Anglo-Saxons 500-1066

The Proliferation of Irish/Celtic Monasticism 500-800 CE

Cenobitic Monasticism included communal prayer

The Anglo-Saxons c. 450-1066

Raedwald Anglo-Saxon Warrior King

Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms c. 700

Why were the English particularly successful at creating a unified kingdom by 900?

Which factor was most important? Viking invasions Adoption of writing Adoption of sacral kingship Adoption of hierarchical structures Luck of the Irish

Which English ruler figured prominently in this process? King Egbert in late 700s King Alfred in late 800s King Aethelred in late 900s King Harold Harefoot in 1000s

Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms c. 700

Augustine of Canterbury c. 600

Laws of Aethelberht c. 600 Germanic Folk Law

Monastic scribes

Lindisfarne Gospels c. 700

Anglo-Saxon Charter

Synod of Whitby - 664

Tribal Hidage c. 700-720 Hwinca syfan þusend hyda. 7,000 Ciltern sætna feower þusend hyda. 4,000 Hendrica þryu þusend hyda ond fif hund hyda. 3,500 Unecungaga twelf hund hyda. 1,200 Arosætna syx hund hyda. 600 Færpinga þreo hund hyda. is in Middelenglum Færpinga 300 Bilmiga syx hund hyda. 600 Eastwilla syx hund hyda. 600 Westwilla syx hund hyda. 600 East engle þrittig þusend hida. 30,000 Eastsexena syofon þusend hyda. 7,000 Cantwarena fiftene þusend hyda. 15,000 Suþsexena syufan þusend hyda. 7,000 Westsexena hund þusend hyda. 100,000

Coins of Offa

Alcuin of York (735-804)

Carolingian Manuscript c. 800

Viking Invasions of the British Isles

Viking Invasion 793-1066

Viking Conquest of East Anglia, Northumbria, Mercia during the 860s and 870s

Alfred the Great 871-899

Alfred defeated Vikings Created burghal structure Published Laws Minted Coins Converted invaders Translated books Encouraged learning

Guthrum’s Peace c. 886

The Burghal Clusters

Early Shire Structure approx. 30 shires. C. 950

Royal Writ

Anglo-Saxon Charter

Chirograph

The Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest 1066

Britain During Alfred the Great

Carolingian Revival Charlemagne’s collection of scholars influence of Alcuin establishment of schools preservation of texts improvement of writing Reformation and standardization of Benedictine Rule Resurgent neoplatonism John Scotus the Pseudo-Dionysius

The Treaty of Verdun (843) Division of the Carolingian Empire into three distinct realms: West Francia - modern France Lotharingia - modern Holland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland East Francia - modern Germany, Austria

Holy Roman Empire The initial impulse by secular leaders was to be acclaimed Emperor or King of the Romans, a claim to assume the mantle of the Roman Emperors The term “Holy Roman Empire” was not used until the 12th century and it lasted until the mid-17th century Nevertheless from the 9th to the 13th centuries, Frankish and later Saxon rulers habitually came to Rome to be crowned King of the Romans by the Pope This pilgrimage usually occurred in the early years of a new leader's accession; it was hoped that the crowning by the pope would bestow legitimacy

The Holy Roman Empire Although both Pippin and his son, Charlemagne, avoided dependency on the popes, their sons and grandsons failed to heed their example By relying on the popes for the legitimization of their authority, the Holy Roman Emperors became dependant on the popes and consequently they sought to install popes who advanced their cause and the cause of their dynasty This tendency prompted Emperors to appoint their own popes, who were not recognized by the Roman Cardinals Referred to as anti-popes, these imperial friendly popes plagued the papacy from the 10th to the 15th centuries

Long-term Trends Political unification Development of Vernacular Literature Conversion to Christianity Cultural Fusion Germanic & Christian Tribal Britons Saxons Danes Normans

Anglo-Saxons Migrations Originally adamant pagans begin from Continent in 5th century initiate battles with Britons Originally adamant pagans Converted through domestic proselytization Augustine of Canterbury arrives 597 Ethelbert of Kent and Queen Bertha Establishment of Roman Christianity in Britain eventual conflict with Irish Christianity

Christianity and Literacy Clerical literati Written legal codes Ethelbert c. 600 Alfred c. 900 Written charters Formal wills and writs

The Northumbrian Renaissance c.625- c.790 Illuminated Manuscripts Intellectual revival Bede Alcuin Conversion Mercia Continental Saxons, including Frisia Composition of Beowulf?

The Venerable Bede

Alfred the Great (849-99) Unification of Southern England Establishment of Uniform Legal Code Reinvigoration of Learning Danish Invasions (793- c.900) Danish cultural influence Establishment of the Danelaw c. 900 Unification of Mercians and West Saxons Danish rule ends 1042

English Society c. 1066 Political Unity and Administrative System English Identity Anglo-Saxon Danish/Scandinavian Thoroughly Christian Uniform Currency Established Vernacular Tradition

Summary The conquests of the Franks, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans had an enduring impact on the formation of the political boundaries of Europe Similarly the achievements of the Celtic Church during its golden age had an enduring impact on the spread of monasticism and the preservation of texts throughout Europe; ultimately, however, Celtic Christianity gradually receded as the papacy formed an enduring relationship with the Franks