What happened to Robert Cumin's troops in Durham?

• A. They looted Durham and were killed
• B. They were welcomed by the Bishop
• C. They built a fortress
• D. They immediately returned to Normandy

Answer: (A)

This question checks how Norman control in the north met with resistance from English towns. In Durham, when Robert Cumin sent his troops to enforce authority, they ended up looting the city. The Furious reaction of the townspeople was swift and deadly: they killed many of the Norman soldiers, including Cumin himself. This shows that occupying forces could provoke fierce local reprisals, and that a show of force like looting could backfire, emboldening resistance rather than securing obedience. The other options don’t fit the historical outcome—the city did not welcome the Normans, there’s no record of a fortress being built there at this moment, and the immediate march back to Normandy wasn’t the outcome of this encounter.