Medieval England: From the Norman Conquest to Chaucer
The Norman Conquest and the Domesday Book
The Battle of Hastings was fought on 14 October 1066 between William of Normandy and the Anglo-Saxon king Harold. William, known as William the Conqueror, led an army of about 8,000 men, including cavalry, archers, and infantry, while Harold’s forces fought on foot using a strong shield wall. The battle turned decisively when Harold was struck in the eye by an arrow and killed, leading to Norman victory. William was crowned king of England later that year.
The Norman Conquest brought major political, social, and cultural changes:
- Ruling Class: The Anglo-Saxon elite were largely eliminated, and their lands were seized by Norman nobles.
- Church: Higher clergy were replaced by foreign churchmen, though some English traditions survived.
- Feudal System: William introduced a hierarchy where land was granted to barons in exchange for military service.
- Administration: Royal authority was solidified by the Domesday Book (1086), a survey of land, wealth, and taxation.
Linguistically, French became the language of the government, Latin was used for official and religious contexts, and English remained the language of everyday life.
Anarchy and the Plantagenet Dynasty
After the death of William I, succession conflicts led to instability. The civil war period (1135–1153), known as The Anarchy, occurred between Matilda and Stephen. It ended when Stephen recognized Matilda’s son, Henry, as his heir.
Henry II (1154–1189), the first Plantagenet king, restored order by:
- Expanding territories and reforming the military via scutage (tax instead of service).
- Developing the English legal system through travelling judges and common law.
- Engaging in a famous conflict with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose murder in 1170 made him a martyr.
From the Magna Carta to the Peasants’ Revolt
King John’s heavy taxation provoked a rebellion, leading to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, which limited royal authority. Later, Edward I created the “Model Parliament” in 1295, incorporating nobles, clergy, and common representatives.
The period saw significant shifts:
- Edward III: Initiated the Hundred Years’ War and promoted chivalry.
- Social Unrest: Under Richard II, the Peasants’ Revolt, led by Wat Tyler, highlighted growing social tensions, though it was ultimately suppressed.
Feudal Society
Medieval society was organized into three orders: the nobles (those who fought), the clergy (those who prayed), and the peasants (those who worked). Power was rooted in land ownership and a system of vassalage.
However, this rigid structure weakened in the later Middle Ages due to:
- The Black Death: Reduced the population, creating opportunities for economic advancement.
- Growth of Trade: Merchants accumulated wealth, blurring traditional class boundaries.
Geoffrey Chaucer: Father of English Literature
Born around 1343, Chaucer was a diplomat and government official. Influenced by Dante and Boccaccio, he helped establish English as a major literary language. He is best known for The Canterbury Tales, a vivid portrayal of medieval society.
The Canterbury Tales
This narrative poem follows a group of pilgrims traveling from London to the shrine of Thomas Becket. Key features include:
- Structure: Written in rhyming couplets (iambic pentameter), featuring a General Prologue and twenty-four tales.
- Symbolism: The pilgrimage represents the journey of life, with London as the worldly and Canterbury as the spiritual destination.
- Themes: Social diversity, criticism of Church corruption, the role of women, and the importance of companionship.