Editing William the Conqueror (section)

=== Norman administration ===

Norman government under William was similar to the government that had existed under earlier dukes. It was a fairly simple administrative system, built around the ducal household,<ref name=Bates133>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 133</ref> a group of officers including [[Steward (office)|stewards]], [[butler]]s, and [[marshal]]s.<ref name=Bates23>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 23–24</ref> The duke travelled constantly around the duchy, confirming [[charter]]s and collecting revenues.<ref name=Bates63>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 63–65</ref> Most of the income came from the ducal lands, as well as from tolls and a few taxes. This income was collected by the chamber, one of the household departments.<ref name=Bates23/>

William cultivated close relations with the church in his duchy. He took part in church councils and made several appointments to the Norman episcopate, including the appointment of [[Maurilius]] as Archbishop of Rouen.<ref name=Bates64/> Another important appointment was that of William's half-brother, Odo, as [[Bishop of Bayeux]] in 1049 or 1050.<ref name=DNB/> He also relied on the clergy for advice, including [[Lanfranc]], a non-Norman who rose to become one of William's prominent ecclesiastical advisors from the late 1040s through the 1060s. William gave generously to the church;<ref name=Bates64>Bates ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 64–66</ref> from 1035 to 1066, the Norman aristocracy founded at least twenty new monastic houses, including William's two monasteries in Caen, a remarkable expansion of religious life in the duchy.<ref name=Douglas111>Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' pp. 111–112</ref>