Campaigns of the Norman Conquest

by BENNETT, MATTHEW

• ISBN13: 9781841762289
• ISBN10: 1841762288
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2001-11-25
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

This book provides a full introduction to the Norman Conquest, an event which resulted in dramatic changes to the nation's aristocracy, church and administration. It brought a new language and cultural influences and revolutionised military architecture with the introduction of the castle. This profound impact was not brought about as the result of a single battle and it took a five-year war for William to establish control over his new kingdom. The campaigns are studied in detail, with maps showing how William's energy and strategic intelligence enabled him to defeat his formidable opponents and create a new order.

Author Biography

Matthew Bennett is a Senior Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and a specialist in medieval military history.

Table of Contents

Introduction	7	(2)
Chronology	9	(3)
Background to war
Danes, Normans and the English royal succession	12	(4)
Warring sides
Harold and William: the war lords	16	(8)
Outbreak
Preparations and motivations	24	(11)
The fighting
Two invasions, one conquest	35	(26)
Portrait of a soldier
Viking legend, English 'patriot', and two Norman earls	61	(3)
The world around war
Politics, strategy, the Church and administration	64	(9)
Portrait of a civilian
Three bishops: Saint, architect and 'warrior'; and a queen	73	(5)
How the war ended
The Conqueror's reign	78	(3)
Conclusion and consequences
The English experience: law, culture and society	81	(10)
Glossary	91	(2)
Further reading	93	(1)
Index	94