THE MIDDLE AGES NORMAN RULE 1066-1154 (Henry II new dynasty -> Plantagenets)

Norman Coat of Arms

Norman Family Tree

WILLIAM I THE CONQUEROR

England was subdued (podbita) by him; he used England mainly to take money from it. He spent most time in Normandy, not in England. Why? Normandy could be raided by rivals, they were not happy that William became King of England - he was more powerful.

William's rivals used his eldest son - Robert against him. He was involved in number of intrigues. Feudal system made William really powerful, king had a number of privileges:

1. When a noble died, his land usually went to his son, but he had to pay money to the king first

2. If the son was below 18, king used the land till his 18 birthday

3. If all nobles died, land went back to the king

4. Domesday Book 1086 - greatest William's achievement. His people went from shire to shire and they wrote down main land holders, so William could know how taxes he could get from people. Name: Day of Judgment = doom; book reminded people Day of Judgment, that's the origin of the name.

William was the king in a foreign country so he had to be very strict to gain respect as a strong king. He punished with no mercy (mutilation - okaleczanie). He also built castles and churches.

CUSTOM: ancestor land (in Normandy) should go to eldest son - so in the case of William - to Robert. England was conquered land, so it should go to second son - William.

WILLIAM II RUFUS - KING OF ENGLAND (Rufus <- red hair)

Robert became Duke of Normandy (duke - highest title in Normandy)

Many people were on Channel and they had to choose the king. If they chose Wiliam, Robert could punish them and vice versa.

1088 - William realized that he is in danger -> rebellion of barons who supported Robert. William repelled an invasion by the Scots.

Robert needed money to join the crusade, so he decided to give Normandy to William and borrow money from him. He promised that, after return he will give the money back and William give him the land back.

William, unlike his father didn't like the church, he built castles. King could use the money from church. William was accidentally killed by an arrow (perhaps it was a coincidence that Henry - his brother - was with him). After Williams death, Henry rushed to Westminster and got crown.

Henry I of England was called the Lion of Justice - he was strict but fair. He established the Charter of Liberties, in which he promised to rule the country fair.

When Robert was back from crusade, he was flung into prison. He died -> once again Normandy and England was joined - under the rule of Henry I.

HENRY I ACHIEVEMENTS:

1. English civil offices - helped Henry I to govern the country

2. Exchanger (kasjer walutowy) - financial office, they wrote down the information about money

3. King's justice was extended, judicial system

4. He introduced itinerant judges (travelling judges) - people travel from shire to shire and solve conflicts

5. He developed idea of common law

A tragedy - Henry's only legitimate (prawowity, ślubny) son died while crossing the English Channel. Henry was left with only a girl - Mathilda. He was married to German Emperor, but when her husband died, she returned to England.

Henry maid his barons swear that when he dies, lords would choose Mathilda as a Queen of England. Mathilda was married off Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou.

But when Henry I died -> things got complicated: Stephen of Blue gained the throne (although it should go to Mathilda). Henry gave lands to Stephen (he was Henry's nephew), when Stephen's father died. But it made Stephen powerful, so that he could gain the throne.

LAW: No baron could built the castle without king's permission. Stephen abolished (znieść, zlikwidować) it - it was not wise, barons could become more powerful and rebel against king one day.

Mathilda decided to invade England and claim the throne -> civil war broke out and lasted for 19 years. It was time of anarchy and chaos. Mathilda entered London (Stephen was flung into prison). She behaved in very arrogant way -> Londoners didn't like her. Then she fled to France.

When Stephen's only son died, he had no heir. He started negotiation with Mathilda, he wanted to give the throne to her son when he die. Stephen died the following year -> Henry II, new dynasty. France united with England again.

CHRISTIANITY

1. First - Romans

2. It changed with Anglo-Saxon times, Christianized Celts were driven in mountains

3. -llan - site (miejsce ulokowania) of Celtic monastery

4. 6 century: Arrival of monk Augustine sent by pope to reestablish Christianity. He went to Canterbury in Kent - why? Because Kent's king had a Christian wife. Kings got from clergy knowledge a lot.

5. 601 - Augustine - 1^st Archbishop of Canterbury

6. Augustine wanted to make the church powerful, so he worked only with the kings. Ordinary people were taught by Celtic monks.

7. CELTIC CHURCH

• Existed where the Celts were driven

• Monasteries

• St. Patrick - British slave, in 432 he brought Christianity to Ireland

• St. Columba - 563 - Scotland

• St. David - Wales

• They were wandering, teaching ordinary people

• Very poor

8. ROMAN CHURCH

• Roman clergy lived at the courts (dwór królewski)

• Church helped the king to grow in power and vice versa

• King needed a church, so he gave them privileges

9. Two churches didn't agree with a date of Eastern -> 664 Synod of Whitby - Roman church was supported (it was more powerful) and it became OFFICIAL CHURCH. Celtic church retreated.

CHRISTIANITY - RESULTS:

1. Monasteries (centrum of education)

2. New class - educated monks (they could help king)

3. Literate people had more power - if you could write, you could record amount of lands you had - it was evidence (dowód) that land is yours. If not, anybody could get it from you.

4. Villages, farms around monasteries, trade, woolen goods, cheese, hunting dogs, jewelry, pottery, natural goods.

HISTORIA - WYKŁAD - 20.10.2011

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