Sunday, April 22, 2012

Murphysboro Centuries, 11th secular


William I, “the Conqueror”, 1066-1077
- spent first part of his reign putting down uprisings by Saxons who were opposed to the Normans he was bringing in - imported feudalism into England (holding property as “payment” for serving as a knight)
- because he conquered, he claimed all the property in England - he let Saxons keep 1/3rd of the land that had been theirs, gave ½ of it to his own followers, and he kept 1/6th of all the land in England - set up a strong central monarchy, keeping the Saxon “shires” and appointing “shire reeves” (sheriffs) to be in charge

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