Unit 5. The Norman Invasion

William the Conqueror was born in 1028. He was the only (illegitimate) son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, who died, when the boy was seven. (The first years of his reign in Normandy were quite tumultuous, but as he grew older he managed to submit his subjects and establish a firm rule). He made friends with Edward the Confessor when the latter escaped to Normandy during the conflict with Earl Godwin. They say that Edward promised the crown to his younger relative. There is another legend that says that later when Edward reconciled with Harold, William captured Harold and made him swear that he would not claim the throne and instead would help him, William, get it. But Harold was a patriot and in addition to his personal content he did not want to see a foreigner on the throne, so he did not keep his promise.

In October 1066 William of Normandy landed on the Sussex coast with the army of about 8000 people. His army consisted not only of Normans but also of mercenaries, who hoped that the victory would bring them rewards. Harold moved his army to confront William, but the Saxon troops were exhausted as in the North they had to lead a campaign against the Danes. Besides, the Normans were better equipped. The armies met at Hastings on the 14^th of October. The place itself is called BATTLE. The battle of Hastings is one of the greatest battles in English history. Harold was killed on the battlefield and William and the Normans won. On the way to London the Normans plundered the villages and murdered the people they met. At Hasting many most noble people died and in reality there was no real pretender to the throne. The aristocracy yielded and William was crowned on Christmas 1066 in Westminster Abbey and became king William I (Conqueror). Hastings is regarded to be the turning point in the history of the country. Definite classes of society appeared. The native English aristocracy was replaced by French aristocracy. Some time after his coronation he forced the Saxon nobles from their estates and gave them to his Norman supporters. The peasantry was mostly Saxon. On the whole William`s reign, which continued for 21 years was not peaceful. He also brought the real feudal system in its continental form with the weak center and hierarchy of vassals. The country was divided into feudal units which were called manors. The majority of the peasants were linked to their landlords and restricted in their movement. The innovations involved rebellions in 1068 which were cruelly suppressed. William I is famous for his Domesday Book, which appeared in 1086. It was the first census. William died in 1087.

There are also legends about William, e.g. the legend of Archbishop Wulstan, whom he wanted to deprive of his post. The clergyman was appointed by Edward the Confessor and had been the archbishop for 30 years. William decided to put a Norman on his place and demanded that the old man should give back his staff, the symbol of his power. The latter said that he would return the staff only to the man who had given it to him, i.e. the late king Edward. William laughed and the cleric struck the staff on Edward`s tomb. Nobody was able to take it off, even William himself, only Wulstan did it easily. It made everybody believe in Edward`s sanctity and William left Wulstan in his position

I. Read the text, translate it into Russian.

II. Memorize the words, answer the questions:

Unit 6. The First Norman Kings

William had three sons. His elder son Robert inherited Normandy, while his second and favourite son William Rufus became the king of England. There are various ideasof how he got his nickname. He was called Rufus, which means "red" either because of the colour of his hair or his face. He was not popular with his subjects, and he had to fight against his two brothers, Robert of Normandy and Henry, who claimed the throne for themselves. While the elder brothers tried to get the English throne Henry supported each of them in turn. In 1091 they had a truce, Normandy was given to William for much money and Robert set off on a crusade to the Holy Land. The crusade was not a success. William confronted the clergy and claimed his power to be higher than the Pope`s. He took the revenue of the monasteries, that enraged Rome. William died rather mysteriously. He was found dead in the forest. William was possibly killed by the courtier Walter Tirol by name, who is considered to have acted by his brother Henry`s order. The king and the knight went hunting and trying to shoot a deer, Tirol killed William.

In 1100 in England William was succeeded by his brother Henry I, who had to lead the struggle against the third brother, Robert of Normandy. Henry prepared for the war, hiring the services of mercenaries and getting support from the king of Scots whose sister he had married. The final battle took place in Tinchbrai 1106, September, 28. Robert lost the battle and spent the rest of his life in prison. Henry I (1068-1135) was a powerful ruler. He was quite popular with his subjects. In his childhood he was given the nickname "Beau Clerk" (a good scholar) as he was fond of learning. His other nickname, given in his later years was "the Lion of Justice". He reorganized the courts, the duties of the king`s offices were rearranged and a new body of advisers was created. It was called the King`s Court. He restored the property of many of the Saxon nobility, by which he tried to find balance between the old and the new aristocracy and restrain the latter.

Henry had a son and a daughter. His son, Prince William, was drowned in 1120, when the king and his courtiers were returning from France. The king had put a truce with the French king and married the daughter of one of the French noblemen. The prince was sailing on a separate ship, which was called "White Ship". He had an escort of more than 100 men and his half-sister aboard. The ship was driven to cliffs and sank. The prince had a chance to save his life in a small boat, but returned to save his sister and some friends. The boat capsized and all the people died except the captain of the ship and a butcher. The captain committed suicide when he learnt about William`s death, and the butcher was the man whose evidence we know now. They were afraid to inform the king about his heir`s death, finally a little boy was sent to him. The king fainted and though he survived he was said never to smile again.

I. Read the text, translate it into Russian.

II. Memorize the words, answer the questions:

Unit 7. The Anarchy

Henry`s daughter Matilda was married to a Norman aristocrat, Geoffrey Anjou, nicknamed Plantagenet. When his only son died Henry made his courtiers swear their loyalty to Matilda. Matilda was known as a very clever and powerful woman, but the trouble lay in her husband who was a foreigner of Norman origin, and the English did not want to see another Norman claimant to the throne. After the king`s death his nephew Stephen got the throne. Stephen was the son of Henry`s sister, countess of Blois, but he was brought up in England at his uncle`s court. Matilda, sure of her right, started to fight for the throne for herself and her son, whom she wanted to see the king. The civil war, called " Anarchy ", began. Matilda applied to her husband`s relatives in Normandy and her uncle, the king of Scots. In 1138 the famous battle of the Standard took place. The king of Scots was defeated but Matilda`s half-brother Robert of Gloucester came to her assistance. Later she managed to capture Stephen and get the throne, but then lost some battles and retreated to the south. The war finished only in 1153 when by the Treaty of Winchester it was agreed that Stephen would rule the country, but Matilda`s son Henry would be the heir and follow him after his death. It was an easy agreement to carry out, because Stephen`s son had recently died and Henry was the only heir to the throne.

I. Read the text, translate it into Russian.

II. Memorize the words, answer the questions: