The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of England

Medieval Europe The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of England Duke William II of Normandy’s successful English conquest in 1066 dramatically changed the face of Europe. Although there exists an abundance of scholarly work touching on the various components of the Norman Army’s invasion of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings, no comprehensive analysis exists on the geographic origins of the army that formed. Filling this void, in “The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of England,” Christopher Macdonald Hewitt develops an understanding of William the Conqueror’s army’s geographic diversity as well as the social and political factors that influenced the army’s demographics. Hewitt’s findings point to the principal role that micro-level factors played in shaping the Norman’s invasion of England as well as geopolitical landscapes more broadly. Hewitt argues that the breakdown of William’s army reflected the social hierarchy of the time.1 Soldiers were divided into three main groups – mounted knights, infantry and archers. The mounted knights, who are typically associated with the Norman Conquest, were comprised mostly of nobles and those on the higher end of the social strata – William himself would have fought in this group.2 Because of this association with the nobility, the mounted knights are the most prominently displayed on the Bayeux Tapestry and provide an inaccurate Hewitt, Christopher Macdonald. “The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of England.” Historical Geography, 2010, Vol. 38, pg. 132 2 Ibid, 132 1 impression of the invading army’s makeup.34 The infantry and foot soldiers were the lowest members on the social hierarchy. These soldiers were often retainers of the nobility and mounted knights and would come to battle with their ‘masters.’5 IN addition, the archers were socially diverse containing both prominent nobles and socially inferior combatants. Hewitt’s analysis accentuates the nuances in the medieval army’s structure by pointing to social factors that played into the army’s formation – primarily social class. Geographically, the Normans represented eight-six percent of the total army with a handful of other regional participants. Hewitt believes that these smaller percentages emphasize the communication and transportation limitations of the era. However, Hewitt asserts the most striking fact derived from the data is that the majority of soldiers were from Lower Normandy rather than Upper Normandy, sixty-six to thirty-four percent. This is perplexing because Lower Normandy had been in revolt since 1035. Despite this reality, two components played a hand in securing Lower Normandy’s high participation rate. First, William dedicated himself to building the town of Caen, a large urban center in Lower Normandy that was very popular among its population. Additionally, William sent his relatives to live in Lower Normandy and they began to wield great influence. The data suggests that these 3 Ibid,132 “The Bayeux Tapestry.” The Norman Conquest of England: Sources and Documents. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1995, pg. 177 5 Hewitt, 133 4 “micro-level” factors played a significant role in the geographic makeup of William’s army as it accumulated more troops from the revolting lower half than the upper. Overall, Hewitt’s “micro-level” analysis offers a nuanced assessment of the factors that affected both the strength, size and demographic makeup of the combatants. Although he provides strong analysis of the subtle components that contributed to William’s army’s demographic structure, Hewitt could have discussed the effects these facets in the battlefield itself. Word Count: 491 Bibliography Hare, John. “William the Conqueror and the Battle Abbey.” History Today, Vol. 35, Issue 12, 1985 Hewitt, Christopher Macdonald. “The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of England.” Historical Geography, Vol. 38, 2010. Heslop, T.A. “Regarding the Spectators of the Bayeux Tapestry: Bishop Odo and his Circle.” Association of Art Historians, 2009. Hillister C, Warren. “Excerpts from The Magna Carta.” Medieval Europe: A Short Sourcebook. New York: McGraw-Hill. Jumieges, William, and Orderic Vitalis. “Excerpts.” Deeds of the Dukes of the Normans, and Deeds of Duke William. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000. “The Bayeux Tapestry.” The Norman Conquest of England: Sources and Documents. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1995.