TheThe EnglishEnglishMiddle Ages(1066-1484)

The Battle of HastingsOctober 14,

1066

Duke William from Normandy defeated King Harold of England.• Harold Godwinson, William the Bastard, and Harald Hardrada claimed the

throne of England after the death of a childless Edward the Confessor.• Harold was crowned King.• King Harold defeated King Harald of Norway in the North, but then learned

of William’s imminent invasion in the South.• Harold marched his men 241 miles in 5 days. During the march he learned

that the Pope was supporting William. • Just before sunset Harold was killed. William marched to London, and after

another win was crowned Christmas day at Westminster Abbey.• Now he is William the Conqueror!

Feudalism• Three primary elements characterized

feudalism: lords, vassals, and fiefs

• Before a lord could grant land (a fief) to someone, he had to make that person a vassal. This was done at a formal and symbolic ceremony composed of the two-part act of homage and oath of fealty. During homage, the lord and vassal entered a contract in which the vassal promised to fight for the lord at his command.

• Vassals were often granted land and the right to collect certain tolls or taxes on their land.

The Feudal System was introduced to England following the invasion and conquest The Feudal System was introduced to England following the invasion and conquest of the country by William I (The Conqueror).of the country by William I (The Conqueror).

"There was no single hide "There was no single hide nor yard of land, nor indeed nor yard of land, nor indeed one ox nor one cow nor one one ox nor one cow nor one pig which was left out.“pig which was left out.“

The Domesday bookThe Domesday book

•It was comissioned in 1085 by William the Conqueror.It was comissioned in 1085 by William the Conqueror.

•It was an extensive record of landholders, tenants, and serfsIt was an extensive record of landholders, tenants, and serfs

•It recorded acreages of farmland, woodland, and meadow; It recorded acreages of farmland, woodland, and meadow; fish, plows on the land, any buildings, castles, churches, fish, plows on the land, any buildings, castles, churches, salthouses or millssalthouses or mills

•It was a complete survey of taxable assets.It was a complete survey of taxable assets.

•It was completed in under two yearsIt was completed in under two years

•It was written in Latin on sheepskin parchment in red and It was written in Latin on sheepskin parchment in red and black ink by one scribe.black ink by one scribe.

The Crusades1095-1271

• Religiously sanctioned military campaign

• Fought for control of JerusalemFought for control of Jerusalem

• Volunteers could achieve forgiveness from sinsVolunteers could achieve forgiveness from sins

•Involved a long, difficult journeyInvolved a long, difficult journeyThe Crusades had The Crusades had far-reaching political, far-reaching political, economic, and social economic, and social ramifications. Some ramifications. Some of these of these ramifications have ramifications have lasted into lasted into contemporary times.contemporary times.

Thomas Becket(1118-1170)

King Henry II appointed Becket as Archbishop.

Since they were close friends, Henry believed

Becket would help him in dealings with the Pope.

Becket sided with the church when Henry wanted to increase the powers of the monarchyBecket sided with the church when Henry wanted to increase the powers of the monarchy

Becket even called for the excommunication of Henry.Becket even called for the excommunication of Henry.

Henry supposedly said, “"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"Henry supposedly said, “"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"

Four knights traveled to Canterbury, and when Thomas refused to go with them, they Four knights traveled to Canterbury, and when Thomas refused to go with them, they brutally murdered him. Thomas was considered a martyr.brutally murdered him. Thomas was considered a martyr.

Magna Carta1215

• First document forced onto an

English king (King John) by a group of his

subjects.

Three provisions still exist in English law including:• No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or

stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled nor will we proceed with force against him except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.

IOO YEARS WAR(1337-1453)

• Series of wars between England and France over the French throne. Edward of Windsor (King Edward III of England) had a direct claim to the French throne through his grandfather.

• Joan of Arc asserted that she had visions from God which instructed her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the Hundred Years' War. The uncrowned King Charles VII sent her to the siege of Orléans as part of a relief mission. She gained prominence by lifting the siege in only nine days. Several more swift victories led to Charles VII's coronation at Reims and settled the disputed succession to the throne.

RESULTS• Increased nationalism (prior Norman kings of England fell under

French rule) and improved military weapons and tactics• Helped end Feudalism

Black Death1348

• Killed more than one third of Europe’s population within five years.• Since the Norman Conquest, French had been the official language of the English

government. When the plague struck, it caused the deaths of many government officials who had been fluent in French and the teachers who were qualified to teach it in schools. As a result, the official language was changed back to English, the language of the commoners. The use of French died out quickly after that and by 1385 was gone completely.

• The Black Death changed the relationship between the manor lords and the laborers and ultimately, brought about the end of the manorial system. With a reduced labor force, the cost of workers rose. This put the nail in the coffin of Fuedalism.