5 - 1066 and Norman Conquest PDF

History of Great Britain 1 5 – 1066, William the Conqueror, and the Norman Conquest.  Prelude When he died in 1066, Edward “the Confessor” left no children. Edward’s brother-in-law, Harold of Wessex, became King. Duke William of Norman...

History of Great Britain 1 5 – 1066, William the Conqueror, and the Norman Conquest.  Prelude When he died in 1066, Edward “the Confessor” left no children. Edward’s brother-in-law, Harold of Wessex, became King. Duke William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, also claimed the throne, and began preparing to invade.  Battle of Hastings (1066) King Harold believed William of Normandy would invade first, therefore stationed most of his army on south coast. However, Harald Hardrada invaded first, landing in north of England on 20 Sep. King Harold was thus forced to march his army all the way up to the north. On 24 Sep., he defeated the Norwegians and killed Harald Hardrada at York. But on 28 Sep., William of Normandy invaded the south of England. King Harold had to march his army all the way back down to the south. Battle of Hastings on 14 Oct. – King Harold, his brothers, and much of the higher aristocracy of England killed, English army defeated. William becomes William I, “William the Conqueror”.  1066 as a turning point in English history 1. Served to reorientate England, and in due course the rest of Britain, away from Scandinavia and towards France. 2. Marks the beginning of the “Middle Ages” or “medieval” period.  William’s initial clemency At first, William was moderate and conciliatory towards the English. Left the English aristocrats of the midlands and the north in place, allowing them to keep their lands. Left the English Archbishop of Canterbury, Stigand, in place, even though he had been a friend and ally of King Harold.  English resistance and Norman repression Rebellions across the country 1067/8 > major crisis in 1069, involving further widespread rebellion + Danish and Scottish invasions. William crushed the rebellions using ruthless force and often extreme brutality, e.g., the “Harrying of the North” (winter 1069/70) Further rebellions in far north of England, aided by Malcolm III of Scotland. 1072, William led an army north and defeated rebels and Malcolm. Last major rebellion = 1075 in the north, also crushed by William. 1066–86 – half the houses in Ipswich and Oxford were destroyed or deserted; Chester lost 40% of its houses; Thetford abandoned altogether.  Consolidation of Norman rule William proceeded to purge the highest ranks of the aristocracy and church of Englishmen, replacing them with Normans. From the point of view of the English elite, the Norman Conquest was the greatest disaster in English history. An entirely new French political order had taken the kingdom by force.  Construction of castles Construction of almost 500 castles by 1087. Initially earth and timber, soon replaced with stone. Inspired by French styles and models. Most important surviving remains of Norman England. Most famous examples are the White Tower, Colchester Castle, and Westminster Hall. Amongst the largest buildings to be erected in northern Europe since the end of the Roman Empire.  “Feudalism”: a social revolution System of land management introduced by Normans = “feudalism”. Lord promised support, protection, and use of his land to his vassals, in return for their service, esp. military service. Norman lords were required to provide the king with a certain number of knights, did so by mobilising their vassals. Crucial economic unit continued to be the “manor”. Lord was entitled to labour and rent from his vassals – had already existed under Anglo-Saxons, but far heavier under Normans. Peasants became subject to closer control.  Royal authority Lords did not have absolute power – limited by power of the Crown. Network of public or royal courts inherited from Anglo- Saxon monarchy. King was represented at the local level by “sheriffs”. Striking example of royal authority = Domesday Book (1086–8), first attempt by an English monarch to establish ownership and value of land across the country, in order to maximise his own tax revenue.  Normanisation of the church Before invading, William had sought and received the blessing of the Pope. Normans and Roman Catholic Church worked together. Last English Archbishop of Canterbury, Ealdred, was removed and replaced with Lanfranc (1070-89), an Italian who became a key advisor to William. By 1100, not a single bishopric or major abbey was ruled by an Englishman. After death, Lanfranc was replaced by another Italian, Anselm (1093- 1109). Both Lanfranc and Anselm sought to impose strict rules regarding sex, marriage, and celibacy. Renewed relationship between the Papacy and the English Church. Later tensions between Church and Crown To an extent, this backfired on the Normans. Anselm was determined to assert the supremacy of the Papacy over the Crown. Led to the “investiture controversy” of 1105 – under pressure from Anselm and the Pope, Henry I renounced his right to appoint archbishops, which became the power of the Pope alone.  Achievements of the Norman church Elimination of slavery – according to Domesday Book, in 1086, around 12% of population > by around 1100, almost entirely eliminated. Building of many new churches on continental European models, e.g., St. Albans, Winchester, York, Ely, Bury, and Durham, all of which were far bigger than Westminster Abbey (built by Edward “the Confessor”). Influx of continental monastic orders, e.g., Benedictines, Augustinians, Cistercians. During the reign of Stephen of Blois (r. 1135–54), on average, nine new monasteries were founded every year.  Effects of the Norman Conquest on language Old English was one of the great casualties of the Norman Conquest. Brought in a French-speaking elite and Old English was submerged, becoming the language of lowly peasants. During the 1070s, Latin replaced Old English in official documents. Norman Church heavily promoted Latin at the expense of Old English. As the English aristocracy assimilated into the new Norman elite, Old English male names such as Godwine, Siward, and Aethelwulf disappeared, being replaced with Richard, Henry, William, etc.  Kings vs. aristocrats / nobles Politics depended on the personal character of the king, whether he could keep the aristocracy under control or not. William the Conqueror had no problem in this regard. Some of his successors, e.g., William II (r. 1087–1100) and Henry I (r. 1100–35), were less successful. Kings could never lose sight of the limits of their power – their kingship had an elective element, i.e., it depended on the good will of the great nobles. Henry I, 1100: “you should know that I have been crowned king of England by the mercy of God and the common counsel of the barons of the realm”. Worst period of instability was the reign of Stephen of Blois (r. 1135- 54), an exceptionally weak king who allowed the aristocracy to run riot.  Plantagenet / Angevin dynasty (1154>) Henry II (r. 1154-89) became the first of the Plantagenet or Angevin dynasty (also the rulers of Anjou in France). Henry had invaded England from France, and during his reign, he remained preoccupied with French affairs. He was often away at war in France. The state had to find new ways of raising taxes to fund his wars. Stimulated the development of the administrative structures of the state, which became much more efficient.  The Becket controversy (1170) Papacy and Catholic Church were determined to assert their authority. During the reign of Henry II, matters came to a head. Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, was determined to defend the independence and authority of the Church; in opposition, Henry was no less determined to assert the superiority of the Crown. In 1170, Henry vented his frustration at the royal court: “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”. Overhead by four knights, who went to Canterbury and murdered Becket. Pope made Becket a saint in 1173.  England’s first Jewish community By 1100, c. 10% of pop. lived in urban centres, London had become largest city in Europe except Paris. Large Jewish community began to settle in London during 1070s. Forbidden from working as artisans and from owning land > moneylending, commodity trading, rental agency, pawnbroking, etc. Antisemitism became particularly severe at moments of high religious excitement, e.g., Second Crusade (1145-8). Conspiracy theory of “blood libel” (that Jews sacrifice a Christian boy on Passover to mock the resurrection of Christ) first surfaced in England during 1140s.  Wales Wales had never been united, remaining divided into small kingdoms. After 1066, William the Conqueror had no desire to conquer Wales. Over the next century, parts of Wales were conquered, not by the Anglo-Norman monarchy, but rather by individual Norman adventurers. For landless younger sons, Wales was a land of opportunity. Succeeded in conquering much of the lowlands and south of Wales: followed by English settlers, established first towns, e.g., Cardiff, Swansea, Pembroke. Parts of Wales under direct Norman rule were known as “the Marches”.  Scotland Never conquered by the Normans. However, process of “Normanisation”, i.e., imitation of Norman institutions and methods by the Scottish kings, esp. David I (r. 1124– 53). Educated at the court of Henry I of England. Encouraged the immigration of Norman nobles into the Lowlands. Norman system of knights and castles served to extend David’s authority. Minted the first Scottish coins. Organised central government on Anglo-Norman pattern. Promoted the development of the first towns and cities in Scotland. Scottish church was reformed on European / Roman Catholic model.  Ireland Normans simply left Ireland alone. Too preoccupied with establishing their control over England and defending their border with Scotland. Chaotic and tumultuous reign of Stephen of Blois (r. 1135-54) made conquest of Ireland unthinkable.