following the Norman conquest?
- He went from being a regent in Normany to the head of the English Church.
- He went from being a monk in Normandy to becoming an abbot in England.
- He went from being an abbot in Normandy to the head of the English Church. ✓
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- Complete the sentence: William rewarded Odo with land and power; he was made ______, the earl of Kent, and became extraordinarily wealthy.
- 'regent' ✓
- Why is Odo perhaps shown in the Bayeux Tapestry as having a club rather than an edged weapon, like a sword?
- so that he could fight without drawing blood and avoid stains on his shirt
- so that he could fight without drawing blood and avoid sinful acts ✓
- so that he could fight without drawing blood and avoid feeling squeamish
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- How many ships did Odo contribute to William's invasion fleet?
- 10
- 50
- 100 ✓
- 500
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- How did one chronicler describe Odo following his land grabs by 1070?
- as a "ferocious lion"
- as a "hungry hippo"
- as a “ravening wolf” ✓
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Exit quiz
- Which keyword describes the process in which someone automatically inherits a position or property after someone else?
- 'succession' ✓
- Who was William I married to?
- 'Matilda of Flanders' ✓
- What nickname did William I give his son Robert?
- Conqueror
- Rufus
- Curthose ✓
- Beauclerc
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- Put the following events in chronological order.
- 1⇔Robert's younger brothers dumped water on his head.
- 2⇔Robert and his men attempted and failed to take control of Rouen Castle.
- 3⇔William ordered their arrest but they fled into exile.
- 4⇔Robert took refuge with his father’s enemy: Philip I, king of France.
- 5⇔Battle at Gerberoy between William and Robert; William was thrown from his horse
- 6⇔William forgave Robert and confirmed that he would still inherit Normandy.
- Match the inheritance to the correct son of William's.
- Robert⇔Duke of Normandy ✓
- William⇔King of England (if it was God’s will) ✓
- Henry⇔£5000 ✓
- Which custom meant that Robert as William I's eldest son deserved to inherit both realms?
- secundogeniture
- primogeniture ✓
- tertiogeniture
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- William had a stern personality, shown in the tension with his eldest son, Robert, (who he nicknamed ‘shorty-pants’).
- Robert believed that William was denying him power, and in 1077, he rebelled.
- William's deathbed succession announcement lacked clarity and divided his kingdom and duchy.
- Some of the Norman aristocracy agreed that Robert, as the eldest son, deserved to inherit both Normandy and England.
- Robert, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, and six of William’s largest landholders launched a failed attempt to remove William II.
Common misconception
The one-dimensional view of William as a violent conqueror.
In fact, William was very pious and he repented some of the atrocities he had committed during his reign and insisted his treasures should be used to rebuild some of the areas he had harried.
Keywords
Succession - succession is the process in which someone automatically inherits a position or property after someone else
Realm - a realm is an area ruled by a monarch, duke or other legitimate ruler
Primogeniture - primogeniture is the custom of a family's property going to the oldest son when the father dies
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