The Norman peasants' revolt in 996 was a revolt against

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

nobility. The revolt was defeated by nobility under the early reign and minority of

Richard II, Duke of Normandy Richard II (died 28 August 1026), called the Good (French: ''Le Bon''), was the duke of Normandy from 996 until 1026. Life Richard was the eldest surviving son and heir of Richard the Fearless and Gunnor. He succeeded his father as the ruler of ...

. His uncle

Rodulf of Ivry Rodulf of Ivry (Rodolf, Raoul, comte d'Ivry) (died c. 1015) was a Norman noble, and regent of Normandy during the minority of Richard II. Life Rodolf was the son of Eperleng, a rich owner of several mills at Vaudreuil, and of his wife Sprota, w ...

was the regent of

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

during the revolt. The revolt was started in 996 after the peasants had met in local assemblies (''conventicula'') throughout Normandy. The revolt was coordinated by a central assembly (''conventus'') that was formed by members of the local assemblies. Each ''conventicula'' sent two representatives to the central assembly. The peasants wanted concessions on various economic grievances. These included Barons harassing the peasants with vexatious services, the main reason however was the removal of hunting rights, lest a deer be killed. Medieval sources claim that the revolt was caused by demands of free hunting and fishing rights.https://edocs.uis.edu/Departments/LIS/Course_Pages/LIS411/readings/Hilton_Peasant_Society_pp67-94.pdf The revolt probably only affected

Seine valley ) , mouth_location = Le Havre/Honfleur , mouth_coordinates = , mouth_elevation = , progression = , river_system = Seine basin , basin_size = , tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle , tributarie ...

rather than whole Normandy. Dating of the revolt in 996 has been also disputed. The revolt may have been a reaction to rise of serfdom in Normandy. It has been suggested that the revolt resulted in abolishing serfdom in Normandy. Lack of serfdom in Normandy has been also linked to depopulation of coastal France brought by warfare. However, evidence for existence and extent of serfdom has been difficult to obtain. Peasant leaders who brought complaints to the regent Rodulf of Ivry had their hands and feet cut off, after they were captured. Others were blinded, impaled, or burnt alive, land owners forfeited their land. Despite the revolt at start of his reign, rest of the Richard II's reign was very peaceful. In May 1023 he did not implement the

Peace of God The Peace and Truce of God ( lat, Pax et treuga Dei) was a movement in the Middle Ages led by the Catholic Church and one of the most influential mass peace movements in history. The goal of both the ''Pax Dei'' and the ''Treuga Dei'' was to limit ...

due to calm situation in his lands. However, Norman culture returned to its

Frankish Frankish may refer to: * Franks, a Germanic tribe and their culture ** Frankish language or its modern descendants, Franconian languages * Francia, a post-Roman state in France and Germany * East Francia, the successor state to Francia in Germany ...

characteristics and lost Scandinavian influences.

See also

References

Further reading