The Doomsday Book is a famous manuscript record of a great survey conducted by order of William I. The primary reason for its creation was William’s dire need for taxes in order to fund his armies, and so he ordered surveyors to set about the land and record the wealth, titles, and lands of all of his new subjects.
The book also helped familiarise William with his newly claimed territory, as he had lived in Normandy for the majority of his life up to that point and knew very little of England, having only visited briefly in his past.
Loading…