The Middle Ages, or the High Medieval Era: 1066-1485

What happened to the Anglo-Saxons??!! King Ethelred, a Saxon marries Emma, a Norman King Edward the Confessor, their son, dies Harold Godwinson (Saxon), Harald Hardrada (Norwegian), and William of Normandy all claim the throne Battle of Hastings in 1066

The Kings of England from 967 – 1066 978-1016 - King Ethelred II 1016 - Edmund Ironside 1016-1035 – Canute (Viking) 1035-1036 Alfred (son of Ethelred) 1036-1040 - Harold Harefoot (illetimate son of Canute) 1040-1042 – Hardicanute (Viking) 1042-1066 - Edward the Confessor

Bayeux Tapestry* ∨ Depicts the William’s conquest Edward, the Confessor ∨ Bayeux Tapestry* Depicts the William’s conquest Exact origin is unknown Over 70 meters long

detail of Edward the Confessor from the Bayeux Tapestry

Harold II (Godwinson) Edward the Confessor’s Brother-in-law Last Anglo-Saxon King

William of Normandy (r. 1066-1087)* AKA William the Conqueror

Battle Abbey and Battlefield Park *

Battlefield from the Norman’s point of view, looking uphill * Abbey, the assumed position of Harold’s shielded forces ∨ ∨ Battlefield from the Norman’s point of view, looking uphill *

Why Harold II lost? Warriors tired from the Battle of Stamford Bridge against Harald Warriors failed to listen to orders, breaking from the shield wall Norman tactics: combining weapons and luring the army

Norman Legacy: Domesday Book: inventory of land, basis of taxation Feudalism French language

The Domesday Book or Doomsday Book

Collected information on: Land Landholders Tenants Woodland Animals Buildings Other resources

Feudalism: the original pyramid scheme Lords: land owners Vassals: retainers Fiefs: land The king was the lord of lords

“I thought we were an autonomous collective.” -peasant woman, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Manorialism* strips of land, worked by Serfs Manor House ---------------

Chivalry an elaborate code of conduct, manner, and behaviors from the French word chevalier: horse soldier purpose: to reduce the coarseness and violence of medieval life

Code of Chivalry valor courage; face death’s inevitability possess Justice and loyalty protect poor and weak– widows, maidens, and orphans love God and be willing to die for him courtly Love remain clean in flesh and spirit generosity gain and cultivate a positive reputation

“The Vigil,” by John Pettie

Becoming a Knight Age 7– The son of a noble begins training, starting out as a page in the house of a lord. He learns manners and use of weapons Age 15– He became a squire. He attended to his lord, spent time in military exercises. Knighthood was reached when the squire became sufficiently skilled. No particular age.

"Chivalry," 1885, Sir Frank Dicksee*

Courtly Love Idealized love Describes the relationship between a knight and a lady of the court. The lady was the muse, or inspiration, for the knight’s deeds. Usually not between and a man and a wife Served as a model for young ladies

“Lancelot and Guinevere”* Chivalry corrupted

Rules of Hospitality Also called Guest/Host Relationship Unwritten set of expectations between any visitor and his host. Visitors would often be strangers, travelers seeking refuge at any house along the way.

Hospitality Guidelines Guest has free reign and should be treated with care and concern Host is servant to his needs Guest must conduct himself accordingly in dignified/formal manner, never taking advantage of the situation or generosity. Host can allow no harm to guest, defending him at any cost, including life Relationship embodies the “Golden Rule”

The Crusades: 1095-1270 Christians acting in the name of God Attempted to seize Jerusalem and the Holy Land Often associated with Chivalric Code Also, often associated with savage acts against humanity Spread of Eastern ideas: math, astronomy, architecture, etc.

Crusaders, wearing the iconic cross on their chests

The Bubonic Plague AKA The Black Death

The Bubonic Plague Spread by fleas from infected rats Killed ¼ of the European population, at least 25 million people Spread by fleas from infected rats Major wave occurred in England between 1348-1349, killing 1/3rd of England Caused major work shortages, leading to freedom of serfs STILL EXISTS TODAY!!!

Plague Suit, worn by medieval physicians

Gun Powder Discovered by Chinese in the 9th Century Introduced to England around 1325 Changes warfare forever Muskets Cannons Ends Chivalry

CREDITS: Scene 1 of Bayeux Tapestry, http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/Bayeux1.htm Shot from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, http://www.filmnight.org/holygrail.htm Close up of Edward the Confessor from the Bayeux Tapestry, Nash Ford Publishing, http://www.nashfordpublishing.co.uk/monarchs/edward_confessor.html Harold II image http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/community/history/KingHarold.asp “Aerial View of Battle Abbey” (c) Skyscan Balloon Photography http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.170 Public Domain, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hastings_battlefield.JPG

William I by George Vertue (1648-1756), The Royal Collection © 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page18.asp Picture of Domesday Book on chest, http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/ Page from the Domesday Book, http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/snapshots/snapshot44/snapshot44.htm Page from Shepherd's Historical Atlas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism “Chivalry, by Sir Frank Dicksee on http://home.att.net/~r.s.mccain/red5.html Courtly Love information from http://cla.calpoly.edu/~dschwart/engl513/courtly/courtly.htm “Lancelot and Guinevere,” Giancola, Donato. From http://www.donatoart.com/gallery/lancelot.html Plague Suit images, from http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/museum/exhibit99/a_2.html Crusade Illustration from http://course.lib.uci.edu/ed/spirit/focus/image4.jpg

For more information: The United Kingdom’s government page on the monarchy Essential Norman Conquest English Heritage site about Battle of Hastings Official Site for the Bayeux Tapestry The Domesday Book