Geoffrey Ainslie
Medieval Europe
Hewitt, Christopher Macdonald. “The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of
England.” Historical Geography, Vol. 38, 2010.
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
Hewitt, Christopher Macdonald. “The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors
of England.” Historical Geography, 2010, Vol. 38, pg. 132
2
Ibid, 132
1
prominently displayed on the Bayeux Tapestry and provide an inaccurate
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
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Hewitt, Christopher Macdonald. “The Geographic Origins of the Norman Conquerors of
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Jumieges, William, and Orderic Vitalis. “Excerpts.” Deeds of the Dukes of the Normans,
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“The Bayeux Tapestry.” The Norman Conquest of England: Sources and Documents.
Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 1995.