A New Way of life
A feudal society was imposed on England. In return for land the king could expect quotas of knights from his tenants-in-chief, together with monetary aid, ‘reliefs’ (inheritance money) and wardship of minors.
In theory a feudal army of about 5,000 knights could be raised, and William also retained the English fyrd. Tenants-in-chief similarly granted land to their own vassals.
No land was without a lord and all belonged to the king, William being able to impose a much firmer hold on England than Normandy. The feudal contract by homage and oath, knight service and castle-guard, were all part of the new way of life.
Although Englishmen of rank remained in their posts they were acutely aware that they were now the aliens in top society. The English were seen as underdogs. Norman French became the language of the court until the 15th century, but a modified English eventually won the day. English children were given Norman names such as Robert and Richard as parents aspired to join the new order. William created the New Forest (including woods and common) for his pleasure and imposed harsh forest laws across England; villages within such areas were subject to it.
At Christmas 1085 William ordered a survey of his kingdom, which so amazed people that it became known as the Domesday survey, because everything was known as on the day of judgement. London and Winchester are not covered, nor is much of the north, but three volumes hold minute details such as the numbers of ploughs in a village, all for purposes of taxation. The clerks introduced the word ‘manor’, at this time simply meaning the dwelling of an important person. It is a unique surviving record.