What was one of the rewards William gave to loyal Normans?

• A. Sent rich gifts to the pope and church supporters in Normandy
• B. Granted them the entire realm of England
• C. Ordered them to build no churches
• D. Exiled them to Wales

Answer: (A)

After the Norman Conquest, rewarding loyalty often meant using patronage that linked political power with religious support. William reinforced his rule by sending rich gifts to the pope and to influential church figures in Normandy, a move that helped secure papal backing and the loyalty of church-aligned Normans. This kind of reward shows how patronage extended beyond land and offices to prestige and alliance with the church, which was crucial for stabilizing his new regime. The other options don’t fit this pattern: granting the entire realm to loyal Normans wasn’t how the conquest was consolidated; ordering them not to build churches would undermine the church-backed legitimacy William sought; exiling them to Wales would remove loyal supporters rather than reward them.