Edward The Confessor Analysis
King Edward the Confessor had spent a few years in exile in Normandy before his accession to the English throne in 1042. Along with his life expertise and with the Anglo-Saxon nobility, he created the Witan (Council) to advise and carry out his instruction. Once William of Normandy became king he didn't change the format of this Council, however only its leaders from Anglo-Saxon to Norman. William realised that for the invasion to succeed, he required to keep the maximum amount continuity to Anglo-Saxon life as possible. The administrative frameworks of England and Normandy were run in very similar methods, therefore there was very little change required to a country that was wealthy in agriculture, coin and population. England had become the
envy of most of Medieval Europe and was seen as an awfully wealthy prize.
In December 1085, William commissioned an account of all the lands, manors, crops and livestock that belonged to the Lords of England. These Lords had sworn their loyalty to William and paid him an annual tithe or tax. William needed to understand the extent of their property so he could tax them accordingly. This account became known as the Domesday Book and was completed in August 1086. It had taken seven months to collect the specified information from 13,148 settlements in England. It had been printed shortly before William’s death.
envy of most of Medieval Europe and was seen as an awfully wealthy prize.
In December 1085, William commissioned an account of all the lands, manors, crops and livestock that belonged to the Lords of England. These Lords had sworn their loyalty to William and paid him an annual tithe or tax. William needed to understand the extent of their property so he could tax them accordingly. This account became known as the Domesday Book and was completed in August 1086. It had taken seven months to collect the specified information from 13,148 settlements in England. It had been printed shortly before William’s death.