In order to secure Norman loyalty during his conquest, William I rewarded his loyal followers by taking English land and redistributing it to his knights, officials, and the Norman aristocracy. In turn, the English hated him, but the king retaliated ruthlessly with his military force to subdue the rebellions and discontentment. Mike Ashley writes on this subject; ""he I may have conquered them English, but he never ruled them"". Not all of the Anglo-Saxons immediately accepted him as their legitimate king.