What change to Earls under Norman rule?

What change to Earls under Norman rule?

• A. The number of them and their power was reduced.
• B. Earldoms were made rid of as well as made smaller.
• C. Reduction in the power of Marcher-Earldoms
• D. They gained more independence from the king.

Answer: (A)

Under Norman rule the king aimed to centralize power and curb the authority of powerful regional magnates. After 1066 William the Conqueror replaced many English earls with Normans and tied their influence to royal castles, sheriffs, and direct oversight. This shift reduced both the number of earls and the extent of their power, strengthening royal control across England. While marcher earldoms along the borders did enjoy certain privileges, the overall pattern for most earls was diminished authority rather than greater independence. The other options don’t fit the broader trend: earldoms were not abolished entirely, and the focus wasn’t a blanket reduction only among Marcher-Earldoms or an increase in independence.

Under Norman rule the king aimed to centralize power and curb the authority of powerful regional magnates. After 1066 William the Conqueror replaced many English earls with Normans and tied their influence to royal castles, sheriffs, and direct oversight. This shift reduced both the number of earls and the extent of their power, strengthening royal control across England. While marcher earldoms along the borders did enjoy certain privileges, the overall pattern for most earls was diminished authority rather than greater independence. The other options don’t fit the broader trend: earldoms were not abolished entirely, and the focus wasn’t a blanket reduction only among Marcher-Earldoms or an increase in independence.