The Anglo-Norman Age: Important Features and Political History
The Anglo-Norman period of English literature spans the 12th and 13th centuries. It begins around the time of the Norman conquest of England. At the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Anglo-Normans from Normandy (France) defeated the Anglo-Saxon king and conquered England. This period was important because it was when the French and English languages were mixed.
The conquest had three important literary effects:
1. The Normans were the first to bring the culture and practical ideas of Roman civilization to the English people. During this time, England was at its best, while her own literature and culture were already starting to fall apart.
2. They got rid of the Saxon king's loose control over his tribesmen and gave them a government that was more nationalist and civilized.
3. They brought to England the wealth of a new language and literature English people absorb both language and literature.
Literature of the Norman period:
An outstanding picture of the literature of the Norman period is available in a manuscript in the advocate's library of Edinburgh. At that time, literature was at the hands of the nobles of Saint Clergymen. The common people were illiterate and were aware of pure songs and ballads.
Holinshed's Chronicles and the Anglo-Norman age:
As the title suggests, the Anglo-Norman age was a time of great importance in English history. One of the most important sources of information about this period is Holinshed's Chronicles, which were written in the 16th century.
The Chronicles provide a detailed account of the political history of the time, as well as important features such as the Battle of Hastings and the coronation of William the Conqueror. They also give an insight into everyday life in England during the Anglo-Norman period.
The Anglo-Norman age was a time of great change in England. The Normans introduced many new customs and institutions, which profoundly affected English society. The Chronicles provide a valuable record of these changes and are an essential source for anyone interested in this period of history.
Important Features of the Anglo-Norman Age:
Feudalism in the Anglo-Norman period:
One of the most important changes during the Anglo-Norman Age was the introduction of feudalism. Under this system, the king owned all the land, and it was given to nobles in exchange for their loyalty and service. This system gave rise to a powerful nobility that had great influence over the king.
2. The expansion of the English economy in the Anglo-Norman period:
Another important change during this period was the expansion of the English economy. The Normans introduced new crops and animals to England, which helped to increase agricultural production. They also encouraged trade and commerce, which led to the growth of towns and cities.
3. Christianization, or religious transformation:
The Anglo-Norman Age was also a time of great religious change. The Normans brought Christianity to England and established new monasteries and churches. They also banned many traditional pagan practices.
4. Political developments
The struggle between the king and his powerful earls impacted political developments during this time. This led to the Anarchy, or civil war, during the reign of King Stephen (1135–54). But by the end of the 12th century, new ideas like royal justice and taxes had greatly increased the power of the king.
5. Introduction of New Laws:
The Normans also introduced new laws and institutions, such as trial by jury, which helped to create a more stable and orderly society. They also built castles all over England to help defend the country against invaders. The Normans were a very powerful force in England and their presence was felt for many centuries after they first arrived.
Historical Figures and Events
The Anglo-Norman period was a time of great political and social upheaval in England. Important figures such as William the Conqueror and King Henry II had a profound impact on the country, while significant events like the Battle of Hastings changed the course of English history. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most important people and events of the Anglo-Norman age.
1. William the Conqueror: William the Conqueror was the Duke of Normandy who invaded England in 1066 and defeated the Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, at the Battle of Hastings. He then became the first Norman king of England, ruling from 1066 until he died in 1087. People remember William as a great leader and warrior who helped change the course of English history.
2. King Henry II: King Henry II succeeded his father, William the Conqueror, as king of England in 1154. He ruled for 35 years and was one of the most powerful monarchs of his time. Henry is best known for his conflict with Thomas Becket, which ended with Becket's murder in 1170. He also played a key role in establishing the English Common Law system.
The French influence on the English language:
Anglo-French was refined as the elite's literary language after the French conquest. There was a significant influx of French vocabulary into English. Vocabulary and pronunciation are both influenced by French. The affluent began using it as their everyday language. The English written by the lower classes was either crude or just instructional.
The French influence on literature:
The Anglo-Norman age is characterized by a flourishing of literature in the vernacular language. There are many different kinds of writing in this literature, such as romances, lyric poetry, writing about history, and religious writing.
Some of the most important authors of the Anglo-Norman period include Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, and John Gower. Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is perhaps the most famous work of the period and is a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket. Langland's Piers Plowman is a long poem that tackles a variety of social and religious issues, while Gower's Confessio Amantis is a lengthy poem about love.
A significant amount of Latin literature was also produced during the Anglo-Norman period. Many works were translations or adaptations of French or other vernacular works, but there were also original works written in Latin.
Important writers
1. Geoffrey of Monmouth (1154)
He is a monk from Wales. He wrote “Toria Regum Britanniae”. Many later writers were influenced by the literary material in this book. Through writing stories of legends, he completed the history of Britain. He exposed all details of Brutus, the alleged founder of Britain, to the coming of Caesar. From this, Geoffrey's Voyage History, down to the Death of Cadwallader in 689.
2. Layamon’s Brut:
Lemon was a priest. The Brut is also known as the Chronicle of Britain. It is the first historiography written in English since the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.
3. Metrical Romances
Three elements of romance are love, chivalry, and religion. These elements found their roots in the metrical composition of Anglo-Norman literature. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are England's greatest metrical romance heroes. It is an interesting combination of French and Saxon elements. It has a dramatic interest, vivid description, and moral purity.
4. The Pearl Poet
Scholars call the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight "Gawain-Poet." Some historians call him the Pearl-Poet for the poem "Pearl." The Gawain-Poet reportedly wrote "Cleanness," "Patience," and "St. Erkenwald." This poet, a contemporary of Chaucer, who brought rhyme to English poetry, was part of the Alliterative Revival, writing in a style using alliteration.
• Patience: It is a paraphrase of the Book of Jonah (a book in Christianity).
• Cleanness: it is a paraphrase of Biblical stories.
• The Pearl: It is a story of a father’s grief for his little daughter.
Conclusion:
In the beginning, the Normas were a tough race of sea rovers who lived in Scandinavia. In the tenth century, they were successful in their conquest of a region in northern France that is today known as Normandy, and as a result, they quickly acquired French culture as well as the French language. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked the beginning of the Norman conquest of Anglo-Saxon England, which was led by William, Duke of Normandy. In stark contrast to the gravity and levity of Anglo-Saxon poetry, the literature they brought to England is characterized by rosy, sentimental accounts of love and daring deeds, making it stand out as particularly noteworthy. The Normans and the Saxons eventually became one people. The most important things that came out of the conquest were bringing Roman culture to England, giving the area a new sense of national identity, and making new forms of written and spoken language.
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