Which relic-related action is attributed to Norman culture in the material?

Which relic-related action is attributed to Norman culture in the material?

• A. Got rid of the old Anglo-Saxon Saints' relics and destroyed the Anglo-Saxon tombs.
• B. Restored all Anglo-Saxon relics to public worship.
• C. Built new relics for Norman saints.
• D. Ignored relics and tombs of all kinds.

Answer: (A)

Control of relics after the Norman conquest shows how sacred objects and burial sites were used to legitimize power. The material describes the Normans actively removing the Anglo-Saxon saints’ relics and destroying their tombs, a deliberate move to break with pre-conquest religious networks and redirect devotion toward Norman-sanctioned saints and churches. This reinforces Norman authority by reshaping the sacred landscape to fit a new rulers’ legitimacy and continental practices. Restoring Anglo-Saxon relics or building new relics for Norman saints would reflect different goals, while ignoring relics would miss the explicit effort to reorganize worship and control sacred spaces.

Control of relics after the Norman conquest shows how sacred objects and burial sites were used to legitimize power. The material describes the Normans actively removing the Anglo-Saxon saints’ relics and destroying their tombs, a deliberate move to break with pre-conquest religious networks and redirect devotion toward Norman-sanctioned saints and churches. This reinforces Norman authority by reshaping the sacred landscape to fit a new rulers’ legitimacy and continental practices. Restoring Anglo-Saxon relics or building new relics for Norman saints would reflect different goals, while ignoring relics would miss the explicit effort to reorganize worship and control sacred spaces.