Transcript Merovingians, Carolingians, and Anglo

Anglo-Saxons
500-1066
The
Proliferation of
Irish/Celtic
Monasticism
500-800 CE
Cenobitic
Monasticism
included
communal
prayer
The Anglo-Saxons
c. 450-1066
Raedwald
• Anglo-Saxon Warrior King
AngloSaxon
Kingdoms
c. 700
Why were the English
particularly successful at creating
a unified kingdom by 900?
Which factor was most important?
A. Viking invasions
B. Adoption of writing
C. Adoption of sacral kingship
D. Adoption of hierarchical structures
E. Luck of the Irish
Which English ruler figured
prominently in this process?
A. King Egbert in late 700s
B. King Alfred in late 800s
C. King Aethelred in late 900s
D. King Harold Harefoot in 1000s
AngloSaxon
Kingdoms
c. 700
Augustine of
Canterbury
c. 600
Laws of
Aethelberht
c. 600
Germanic Folk
Law
Monastic scribes
Lindisfarne
Gospels
c. 700
Anglo-Saxon
Charter
Synod of Whitby - 664
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Tribal Hidage c. 700-720
Hwinca syfan þusend hyda. 7,000
Ciltern sætna feower þusend hyda. 4,000
Hendrica þryu þusend hyda ond fif hund hyda. 3,500
Unecungaga twelf hund hyda. 1,200
Arosætna syx hund hyda. 600
Færpinga þreo hund hyda. is in Middelenglum Færpinga 300
Bilmiga syx hund hyda. 600
Eastwilla syx hund hyda. 600
Westwilla syx hund hyda. 600
East engle þrittig þusend hida. 30,000
Eastsexena syofon þusend hyda. 7,000
Cantwarena fiftene þusend hyda. 15,000
Suþsexena syufan þusend hyda. 7,000
Westsexena hund þusend hyda. 100,000
Coins of Offa
Alcuin of
York
(735-804)
Carolingian
Manuscript
c. 800
Viking
Invasions
of the
British Isles
Viking Invasion 793-1066
Viking
Conquest of
East Anglia,
Northumbria,
Mercia
during the
860s and 870s
Alfred the
Great
871-899
Alfred
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defeated Vikings
Created burghal structure
Published Laws
Minted Coins
Converted invaders
Translated books
Encouraged learning
Guthrum’s
Peace
c. 886
The Burghal Clusters
Early Shire
Structure
approx. 30
shires. C. 950
Royal Writ
Anglo-Saxon
Charter
Chirograph
The Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest
1066
Britain During
Alfred the Great
Carolingian Revival
• Charlemagne’s collection of scholars
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influence of Alcuin
establishment of schools
preservation of texts
improvement of writing
• Reformation and standardization of Benedictine
Rule
• Resurgent neoplatonism
– John Scotus
– the Pseudo-Dionysius
The Treaty of Verdun (843)
• Division of the Carolingian Empire into
three distinct realms:
– West Francia - modern France
– Lotharingia - modern Holland, Belgium, Italy,
Switzerland
– East Francia - modern Germany, Austria
Holy Roman Empire
• The initial impulse by secular leaders was to be
acclaimed Emperor or King of the Romans, a claim to
assume the mantle of the Roman Emperors
• The term “Holy Roman Empire” was not used until the
12th century and it lasted until the mid-17th century
• Nevertheless from the 9th to the 13th centuries,
Frankish and later Saxon rulers habitually came to
Rome to be crowned King of the Romans by the Pope
• This pilgrimage usually occurred in the early years of a
new leader's accession; it was hoped that the crowning
by the pope would bestow legitimacy
The Holy Roman Empire
• Although both Pippin and his son, Charlemagne,
avoided dependency on the popes, their sons and
grandsons failed to heed their example
• By relying on the popes for the legitimization of their
authority, the Holy Roman Emperors became dependant
on the popes and consequently they sought to install
popes who advanced their cause and the cause of their
dynasty
• This tendency prompted Emperors to appoint their own
popes, who were not recognized by the Roman
Cardinals
• Referred to as anti-popes, these imperial friendly popes
plagued the papacy from the 10th to the 15th centuries
Long-term Trends
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Political unification
Development of Vernacular Literature
Conversion to Christianity
Cultural Fusion
– Germanic & Christian
– Tribal
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Britons
Saxons
Danes
Normans
Anglo-Saxons
• Migrations
– begin from Continent in 5th century
– initiate battles with Britons
• Originally adamant pagans
• Converted through domestic proselytization
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Augustine of Canterbury arrives 597
Ethelbert of Kent and Queen Bertha
Establishment of Roman Christianity in Britain
eventual conflict with Irish Christianity
Christianity and Literacy
• Clerical literati
• Written legal codes
– Ethelbert c. 600
– Alfred c. 900
• Written charters
• Formal wills and writs
The Northumbrian Renaissance
c.625- c.790
• Illuminated Manuscripts
• Intellectual revival
– Bede
– Alcuin
• Conversion
– Mercia
– Continental Saxons, including Frisia
• Composition of Beowulf?
The Venerable
Bede
Alfred the Great (849-99)
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Unification of Southern England
Establishment of Uniform Legal Code
Reinvigoration of Learning
Danish Invasions (793- c.900)
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Danish cultural influence
Establishment of the Danelaw c. 900
Unification of Mercians and West Saxons
Danish rule ends 1042
English Society c. 1066
• Political Unity and Administrative System
• English Identity
– Anglo-Saxon
– Danish/Scandinavian
• Thoroughly Christian
• Uniform Currency
• Established Vernacular Tradition
Summary
• The conquests of the Franks, Anglo-Saxons, and
Normans had an enduring impact on the formation
of the political boundaries of Europe
• Similarly the achievements of the Celtic Church
during its golden age had an enduring impact on
the spread of monasticism and the preservation of
texts throughout Europe; ultimately, however,
Celtic Christianity gradually receded as the papacy
formed an enduring relationship with the Franks