A useful introduction to some of the influential women in late Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, Silk and the Sword tells the story of twelve women who played important roles in the Norman Conquest. The chapters on Gytha of Wessex and Edith of Wessex, in particular, provide lots of valuable evidence of the figures’ significance in promoting the image of the monarchy, in negotiations and in navigating the in-fighting between the powerful families of Anglo-Saxon England, Denmark and Normandy. The author skilfully unpicks the complications of Harold Godwinson’s love life, introduces the student-friendly Danish concept of ‘handfasting’, and re-attests the romantic story of Edith Swanneck’s search for Harold’s body amongst the dead at Senlac Hill, near Hastings.

An in-depth but very readable account, with plenty of fascinating details that bring the Norman Conquest to life, Matilda is the first major biography of the wife of William the Conqueror. The author starts by rejecting the idea that a shortage of source materials justifies historians’ neglect of Matilda, referencing instead the ‘staggering array of contemporary records’ that informed this account. As the first woman to be crowned Queen of England, Matilda deserves much more attention than she currently receives. Borman’s book also demonstrates just how important (and interesting) she is as a powerful female figure in Normandy and Norman England: ruler, regent, property owner, patron and fundraiser – William’s invasion could not have got off the ground without her adroit use of spectacle to get Normans to pay up. The portrayal of William’s adoration of Matilda provides students with an essential element of his character, and Borman makes the convincing case that we should admire her precisely for the reasons William did – in Matilda, the Conqueror knew he had met his match!

This chapter of Hugh Thomas’ fascinating book explores the important role of women in the cultural assimilation between the Normans and their English subjects (Thomas refers to ‘queens, wives and mistresses’), which gives us the opportunity to consider with our students an important aspect of the Norman conquest: the willingness of Normans to marry English women. Whether this was because it made it easier for Normans to take control of land or perhaps because of a deliberate policy to help win over the English, it makes for interesting discussions when considering the atmosphere in Norman England and resistance to Norman control.

This video clarifies some contextual features of the times analysed by the list.

Test your students' knowledge with these questions on the above clip.

Test your students' knowledge with these questions on the above clip (with answer key).