An outline of medieval British history

4.1 The formative centuries, 1066 – 1500s.

4.1.1 The Norman Conquest began the new era in the history of GB, the era of feudalism. On October 14, 1066 the decisive battle between the Anglo-Saxons and the invading Normans took place at Hastings. Though the Anglo-Saxon army fought bravely it was defeated and King Harold was killed. Thus, 1066 is the official date of the establishment of the Norman rule over England. December 25, 1066 is the date of William the Conqueror ’s coronation. This conquest opens up the period of final establishment of feudalism in England. 20 years after the conquest in 1086 William ordered a record, or register of all land-holdings to be made. The Saxons called the register the Doomsday Book.

4.1.2 The Norman invaders brought their language with them too. They spoke a Norman dialect of French and it became the tongue of the court circles, administration, and the official language of the state. Latin was the language of the church, law and learning. The wealthy Anglo-Saxons copied their superiors and also learned to speak French. However, the common people, the peasantry and the inhabitants of towns, continued to speak Anglo-Saxon.

4.1.3 In the 12^th century a new dynasty was established when Henry II (1154-89) became king of England. He came from France and he was called Henry Plantagenet. To his new English possessions he soon added some Scotch territory, established his lordship over Wales and made “conquests” in Ireland. He removed most of the old sheriffs and replaced them by appointees of his own who were better tax collectors. Henry II was succeeded by Richard the Lionhearted, who loved adventure and conflict and typified the chivalry of the time. On Richard’s death John, (who had the nickname of Lack Land) became the king (1199-1216).

4.1.4 John was unwise enough to make an attack on the church over the filling of the vacant seat of Archbishop of Canterbury at the time when Pope Innocent III was in power. He with the help of powerful barons made John on June 15, 1215 at a field called Runnymede by the river Thames sign the programme of demands expressed by the barons in a document known as Magna Carta or Great Charter. This document provided the church and the barons with their old rights and liberties. The document also established that the king may not collect any taxes (except the feudal taxes), save with the consent of his royal council, which slowly developed into a parliament. Fifty years later, in 1265, Simon de Monfortsummoned the first elected Parliament. Some time later, Parliament was separated into two Houses: one including the nobility and higher clergy, the other including the knights and burgesses, and no law could be made, nor any tax levied, without the consent of both Houses as well as of the Sovereign.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16