Question

Who carried out the survey ordered by King William?

• A. Commissioner
• B. Reeve (foreman)
• C. Knight
• D. Bishop

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Commissioner

Based on the Domesday survey of 1085-6, which was drawn up on the orders of King William I, the Doomsday describes in remarkable detail, the landholdings and resources of late 11th-century England, demonstrating the power of the government machine in the first century of the new Millennium, and its deep thirst for information. The kingdom was divided into seven ‘circuits’, most with five shires. Commissioners were appointed to conduct the survey in each circuit and, to ensure neutrality, they each served on circuits in which they did not themselves hold land. They were given terms of reference: a checklist of questions to answer for every parcel of property. Hence, Option A is correct. Among the rest of the options, the reeves worked as subordinates to the commissioners, while the knights fought battles and the bishops maintained the religious affairs, and not land-related matters. Hence, these are incorrect.