The History of English
Ch 5
The Norman conquest and the subjection of
English
As we mentioned before, the
history of English is divided into
3 periods based on
significant
changes in language
:
1.Old English 449-1100
2. Middle English 1100-1500
The beginning and ending dates of the
Middle English period, though somewhat
arbitrary, are two points in time in which
changes in English were particularly
noticeable. It was a transitional period
from
OE
(which was
grammatically
very
different from our English) and early
Modern English
. There are also some key
historical events which happened in these
two dates.
• It is an event that occurred at the end of OE period (the year 1066).
• It had a greater effect on the English language than any other in the course of its history (even more than the Vikings’ invasion) and had changed the whole course of English Language. All subsequent developments in the English monarchy,
government, society and language are colored by it.
• The English language would continue as a pure Germanic language, retain more of its inflection & preserve a
predominantly Germanic vocabulary. It would incorporate from other languages much less freely. It wouldn’t have enormous number of French word if the Norman conquest did not take place. Such enormous words that made English nowadays sound as much a Romance language as a Germanic one.
• It is the last invasion of England.
• The period of Middle English starts with the Norman Invasion.
Place
: Normandy→ a district on the northern coast of France directly across from England (independent from France).Invaders:
Northmen (Norsemen)(Danish from the same origin of the Vikings) who settled in this district in the ninth and tenth centuries. The name Normandy comes from Northmen. Their leader Rollo was the first duke of Normandy and was granted the right to rule Normandy from the French King. He was followed by a succession of masterful dukes who raised the dukedom to a position of great
influence.
Time:
in the 11th centuryOver the following century and a half (after duke Rollo), the dukedom reached a position of great influence, over-shadowing at times the power of the king of France. The
Normans were the most advanced and
progressive people of Europe. They had one of the best armies and legal systems in
Europe. They adopted Christianity and built many recognized Norman Cathedrals.
The adaptability of the Scandinavian, always a marked characteristic of this people,
helped them absorb the French culture quickly. They even gave up their language (Old Norse), and acquired French but with an accent special to them (Norman French). The civilization of Normandy was essentially French, they had close relations with France.
83. The year 1066 (the story of the
invasion)
In 1066, after a reign of 24 years, the English King,
Edward the Confessor
, died childless. Edward
’
s
mother was Norman and he was brought up in
Normandy. A strong French atmosphere pervaded
the English court during his reign. After his death,
England was faced with the problem of selecting a
successor. It was divided into a few large districts,
each under the control of a powerful earl, the most
influential was Godwin, earl of west Saxon, who was
Edward
’
s personal advisor and the virtual ruler of
England in his days. He was succeeded by his son
83. The year 1066 (the story of the
invasion)
William the Conqueror
, duke of Normandy
, was a second
cousin to the late king
“
Edward
”
. Although this
relationship did not give him any right of inheritance to
the English throne, he had been living in expectation of
becoming Edward
’
s successor. Edward seems to have
encouraged him in this hope. He promised William, when
he was in a brief visit, that he should succeed him, and
even made Harold unwillingly to acknowledge this claim.
The English people wanted Harold and felt that they had
enough of French favorites and by the time Edward died
Harold did not feel that he is bound by his former
83. The year 1066 (the story of the
invasion)
William was a powerful, determined, and exceptionally able man. He overcame difficulties ever since he was a child. He left no time in preparation to invade England. He promised his
people of great rewards if he succeeded in ruling England. He came to terms with local enemies and gained the acceptance of the Pope and the blessings of the Church.
Quick overview:
• Edward ( the confessor) was the King of England
• He died childless (with no heirs), and was succeeded by
Harold (the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings).
• William, the duke of Normandy was a second cousin to the late king (Edward). He believed that he had a better claim to the throne. He prepared an army to fight Harold.
• Harold died at the famous Battle of Hastings while fighting against the invading army of William. The English were
defeated.
• William was crowned king of England Dec 1066.
• William spoke French only. As a result, the upper class in England began to speak French while the lower classes spoke English. The Norman French dialect spoken by the invaders developed into Anglo-Norman special dialect of French.
One of the most important consequences of William's victory was the introduction of a new nobility (French nobility in
England). Many of English higher class members had been killed on the field at Hastings. Their important places in the government, the court, church, and other important positions and great estates were filled with William’s Norman followers.
The Old English nobility was practically wiped out. For several generations after the Conquest, the important positions and the great estates were almost always held by Normans. This also applies to the council of London. French became the
language of law, administration, literature and government.
Merchants and craftsmen from Normandy seemed to settle in England in considerable numbers. There was a French town beside the English one at Norwich and at Nottingham, and a French street in Southampton.
The new ruling class were sufficiently predominant to continue to use their own language, since they know no English. For 200 years after the Norman conquest, French remained the language of ordinary intercourse among the upper classes in England.
At first, those who spoke French were those of Norman origin, but soon through intermarriage and association with the
ruling class, numerous people of England felt the need to
learn French (to associate themselves with the higher classes and to rise in the social ladder). It was a mark of social
distinction.
The languages of the masses and lower classes remained English. Only if French leaders needed to interact with lower classes would they learn English.
English was considered the uncultivated tongue, the language of a socially inferior class. It was even a disgrace to be called an Englishman. Although there might be some resentment among the conquered English people towards the conquerors and their language, mutual respect and peaceful cooperation did take place. The attitude of the king and the upper classes toward the English language may be characterized as one of simple indifference.
With time, people in England accepted the fact of the Norman settlement and adjusted themselves to it. The fusion of the Normans and the English was rapid. This is clear from a variety of evidences such as the intermarriage of the Norman to
English women and the way the English people gave support to their Norman rulers. The two nations have become so
mixed.
• Since English was the language of the greater part of the population, it was likely that many of the upper class were familiar with English.
• By the end of the 12th century, English was not unusual among member of the highest class.
• English language was spreading among churchmen, bishops, and men of education.
• Men of lower rank, whose position brought them into contact with both the upper class and lower class, spoke both languages.
• Equally, French was found somewhat farther down the social class even if their mother tongue was English . i.e among the knightly and merchants.
• Thus, in the year 1204, the period preceding the lose of Normandy, there were a considerable number of
French/English bilinguals.