William the

Conqueror

Did Ya Know…• England was ruled by “French” kings for 387 years?–“French” = Norman

• How did THAT happen?

British Monarchy Established• 800s the island of Great

Britain was divided among several small kingdoms. – Faced significant threats from

Vikings in North. – Kingdoms made up of the

Anglo-Saxons – shared common language & culture

• 886 CE Anglo-Saxon leader , Alfred the Great, able to unite kingdoms into one nation, called Angleland. – Later be changed to England.

Viking Invasion of British Isles

Alfred the Great• Created strong central

government, able to use strength to defeat Vikings

• Sought to bring about cultural reform in kingdom. – Established schools, –Had literary works translated

into the language of Anglo-Saxons

• Anglo-Saxon kings would rule England for next 200 years

Edward the Confessor• 1066, Edward

The Confessor dies suddenly–Last Anglo-Saxon king of England–No male heir

• After the death of King Edward, three men laid claim to the throne.

Who should be King?

William of Normandy

Harold Hardraada

Harold Godwinson

Harold GodwinsonEnglish and his daughter, Edith,

was married to Edward the ConfessorEarl of Wessex; member of one of the

most powerful families in EnglandEdward named him king shortly

before he died; however, relations were strained (exiled in 1051, but returned in 1052)

During exile, Harold promised William of Normandy that he would help him to become king of England when Edward died.

William, Duke of NormandyThe descendant of Viking raiders, but

was FrenchWilliam was the grandson of Edward's

maternal uncle, Richard II, former Duke of Normandy

Visited England and Edward agreed to name him as the new king when he died. Harold Godwinson pledged to help him

Sent troops to help Edward before he died and was well respected by the English people.

Harald HardraadaKing of Norway (Viking) felt he

should have been king of England too!

His family had been kings of England before Edward.

Harald had support from the English people in the north.

There was no one to replace Edward so Harald wanted the crown of England for himself.

Not related to Edward

The Witan• In Saxon times the crown was

not necessarily hereditary. • A body of men called the

Witan played a role in choosing the next king. – Nobody could become king

without the Witan’s support. • In January 1066, the Witan

chose Harold, Earl of Wessex, to be the next king. – Crowned King Harold II of

England on October 14, 1066

Battle of Stamford Bridge• Viking King Harald

Hardraada invades with a fleet of approximately 10,000 men– Handily defeated by Harold

II’s men at the Battle of Stamford Bridge

• Although a great triumph for Harold and the Saxons, their strength was badly depleted by the fight

Battle of Hastings• September 28, 1066, William

landed in England with approximately 7,000 troops and cavalry.

• At the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold was killed—shot in the eye with an arrow, according to legend—and his forces were destroyed.

• He was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

King William I• After his victory at the Battle of

Hastings, William marched on London and received the city's submission.

• On Christmas Day, 1066, he was crowned the first Norman king of England, in Westminster Abbey, and the Anglo-Saxon phase of English history came to an end.

• French became the language of the king's court and gradually blended with the Anglo-Saxon tongue to give birth to modern English.

The Hundred Years War

Background• The term "Hundred Years War" was a

historical term used by historians to describe a series of events in the 14th and 15th centuries. • The conflict was between France and

England lasting 116 years, though there were long periods of “game-off” between battles.• It was fought primarily over claims by

the English kings to the French throne.

Significance• The war gave motion to ideas of French

and English nationality. • Introduction of new weapons and

tactics, which eroded the older systems of feudal armies dominated by cavalry.

• The first standing armies in Western Europe since the time of the Western Roman Empire were introduced for the war, thus changing the role of the peasantry.

Causes of the War• Norman Conquest of England:

French king, William I, sits on England’s throne–Controls lands in France.–From here on out, it is English rulers’ goal to control lands in both England and France.• Also control of the English Channel

–Some English kings marry into the French nobility to gain more lands

Start of the WAr• Following the death of King Philip VI in

1314, the French nobility selected Philip of Valois, a nephew of the king through the male line to become the new king.– He was chosen over King Edward III of

England, whose mother was the daughter of the late king (grandson to King Philip VI)

• In 1340, Edward III claimed the title “King of France” and invadesAnd thus the war starts…

Controversy Over Succession

King Philip VI

Charles of Valois

Philip of Valois

Isabella of FranceEdward II of England

Edward IIIGrandso

n

King of France

Daughter

Dead

Nephew

France?

• France was NOT a united country before the war began.• The French

king only controlled about half of the country.

The War• One king after another on

both sides continue to fight• England won most of battles,

but French wouldn’t surrender• Things got interesting in 1429

when a French peasant girl got involved…

Joan of Arc• French Dauphin Charles

VII vs. English King Henry VI – Dauphin = Heir to the

French throne• French peasant girl hears

voices of Saints at age 12• Believes that God telling

her to help save France• Goes to Dauphin to offer

her help. He refused.

Joan of Arc• She returned the next

year and with a small force, won several battles (despite being shot through the neck in one and the leg in another!)– Major victory at Orleans– Captured by Burgundians

(allied with English) who put her on trial to avoid creating a martyr:• Put her on trial for heresy &

witch craft• Then, burned her at the stake!

Joan of Arc• Opps! Turns out she

was turned into a martyr after all.– Inspired French to fight

& unite.• By 1453, English were

driven from most of France, which was now strong and united.

• Joan became a saint and national heroine.

Joan of Arc martyreed

Why do we care?• Changed balance of power in England and

France – Power to kings and away from feudal lords

• New types of warfare– From a few knights to many foot soldiers– From hand-to-hand combat to longbow and

cannons–Nationalism—feeling of national identity and

pride• With no chance of another European empire…

where would these powerful nations look to expand their power?