The Middle Ages

A general overview so you can better understand Sir Gawain and Chaucer

55 BCE: Julius Caesar invades Britain By 77 AD Roman conquest of Britain is

complete 122 AD – in response to raids from the north,

Emperor Hadrian builds a wall across northern England

The beginning

From 372-410 A.D. Roman Empire

Raiders from the north – Goths, Visigoths, and Vandals

410 A.D. Rome sacked, citizens slaughtered, temples looted – official end of Pax Romana

Empire broke apart Western section decayed into warring kingdoms Eastern section became the Byzantine Empire

Much more unified – Constantinople becomes the largest, wealthiest city in the world

The fall of Rome

Britain under attack by various tribes from the

north, east Jutes, Angles, Saxons, Danes (Vikings)

Tribes attacked and then settled, prompting a migration from modern day Scandinavia and Germany to Britain

Constant battling between groups leads to creation of kingships (think Beowulf)

Time marked by violence

Arrival of the invaders

Britain, C. 540 A.D.

314 A.D. – arrival of Christian Church in Britain 597 A.D. – St. Augustine arrives in Britain Sent by Pope Gregory to convert pagan British

who have melded Christianity with their Celtic gods

Establishes major seats for the church in Canterbury, York

Effectively overpowers the Celtic church Creation of monasteries – way to keep

teachings of church, place of knowledge

Role of the Church

7th to 8th centuries – rise and fall of many

kingdoms Kent, Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex

Aethelbold (726-57) first to call himself King of Britain – kingdom much of southern England

Kingdoms brought rule, law, structure Established rules for interacting with the

church

The many kingdoms

Britain, C. 800 A.D.

870 A.D. – King of Wessex (southern England) Successfully defends area from raids by Vikings

Vikings not interested in settling – just looted, killed and left

Developed treaties with surrounding kingdoms which helped secure large area

Reclaimed London from Danish control Helped create political unity throughout England

Laws of his kingdom, first basis for British laws Ruled against the custom of blood feuds – “wirgild”

Increased the role of church, tried to restore education

Alfred the Great

Alfred dies in 899 A.D. – left kingdom to son

Edward Continued his father’s work Established the dominance of the West Saxon

kingdom Opposite to northern England – under control

of Danes and part of Scandinavian empire York – Viking city run by Eric Bloodaxe

Rise of Wessex

Norman invasion part of political battle

between King Edward the Confessor and Harold, Duke of Wessex

Edward promised his crown to William of Normandy

Upon his death, Harold seized control William invades – defeats Harold at the Battle

of Hastings Crowned on Dec. 25, 1066 A.D.

1066 A.D.

William the Conqueror brought Norman rule to

England, now linked with France, not Scandinavia Replaced old Anglo-Saxon ruling families with Norman Destroyed/overpowered old kingdoms Required allegiance in form of set number of knights

from each area Created new social class

Doomsday Book – full accounting of who, what was in southern England for taxation, tything purposes

Brought language, culture to England (very behind in cultural development)

Norman rule

William dies in 1087 A.D. Decedents William II and Henry I struggle to keep the kingdom

together, face insurrection Stephen, nephew of Henry I looses control of kingdom to Geoffrey

the Fair and his wife Matilda Begins the Plantagenet line

Their son Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine England gains more control of France, becomes one of the most

powerful leaders in Europe Creation of common law, replacing some of the old Anglo-Saxon

feudal laws Growth in economy, trade in England, spurred by First Crusade Henry responsible for death of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of

Canterbury in ongoing dispute over power, influence of church

Turnover I

Henry II dies in 1189 A.D. after failing to stop

son Richard from seizing the throne, aided by his mother, Eleanor

Richard the Lionheart captured while on crusade in the Holy Land

Ransomed and then taken prisoner again in Germany

Raised taxes, created many new taxes to pay for crusade, ransoms

Turnover II

John I, Richard’s brother, takes over in 1199

A.D. Almost looses control of whole kingdom Creates income tax, continues harsh taxing

rules left by his brother Battle with barons leads to signing of the

Magna Carta in 1215 A.D. John dies in 1216 and is first English monarch

to be buried in England

A +: The Magna Carta

Henry III (1216-1272)

Completion of Westminster Abby Creation of Parliament

Edward I (1272-1307) Conquest of Wales, peace

with Scotland

Other + developments

Edward II (1327-77)

Abandons the throne to his young son Alienated his wife as homosexual, she took

refuge in France, raised forces against him Edward III (1327-77)

Began 100 Years War with France 1348 A.D. – arrival of Black Death in England

50 percent of population dead by 1350 Did oversee a growth in Parliament

Turnover III

Richard II (1377-99)

Took throne at age of 10 Betrayed by nobles and deposed by Henry

Bolingbroke, a nobleman Henry IV (1399-1413)

Encountered serious legitimacy issues as usurped the throne

Turnover IV

Henry V (1413-22)

Successfully expanded English territory back into France, made English empire greater

Henry VI (1422-71) Battled Joan of Arc over French lands occupied by England Beginning of French nationalism

Beginning of War of the Roses Civil war among the aristocracy House of York (white rose) led by Richard of York House of Lancaster (red rose) led by King Henry War lasts for 30 years – destroys aristocracy Ends at Battle of Tewkesbury, Edward (York’s son) defeats Henry Henry executed at Tower of London

Turnover V

Edward IV (1461-83)

Brings relative peace to England Richard III (1483-85)

Brother of Edward Leads coup against his nephews for throne Has two young boys killed Challenged by nobles Killed at the Battle on Bosworth Field

Defeated by Henry Tudor, married to Elizabeth York, Edward’s daughter

Tudor’s assentation to throne marks end of mediaeval period – last king to gain throne through combat

Turnover VI