Part II The Anglo-Norman Part II The Anglo-Norman PeriodPeriod

(1066—1350)(1066—1350)

I historical backgroundI historical background

The Norman The Norman ConquestConquest

William IWilliam I byname byname William the ConquWilliam the Conqu

eror eror or or William the Bastard William the Bastard or or William of NormandyWilliam of Normandy , Fr , French ench Guillaume le ConquérGuillaume le Conquérant ant or or Guillaume le Bâtard Guillaume le Bâtard or or Guillaume de NormandieGuillaume de Normandie duke of Normandy (as Williaduke of Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of Enm II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066, one of the ggland from 1066, one of the greatest soldiers and rulers of reatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He made hithe Middle Ages. He made himself the mightiest noble in Fmself the mightiest noble in France and then changed the crance and then changed the course of England's history by ourse of England's history by his conquest of that country. his conquest of that country.

William the Conqueror William the Conqueror relied on a cavalry in relied on a cavalry in the Battle of Hastings the Battle of Hastings in 1066, as depicted in in 1066, as depicted in a detail from the a detail from the Bayeux Tapestry Bayeux Tapestry (circa 1073–83). Some (circa 1073–83). Some 200 horses are 200 horses are embroidered into this embroidered into this work of art.work of art.

Harold (right) sweariHarold (right) swearing fealty to William, ng fealty to William, duke of Normandy, dduke of Normandy, detail from the Bayeux etail from the Bayeux Tapestry, 11th centuTapestry, 11th century; in the Musée de la ry; in the Musée de la Tapisserie, Bayeux, FTapisserie, Bayeux, France.rance.

English axman in coEnglish axman in combat with a Norman mbat with a Norman knight at the Battle oknight at the Battle of Hastings, detail frof Hastings, detail from the Bayeux Tapestm the Bayeux Tapestry; in the Musée de la ry; in the Musée de la Tapisserie, Bayeux, FTapisserie, Bayeux, France.rance.

The consequence of the ConquestThe consequence of the Conquest The extent and desirability of the changes brought abThe extent and desirability of the changes brought ab

out by the conquest have long been disputed by histoout by the conquest have long been disputed by historians. Certainly, in political terms, William's victory derians. Certainly, in political terms, William's victory destroyed England's links with Scandinavia, bringing the stroyed England's links with Scandinavia, bringing the country instead into close contact with the Continent, country instead into close contact with the Continent, especially France. Inside England the most radical chaespecially France. Inside England the most radical change was the introduction of nge was the introduction of land tenureland tenure and military s and military service. While tenure of land in return for services had eervice. While tenure of land in return for services had existed in England before the conquest, William revolutxisted in England before the conquest, William revolutionized the upper ranks of English society by dividing tionized the upper ranks of English society by dividing the country among about 180 Norman tenants-in-chief he country among about 180 Norman tenants-in-chief and innumerable mesne (intermediate) tenants, all hoand innumerable mesne (intermediate) tenants, all holding their fiefs by knight service. The result, the almolding their fiefs by knight service. The result, the almost total replacement of the English aristocracy with a st total replacement of the English aristocracy with a Norman one, was paralleled by similar changes of perNorman one, was paralleled by similar changes of personnel among the upper clergy and administrative offisonnel among the upper clergy and administrative officers. cers.

The consequence of the ConquestThe consequence of the Conquest Anglo-Saxon England had developed a highly organized centrAnglo-Saxon England had developed a highly organized centr

al and local government and an effective judicial system . All tal and local government and an effective judicial system . All these were retained and utilized by William, whose coronation hese were retained and utilized by William, whose coronation oath showed his intention of continuing in the English royal troath showed his intention of continuing in the English royal tradition. The old administrative divisions were not superseded adition. The old administrative divisions were not superseded by the new fiefs, nor did feudal justice normally usurp the custby the new fiefs, nor did feudal justice normally usurp the customary jurisdiction of shire and hundred courts. In them and in omary jurisdiction of shire and hundred courts. In them and in the king's court, the the king's court, the common lawcommon law of England continued to be a of England continued to be administered. Innovations included the new but restricted body dministered. Innovations included the new but restricted body of “forest law” and the introduction in criminal cases of the Nof “forest law” and the introduction in criminal cases of the Norman trial by combat alongside the old Saxon orman trial by combat alongside the old Saxon ordealordeals. Increass. Increasing use was made of the inquest procedure—the sworn testimoing use was made of the inquest procedure—the sworn testimony of neighbours, both for administrative purposes and in judicny of neighbours, both for administrative purposes and in judicial cases. A major change was William's removal of ecclesiastiial cases. A major change was William's removal of ecclesiastical cases from the secular courts, which allowed the subsequencal cases from the secular courts, which allowed the subsequent introduction into England of the then rapidly growing canon lt introduction into England of the then rapidly growing canon law.aw.

The consequence of the ConquestThe consequence of the Conquest

William also transformed the structure and character oWilliam also transformed the structure and character of the church in England. He replaced all the Anglo-Saxof the church in England. He replaced all the Anglo-Saxon bishops, except n bishops, except WulfstanWulfstan of Dorchester, with Norman of Dorchester, with Norman bishops. Most notably, he secured the deposition of Stibishops. Most notably, he secured the deposition of Stigand, the archbishop of Canterbury—who held his see gand, the archbishop of Canterbury—who held his see irregularly and had probably been excommunicated by irregularly and had probably been excommunicated by Pope Leo IX—and appointed in his place Lanfranc of BePope Leo IX—and appointed in his place Lanfranc of Bec, a respected scholar and one of William's close advisec, a respected scholar and one of William's close advisers. Seeking to impose a more orderly structure on the Ers. Seeking to impose a more orderly structure on the English episcopacy, the king supported Lanfranc's claimnglish episcopacy, the king supported Lanfranc's claims for the primacy of Canterbury in the English church. s for the primacy of Canterbury in the English church. William also presided over a number of church councils,William also presided over a number of church councils, which were held far more frequently than under his pr which were held far more frequently than under his predecessors, and introduced legislation against simony edecessors, and introduced legislation against simony (the selling of clerical offices) and clerical marriage. (the selling of clerical offices) and clerical marriage.

The consequence of the ConquestThe consequence of the Conquest

A supporter of monastic reform while duke of A supporter of monastic reform while duke of Normandy, William introduced the latest reforNormandy, William introduced the latest reforming trends to England by replacing Anglo-Saming trends to England by replacing Anglo-Saxon abbots with Norman ones and by importinxon abbots with Norman ones and by importing numerous monks. Although he founded only g numerous monks. Although he founded only a small number of monasteries, including Batta small number of monasteries, including Battle Abbey (in honour of his victory at Hastings), le Abbey (in honour of his victory at Hastings), William's other measures contributed to the qWilliam's other measures contributed to the quickening of monastic life in England. uickening of monastic life in England.

Probably the most regrettable effect Probably the most regrettable effect of the conquest was the total eclipse of the conquest was the total eclipse of the English vernacular as the of the English vernacular as the language of literature, law, and language of literature, law, and administration. Superseded in official administration. Superseded in official documents and other records by Latin documents and other records by Latin and then increasingly in all areas by and then increasingly in all areas by Anglo-Norman, written English hardly Anglo-Norman, written English hardly reappeared until the 13th century. reappeared until the 13th century.

The White Tower, the first structure built at the The White Tower, the first structure built at the

Tower of London, begun by William the ConquerorTower of London, begun by William the Conqueror

The Medieval English The Medieval English LiteratureLiterature

Medieval RomanceMedieval Romance

The popular balladThe popular ballad

Geoffrey of Geoffrey of Monmouth with his Monmouth with his The History of the The History of the Kings of BritainKings of Britain

Sir Gawain and the Sir Gawain and the Green KnightGreen Knight

BalladBallad

1. its simple language. In the verse form 1. its simple language. In the verse form and the colloquial expressions. and the colloquial expressions.

2. Either in couplets or in quatrains, whic2. Either in couplets or in quatrains, which are known as the ballad stanza, rhymih are known as the ballad stanza, rhyming ng abcbabcb, with the first and third lines car, with the first and third lines carrying 4 accented syllables and the seconrying 4 accented syllables and the second and fourth carrying 3.d and fourth carrying 3.

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