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Chapter 4The Normans in England
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Edward the ConfessorThe Danish Kings were followed by an English King, Edward, later Edward the Confessor.He ruled England between 1042 to 1066.Edward was a saintly but ineffective king. During the reign of Hardecanute he lived in Norman exile. After his death Edward took the throne.
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The Bayeux TapestryThe Bayeux Tapestry is a piece of embroidery measuring approximately 70 by 5 metres. Worked in coloured wool on bleached linen. It tells of William of Normandy's rightful claim to the English throne and his subsequent invasion and conquest of England in 1066.
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While staying in Normandy and as he had no heirs he promised his cousin William the throne of England.He died on 5th January 1066
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But at his death, Harold of Wessex was chosen to reign as King Harold II.This displeased William who organized an army and decided to invade England. This will be known asThe Norman InvasionKing Harold II
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Landing in England scene from the Bayeux Tapestry, with ships coming in and horses landing.
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The Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings took place on 14th October 1066.
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King Harold II was killed and his army defeated by the Norman invaders lead by William of Normandy
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William I of EnglandOn Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned King of England. It took him four years to complete the conquest of England and Wales.
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He built enormous castles.He took huge areas ofland and gave them to his supporters.There was one Norman family in each English village.
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Norman officials replaced English ones in the government and in the church.Norman French became the language of the governing classes.Very little was written in English, although monks continued with the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle until 1154.
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As the Norman Kings did not conquer Scotland many landowners went there so English started to spread in the Lowlands, remaining Gaelic as the language of the Highlands.
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In England, the use of French was not limited to those of French blood but to everyone who wanted to have a part in the society.But little by little and helped by inter marriages and their children, English started to make its way back. By 1177 it was impossible to tell who was English and who was French. They were totally integrated.
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In 1204 King John lost Normandy.Families who owned land in England had to give up their lands in France.Ties with France grew looser.
JOHN I, called the LacklandCompetition between the two countries started.
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French remained as the language for Law and business though it started to lose social importance.Norman French was considered inferior when compared with Parisian French.
At the end of the 13th century ordinary people couldnt speak French at all.
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The competition between England and France resulted in The Hundred Years War (1337-1453)The English victory over the French contributed to intensify feelings of nationalism
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The Black DeathBetween 1348 and 1350 about 30% of the peolple died.
Many churchmen, monks and school teachers died and were replaced by less educated men who only spoke English.
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In 1362 English was used for the first time at the opening of the Parliament.
Ordinary people started to progress, earned more money and became more socially important. Consequently the importance of their language grew.By the 15th century English had completely replaced French.
After 1450 most letters were in English. The language had survived, but it had changed.
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First English-speaking KingWhen Henry IV was crowned king in 1399, he became the first English-speaking King since 1066.
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