The Normans

• The victory of the Norman Conquest on the British Isles brought fundamental changes, including the removal of England from Scandinavian influence and the establishment of closer ties to Europe.
• The Norman Conquest resulted in the creation of a two-class society, with no marriages between Normans and English.
• The Norman Conquest involved the replacement of elites and the ruling class with Normans.
• England and Normandy became one political system, a political union.
• William was King of England AND Duke of Normandy, technically a vassal to the French King.
• The Norman Conquest led to the start of the English-French rivalry.
• Rise of Feudalism -> three estates:

  oratores (religious order)-bellatores (those who fight)-Laboratores (workers (

  principle of feudalism: King owns all the land (terra regist

  ↳ devided into smaller parts and lent out to loyal followers (barons)

  in exchange for service (military or council)

  (smallest unit-manor) barons devide the land further and give it to their followers

  ↳ Loyalty is basis for this system
• · Doomsday book: instrument of power, all properties were listed -> no one could escape survey

  ↳ essential to the king, ensured that most resources were given to him
• · building of castles: -> demonstrated Local Norman power, futility to resist

  ↳> nearly one thousand castles built
• · the church: local, hereditary priesthood (Anglo-Saxon)replaced by

  Celibate clergy (unverheiratete Geistliche)-> to support Norman claims

  ↳ more similar to Norman way to practise religion

  · after 1066 English cathedrals destroyed and Norman churches built (demo of power)

  · social control of the population to ensure obedience of English people
• 2. What happened to the English language?

  · Trilingual situation:

  French -> spoken by aristocracy, government

  Latin -> language of clergy and written texts

  English -> spoken by peasants

  · French loan words imported from French culture became native names -> many synonyms

  · fast decline of old English, changed drastically due to French influence

  ↳ mix of languages: Middle English
• 3. What is meant by the 'Norman Yoke' (Normannisches Joch)

  ↳ myth insisting that before 1066 England was a free country with self-governing institution

  Anglo-Saxons had laws which protected peoples freedom, instead Norman (foreign)Law was imposed

  · Norman conquest greatly altered power structures, lasting effects of Williams reign

  · first emerged in the 12th century, used in the mid 17th century as a critique on the lack of

  Liberty -> something that was traced back to 1066
• Magna Carta

  after Anglo-French war lost by King John

  ↳ aristocracy who financed the war very dissitisfied

  1215 King John forced to sign Magna Carta (Nobles demands to King John)

  ↳ restricts rights of king, more rights to highest ranking officials

  · King John lost possesions to French King -> weak, 'softsword ->symbolises loss

  of power and its consequences for English text
• Normans: 1066-1300