State and Church in the High Middle Ages, 1000–1300 Chapter 9 State and Church in the High Middle Ages, 1000–1300

Medieval Origins of the Modern State The solutions medieval rulers found to their common problems laid the foundations for modern national states. The modern state is an organized territory with definite geographical boundaries, a body of law, institutions of government, and a loyal population.

England Under Viking pressure Alfred, King of Wessex, united the Anglo-Saxons under his rule. Royal law replaced diverse local customs. (Alfred the Great) King Canute of Denmark Edward the Confessor (part Anglo-Saxon, part Norman) Harold of Wessex (brother-in-law) takes over In 1066 Duke William of Normandy defeated Harold and became king of England. William retained Anglo-Saxon institutions that served his purposes, while introducing a number of important innovations.

Who was William the Conqueror? In 1066, William and his army of Norman Knights landed in England. They defeated Harold and his foot soldiers at the Battle of Hastings…a battle that really shaped the future of Medieval England.

Who was William the Conqueror? How do we know about the Battle of Hastings in great detail? The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth, not an actual painting nearly 230 ft. long.

Who was William the Conqueror? It depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry consists of some fifty scenes on linen with colored woolen yarns.

Who was William the Conqueror? It is likely that it was commissioned by Bishop Odo, William's half brother, and made in England in the 1070s. In 1729 the hanging was rediscovered by scholars and was displayed annually in Bayeux Cathedral…the tapestry is now exhibited at Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Bayeux, Normandy, France.

Who was William the Conqueror? When King Harold lost the battle, the Normans went on a rampage throughout England. The Anglo-Saxon period officially came to an end when William was crowned King of England on Christmas day 1066.

Who was William the Conqueror? Following being crowned King of England William was known as William the Conqueror.

Who was William the Conqueror? At first the Anglo – Saxons resisted Williams rule. He had to find a way to stop Anglo – Saxon revolts and to control his country and more importantly his Norman soldiers.

Who was William the Conqueror? He did so by giving land to his Norman Knights. He then made them swear loyalty to him as the ruler of England.

Who was William the Conqueror? William wanted to know all about his new Kingdom, so he conducted the first census in Europe since Roman times. The census was known as the Domesday Book and counted the people, manors, farms, animals and various other elements of his land.

Who was William the Conqueror?

Who was William the Conqueror? The Normans who ruled England brought Europe’s customs to England. Under William’s rule, officials and nobles spoke French.

Who was William the Conqueror? Ordinary Anglo – Saxons still spoke their own language, which later became known as English. They also learned new skills from Norman weavers and various other artisans.

Who was William the Conqueror? The Normans, in turn, kept many of the Anglo – Saxons’ government practices. For example, they depended on local officials called Sheriffs, to keep order.

Who was William the Conqueror? From the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms the term spread to several other regions, from Scotland, to Ireland, and the United States. The word “Sheriff" comes from the term “Shire Reeve". A “Shire Reeve" was a royal official responsible for keeping the peace throughout a shire or county on behalf of the king of England. The term was preserved in England throughout the Norman Conquest. .

Who was William the Conqueror? As more and more Normans and Anglo – Saxons married, their ways of conducting their lives merged into a new English culture.

King John and Magna Carta Henry II’s sons, Richard I (r. 1189–1199) and John (r. 1199–1216), did not inherit their father’s interest in government. John’s aggressive efforts to raise royal revenue alienated important elements of the English population. Military defeats further weakened him and he was forced to approve a peace treaty called Magna Carta. Magna Carta came to signify the principle that everyone, including the king, must obey the law. In the thirteenth century, the judicial precedents set under Henry II evolved into permanent institutions.

King John King John angered his people by: Raising taxes Taking money for wars (which he ended up losing) Arguing with the Pope and trying to take control over Church decisions As a result, a group of nobles began looking for a way to limit the kings’ powers and protect their own rights in return

Magna Carta In 1215, at the meadow of Runnymede, a group of nobles and lords forced King John to approve a document they had written: Magna Carta Magna Carta means “Great Charter” and it focused on the rights of the nobles

The Effects of the Magna Carta No imprisonment without a trial by jury *habeas corpus-“you have the body”- meant that people could not be held in jail without a reason Must consult lords before raising taxes Must choose competent officials who understand and obey the law themselves Could not interfere with or limit the freedom of the church Most importantly, the Magna Carta required that everyone- even the king- had to obey the law

Changes after Magna Carta After King John signed the charter, the conflicts continued until his death the following year The Magna Carta lived on inspiring the English to find more ways to limit the king’s power A council of nobles who advise the king was created, which eventually developed into Parliament, the lawmaking body that governs England today By the late Middle Ages, kings could do little without Parliaments support