- Huscarls
- Professional household warriors who formed the elite core of the English army. They were the most skilled fighters in Harold's force — the backbone of the shield wall.
- Fyrd
- The English militia — free men with an obligation to fight for their lord or king. They were less well-trained than huscarls but provided the bulk of the English army's numbers.
- Shield wall
- The traditional English battle formation: warriors locked shields in an overlapping defensive line, creating an almost impenetrable barrier. Effective against cavalry charges when maintained — potentially fatal when broken.
- Motte and bailey castle
- The first type of Norman castle in England — a raised earth mound (motte) with a wooden keep on top, and a fenced courtyard (bailey) at its base. Could be built very quickly and allowed Norman lords to control the surrounding area with a small garrison. Later replaced by stone keeps.
- Domesday Book (1086)
- William I's comprehensive survey of England — every landowner, their land, its value, and its resources. Compiled from surveys conducted in 1085-86. It revealed that by 1086, only 8 of 180 major landowners were of English origin — a near-total replacement of the ruling class.
- Feigned retreat
- A military tactic in which troops deliberately appear to flee in order to draw the enemy out of a defensive formation, then turn and attack them when they are exposed. Used at Hastings to break the English shield wall — whether deliberately or by lucky accident is debated.
- Harrying of the North (1069-70)
- William I's brutal suppression of northern rebellions — systematically destroying crops, livestock, and settlements across Yorkshire and neighbouring counties. Tens of thousands died from violence and the resulting famine. Yorkshire was still largely "waste" in the Domesday Book, sixteen years later.
- Feudal system
- The system of landholding imposed by William I: the king owned all land, held by tenants-in-chief (barons) in exchange for military service, who sub-enfeoffed knights, who in turn had villeins farming their land. Created a rigid social hierarchy with the king at the apex.
This definitions covers Key Terms within The Norman Conquest, 1065-1087 for GCSE History. Revise The Norman Conquest, 1065-1087 in Component Group 3 — British Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 11 of 16 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Practice questions for The Norman Conquest, 1065-1087
Describe two features of the struggle for the English throne in 1066. [4 marks]
Describe two features of Norman castles built after 1066. [4 marks]
Quick recall flashcards
Describe two features of motte and bailey castles.
Feature 1: Structure — a raised earth mound (motte) with a wooden tower or keep on top, and a fenced courtyard (bailey) at the base. Feature 2: Function — they could be built very quickly (weeks, not months), allowing Norman lords to establish military control of an area rapidly after conquest. Small Norman garrisons could dominate large areas. Over 500 were built across England in the first generation after 1066.
Where and when was William I crowned king of England?
William was crowned at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 25 December 1066. The choice of location was deliberate: Westminster was where Edward the Confessor had been crowned and buried — William was associating his rule with Edward's legitimate line, claiming continuity rather than break. The coronation was reportedly chaotic: Norman guards outside mistook the shouts of acclamation inside for an attack and began burning nearby houses.