Which archbishops were allowed to maintain their positions as part of rewarding loyal Anglo-Saxons?

• A. Stingard and Ealdred
• B. Bede and Augustine
• C. Anselm and Wulfstan
• D. Lanfranc and Thomas

Answer: (A)

After the Norman Conquest, controlling the realm meant balancing new rule with existing loyalties. One way William the Conqueror tried to secure stability was to let trusted Anglo-Saxon church leaders keep their positions for a time, rather than replacing them all at once. This allowed the church to function smoothly and signaled that loyalty would be rewarded, not just punished.

Stingard and Ealdred exemplify this approach. By allowing these archbishops to remain in their roles during the early transition, the new regime acknowledged established authority and helped maintain legitimacy among the Anglo-Saxon population while Norman control was solidified. The other options involve figures from different periods or contexts who weren’t central to this specific policy of rewarding loyalty through retention of archiepiscopal positions.