Normans and Plantagenets

dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

1066
Norman Conquest of England

Who were the NORMANS?

 In 911 the Vikings led by Rollo (Hrolf Ganger “the Walker”) had settled in Normandy
establishing their own, practically independent, dukedom
 Dukes of Normandy paid homage to the King of France
 Normans had become Christian and attained the FRENCH language, religion,
culture, and political system, i.e. FEUDALISM

The Norman Conquest of England is the most significant turning point in British history
with a profound impact on the entire British Isles.

CAUSES of the Norman invasion in 1066

Edward the Confessor’s dynastic problems:

 no heir apparent
 Norman influences during the king's reign, e.g. appointments in administration

After Edward the Confessor’s death on Jan 5, 1066, THREE successors to the throne appear:

 Harold Godwinson - Earl of Wessex - elected by the Witan as king of England

 Harald Hardrada - King of Norway

 William the Bastard (Conqueror) - Duke of Normandy

 supposedly promised the throne by Edward the Confessor (his distant

cousin)
 his wife Matilda descended from Alfred the Great
 Harold Godwinson promised not to interfere, when he visited William in
Normandy in 1064
 formally blessed by the Pope

The events of 1066:

1
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

Battle of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, between Anglo-Saxons under Harold

Godwinson and the Norwegians under Harold Hardrada (helped by Tostig, Earl of
Northumbria and Harold’s brother). Anglo-Saxon victory – the end of the Viking Age in
Britain. Harold Godwinson’s army then march southward towards the invading Normans.

Battle of Hastings between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans. Norman victory.
Harold Godwinson is killed, William the Conqueror marches towards London. On
Christmas Day 1066 William the Conqueror is crowned King of England in
Westminster Abbey.

The Norman royal dynasty (1066-1154) - until 1204 England and Normandy have common
rulers.
 Kings of England are Dukes of Normandy who pay homage to Kings of France
 Normandy is a senior possession – England becomes heavily involved in French
politics
 Norman aristocracy possessing cross-Channel estates

2
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

Bayeux Tapestry
 embroidered linen (48cm x 70 m) - first comic strip in history
 depicts the life of Harold Godwinson and the Norman Conquest from the Norman
perspective
 commissioned by Odo, bishop of Bayeux, brother of William in the 1070s as a
demonstration of legitimacy of Norman claim to the English throne.

Reign of William the Conqueror, 1066-1087

(numbered I for the first time in English history)

 iron hand rule – “Norman Yoke”

 introduction of FEUDALISM
o Old English system – upwards: the king and eldormen elected by the witan
o New Norman system – downwards: the king gives out land and privileges to
barons

 centralization of the feudal system in England due to the hostile attitude of Anglo-
Saxons and the situation where a duke of Normandy is a king of England.

 pacification of land and confiscation of Anglo-Saxon and church property

 BARONS - new Norman aristocracy replacing earlier Anglo-Saxon nobles (most of

them killed at Hastings) – the title Earl is retained

 heir designation: the King could designate the heir to English landowners, and often chose
successors from Normandy.

 William and his barons exercise tight control over inheritance of property by English
widows and daughters, often forcing marriages to Normans.

 Norman bishops: the Catholic church is seen as a policy supporter enjoying a separate
judicial system and a separate common law.

 building CASTLES, e.g. Tower of London, Windsor, Warwick, Newcastle, Durham,

Carlisle

 forest laws: forests are royal property and trespasses against the game and the vert are
severely punished

Domesday Book (1086)

 the most comprehensive survey of property in medieval Europe carried out by
William’s envoys around the country

3
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

 detailed record of England's towns, villages and population covering all England apart
from London, Winchester, and northern shires.
 PURPOSE of Domesday Book:

Then, at the midwinter [1085], was the king in Gloucester with his council ... . After this had
the king a large meeting, and very deep consultation with his council, about this land; how it
was occupied, and by what sort of men. Then sent he his men over all England into each
shire; commissioning them to find out "How many hundreds of hides were in the shire, what
land the king himself had, and what stock upon the land; or, what dues he ought to have by
the year from the shire. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Reign of William II Rufus (1087-1100)

 tough ruler in conflict with the church (Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury) and barons -
baron rebellion quenched
 lands are given to Norman barons in distant parts of the realm (Scottish and Welsh
borders) – giving rise to the highly privileged Marcher Lordships in Wales
 division of Wales:
o Marchia Walliae (the March of Wales) – controlled by Cambro-Norman marcher
lords
o Wallia Pura (Proper Wales) – independent Welsh kingdoms until 1284

Reign of Henry I (1100-1135) Beauclerk, Lion of Justice

 granting the Charter of Liberties (1100) protecting individual rights from arbitrary
encroachment - serving as the model for Magna Carta in 1215.
 numerous legal reforms of the country, sending royal judges on circuit to hear plea

Reign of Stephen of Blois (nephew of Henry I) (1135-1154)

The barons become divided in their loyalty, which leads to a devastating twenty-year civil war
between Stephen of Blois and Henry's daughter Matilda, wife of Count Geoffrey of Anjou
(Plantagenet), known as the Anarchy: so bad that "Christ and his saints slept".

The increasing role of barons, building unlicensed castles and defying the king.

The Anarchy is concluded with the Treaty of Wallingford (1153): after the death of Stephen
Henry II (Matilda’s son) takes the throne, starting the new dynasty of Plantagenet

Socio-economic situation of Norman England

 most Norman kings spend their time in Normandy – England is seen as an offshoot of
Normandy

4
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

 Normans - upper classes; Anglo-Saxons - lower classes

 development of Anglo-Norman and Cambro-Norman culture
 barons (earls) vs. sheriffs (king’s appointed) – the Norman kings keep the Anglo-
Saxon administrative structure (SHIRES are called COUNTIES) to counterbalance the
growing position of barons and strengthen the royal the king’s power
 beginnings of wool trade with Flanders. Wool trade enriches towns and wool is the
most important English export until the Industrial Revolution.
 town charters: trading towns in Norman England gain self-government and
privileges, choice of mayor and council
 development of craft guilds and trade guilds

Establishment of Norman state offices:

 Curia Regis: royal government, judicial court and legislative body.

 Chancery (writing office) – the privy seal is stamped on acts.
 Exchequer (1130) (finance office)

Until the early 13th century, Westminster is the royal capital, while Winchester is the seat of
the royal treasury.

Linguistic situation of Norman England

Anglo-Norman (Norman French) – the language of upper classes and the royal court, law
courts – written language of government and legal documents

English - unwritten dialect spoken by masses and sporadically by middle classes in

interaction, receiving a large number of French and Latin borrowings

Latin – the language of the Catholic Church

Norman family names:

 Fitz- (“son of”)

 Balliol, Baskerville, Beauchamp, Beaumont, Bruce, Clark, Curzon, Dévereux,
Harcourt, Lacy, Longchamp Montfort, Montagu, Mortimer, Montgomery, Osborne,
Sinclair, Talbot

SCOTLAND
 Scotland is made to pay homage to the Normans but remains an independent kingdom
 11th cent: Anglicization of the Lowlands
 12th cent: influx of Norman families, e.g. Bruce, Balliol, Fraser, Stewart

5
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

PLANTAGENETS / ANJOU / ANGEVINS

(1154 – 1399)

Reign of Henry II (Curtmantel, FitzEmpress) (1154-89)

The zenith of the Anglo-Norman state.

After his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine Henry II rules over the ANGEVIN EMPIRE
extending from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees, i.e. an area exceeding the realm of the
king of France.

POLITICAL AND LEGAL REFORMS

 razing of adulterine (unlicensed) castles from the time of the Anarchy and limiting the
privileges of barons
 Father of English COMMON LAW – evidential proceeding replace ordeal trial by
combat and fire
 The Assize of Clarendon (1166) - establishment of the institution of JURY:
o for giving evidence (Jury of Presentment – later GRAND JURY)
o for judging evidence (TRIAL JURY)

CONFLICT WITH THE CHURCH

Pope Adrian IV (born Nicholas Breakspear) (1154-1159) - the first and only English Pope in
history – initially supports a number of Henry II’s policies.

Later the conflict grows between Henry II and the English Catholic Church, reflecting similar
tensions (struggle over investiture) between the kings and church authorities in the European
continent. In England the conflict is about issues such as appointment of bishops, finances,
land ownership and homage. The English church also enjoys its own judicial system
independent of the royal jurisdiction.

Constitutions of Clarendon (1164) – laws passed by Henry II establishing the early state-
church relationships. The constitutions stipulated, among other provisions, that criminous
clerks, i.e. clergymen who committed crimes, were to be trialed at church courts BUT
punished by the royal court.

Thomas Becket
The Archbishop of Canterbury and Chairman of Curia Regis Thomas Becket, initially a
good friend of Henry II, resists the Constitutions and excommunicates opposing bishops. This

6
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

leads to an intense conflict over the rights and privileges of the Church between Henry II and
the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1170 Thomas Becket is murdered by the king’s followers in Canterbury Cathedral. He

becomes later a saint martyr and his tomb in Canterbury becomes a medieval cult site
attracting pilgrimages until the 16th century (cf. Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer).

ANGLO-NORMAN INVASION OF IRELAND

Events leading to the Norman invasion of Ireland:

 Norman baron, Richard Fitzgilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) conquers

the east of Ireland and founds the Pale around Dublin (1170) - the first English
colony.
 In 1071 Henry II invades Ireland himself concerned of the growing power of
Strongbow – the Lordship of Ireland is established (1172 -1541)

Henry II is succeeded by his two sons: Richard and John

Richard I Coeur de Lion (Lionheart) (1189-99)

 warlike and adventurous crusading king, spent only 6 months of his reign in England
 takes the English throne after fighting against his father Henry II
 1189 – Richard joins the Third Crusade. On his return he is imprisoned by Duke of
Austria and then released after ransom of 100,000 marks (2x revenue of the English
Crown) is collected in England and paid.

John the Lackland (Sans Terre) (1199-1216)

 weak, cruel and cowardly, already in power during Richard's absence
 extensive taxation of all classes and miserable wars

John’s reign is troubled by his conflicts with the French, the pope and his own BARONS.

Major developments:

 loss of Normandy (1204)

 conflict with Pope Innocent III about the appointment of Archbishop of Canterbury
results in the excommunication of King John and England (1208- 1213)
 1214 – at the battle of Bouvines John is defeated and deserted by his army – most of
the Angevin Empire, apart from Aquitaine, is lost to the French.

7
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

First Barons' War (1215-17)

and
MAGNA CARTA LIBERTATUM (1215)

John's attempt to recapture Normandy, requiring extensive taxes for a new war, causes
English barons to rebel. The barons capture London and force the king to issue a charter of
liberties – Magna Carta Libertatum

 signed at Runnymede near Windsor – regarded as the most important document in

English history
 63 clauses dealing with the feudal situation of England
 protection of church rights
 protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment - no sentence without a trial
 limitations on feudal payments to the Crown
 establishment of a council of 25 barons

Clause 39
No free man shall be taken or imprisoned, or dispossessed or outlawed or exiled or in any
way ruined, nor will we go or send against him except by the lawful judgement of his peers
or by the law of the land.

Clause 40
To no one will we sell, to no one will we deny or delay right or justice.

Historical significance:

 symbol of English liberties and principles – first LIMITATION of King’s powers by

law
 important sign of early decline of feudalism - barons act as a social class not as vassals
 forgotten shortly after but later recognized by subsequent kings and put as an example
in the 17th century
 huge influence of the future documents, e.g. Bill of Rights, US Declaration of
Independence
 four copies exist today in British Library (2), and Salisbury and Lincoln cathedrals.

foundation of Oxford University (1167) - by scholars from Sorbonne

foundation of Cambridge University (1209) by escapees from Oxford

Reign of Henry III (1216-1272)

8
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

First Barons’ War continues after John’s death as some barons offer the English crown to
Prince Louis of France. At the battle of Lincoln of 1217 (Fair of Lincoln) the French and the
rebellious barons are defeated.

John’s son Henry III ascends the throne at the age of nine – the English barons grow in
significance. Until 1258 England experiences a period of relative socio-economic stability:

 development of textile industry – wool trade flourishes with Flanders

 development of salt and coal mining - Newcastle, Yorkshire
 dominance of the gothic style in architecture, e.g. rebuilding of Westminster Abbey

1258-65 the Second Barons' War

Causes:

 Henry III’s ambition to take the Sicilian crown

 royal control of treasury
 the growing role of king’s foreign advisers opposed by English barons
 heavy war taxation opposed by English nobles

In 1258 the barons make Henry III grant the Provisions of Oxford (1258):

 first document in the English language since the Norman Conquest (also written
in the French and Latin versions)
 establishments of a new form of government: Privy Council of 15 barons to counsel
the king in administration and ministerial appointments
 no role provided for the knights and burgesses

Henry III allies later with the Pope, resulting in his freedom from Provisions, and gives the
right of the French king to most of English possessions in the continent. The outcome is the
outbreak of the Second Barons’ War (1264 – 1267) led by Simon de Montfort, Earl of
Leicester:

Battle of Lewes (1264) – Henry III is dethroned and imprisoned by Simon de Montfort

The barons led by Simon de Montfort elect a council called PARLIAMENT consisting of:

 barons
 clergy
 two knights from each shire
 two burgesses from each borough (COMMONS)

Battle of Evesham (1265) – Montfort is killed by Prince Edward and Henry III is restored to
the throne

9
 Normans and Plantagenets
dr Tomasz Skirecki, WA UAM

Dictum of Kenilworth (1267) – royal power is re-established and the king promises to keep
Magna Carta.

10