How did William deal with discontent from his troops and followers?

How did William deal with discontent from his troops and followers?

• A. He used promises of rewards and funded through taxes and church revenues, while taking more Anglo-Saxon land.
• B. He kept the troops in winter quarters with no pay.
• C. He allowed the church to fund campaigns without taxes.
• D. He reduced pay and gave no extra land.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is securing loyalty through material rewards and control of land. William kept troops and followers on side by offering promised pay and rewards, backing his campaigns with money raised from taxes and church revenues, and strengthening his grip by taking English lands and granting them to Norman supporters. This approach gave his men clear incentives to stay loyal: income from pay, land in return for service, and the legitimacy and resources that came with church-backed revenue. By redistributing land from the Anglo-Saxon elite to Norman followers, he created a new power structure that made dissent costly and ensured ongoing support for his rule.

The main idea is securing loyalty through material rewards and control of land. William kept troops and followers on side by offering promised pay and rewards, backing his campaigns with money raised from taxes and church revenues, and strengthening his grip by taking English lands and granting them to Norman supporters. This approach gave his men clear incentives to stay loyal: income from pay, land in return for service, and the legitimacy and resources that came with church-backed revenue. By redistributing land from the Anglo-Saxon elite to Norman followers, he created a new power structure that made dissent costly and ensured ongoing support for his rule.