How did the Normans suppress the Welsh?
Credit: Pixabay
Many people have asked me how Norman England under Henry I had such an impact on what the Welsh kings were allowed to do in the early 12th century. To understand this, we need to look at William the Conqueror’s concerns after his conquest of England and the role of the Marcher lords.
Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror faced the formidable task of maintaining control over two distinct territories: England and Normandy. Initially, he underestimated the Welsh threat, until the Anglo-Saxon noble, Edric the Wild, aligned with the Welsh to attack Herefordshire. This pivotal event forced William to reassess his strategy, leading to the fortification of his new kingdom. He strategically positioned trusted military governors along the borderlands between Wales and England, establishing a castle at Chester, held by the formidable Earl Hugh d’Avranches, known as Hugh the Fat; another at Shrewsbury, held by the even more powerful and brutal Earl Roger of Montgomery, and he appointed Earl William fitz Osbern as the governor of Herefordshire.
William granted the new earls, known as Marcher lords, significant autonomy in their new lands and encouraged them to exploit the Welsh. The construction of castles was a strategic tool to suppress the Welsh, and the Marcher Lords extended their influence beyond Chester, Shrewsbury, and Hereford. They urged those they favoured to establish castles in Welsh territories such as Rhuddlan, Pembroke, and Chepstow. These castles served not only as administrative centres but also as military strongholds, symbolizing Norman dominance.
The Marcher lords frequently engaged in military campaigns, pushing further into the Welsh kingdoms. They reasoned that they were quelling Welsh resistance, but their brutal and relentless campaigns aimed to break the Welsh spirit and increase Norman control. The Welsh, renowned for their excellent fighting skills in the mountains and woods, bravely resisted the military superiority of the Normans and their wealth to employ mercenaries and weaponry.
The Marcher lords solidified their military suppression by imposing strict legal and economic controls over the Welsh population. They exploited the land and its resources, levied taxes, and demanded labour from the peasants. By introducing traditional Norman legal systems, they aimed to replace Welsh authority. This systematic control was a significant factor in the gradual subjugation of the Welsh.
As time passed, the Marcher lords became accomplished at exploiting existing rivalries and divisions amongst the Welsh rulers so that internal conflicts weakened the Welsh people’s ability to unite against the invaders. Had there been one king rather than many kingdoms, the Welsh would have had a better chance to resist the Norman push.
Another aspect of the Marcher lords’ control was the crushing of Welsh culture. They became determined to suppress the Welsh church and the place of Welsh saints in the people's lives. Instead of Welsh authority within the religious institutions, they eventually had the Welsh church leaders report to Canterbury. Intermarriage between Welsh royalty and Norman lords was a more subtle suppression, leading to the further dilution of Welsh culture and language amongst the elite. The Welsh fight against cultural suppression, a significant part of the Welsh struggle, shows resilience and determination to preserve Welsh identity.
Despite all attempts, it took nearly two hundred years before England could claim the conquest of Wales. The Welsh rallied many times and fought against their oppressors. The Marcher lords provided the opportunity for the Normans to move into Wales soon after the conquest of England, and the Welsh gradually allowed the English king to be seen as an overlord. If Edric the Wild had not asked for the assistance of the Welsh, William the Conqueror may not have created his Marcher lords, and the history may have been different.
If you would like to immerse yourself in the time of Wales in the Middle Ages, you might enjoy ‘The Welsh Traitor’s Daughter’ and ‘The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance’.