Medieval History Medieval History (Unit 8)(Unit 8)

500AD 1500AD

1000AD

Charlemagne

Battle of Hastings

100yrs War

Merovingian Dynasty

I. I. Early French History Early French History (Barbarian period)(Barbarian period)

• Leader that emerges Leader that emerges ClovisClovis (481-511) was very (481-511) was very strong and powerful. He married a princess of strong and powerful. He married a princess of the the BurgundiansBurgundians (she was a Christian)(she was a Christian)

• Now Clovis becomes a Christian (forms close Now Clovis becomes a Christian (forms close association with the association with the PopePope))

• Establishes Paris as the capital, all the rulers that Establishes Paris as the capital, all the rulers that follow him are weak----Son takes overfollow him are weak----Son takes over

a. Franks (Barbarian tribe that invaded Gaul)

b. If they are so weak, how do they last so long?Merovingian kings- 481-751 Known as the “do nothing kings.”Comitatus were the King’s advisors, in exchange for advice they were given food, clothing and shelter.Mayors of the Palace- 3 most important advisors

c. Mayors of the Palace got power hungry

1. Pepin IITired to dominate the other the two &

became so powerful that he made his position hereditary.

2. Charles “the hammer” Martel—son of Pepin II

He was worried about the spread of Islam

Wants the people to fight for him>>gave them land

His army was called “Vassals of the Lord.”

732- defeated the Moslems (people of Islam) at the Battle of Tours

Battle of Tours 732

Tours

3. Pepin the Short (Pepin III) - 741-768, Charles’s son

He asked, “If I am so strong, why am I not king.”He did not want to overthrow because he would lose popularity. He needed a better way. Pope was the only one who could get rid of a king (nicely)Pepin asked the Pope “who should be king”Pope said the person “who maintains peace”Pepin removed the king and placed him in a monastery >Pope needed help- surrounded by the Lombards (It was why he said he could get rid of him)The Pope came to France and officially crowed the King>Pepin defeated the Lombards and took the land around Rome and gave it to the Pope (Papal States- Vatican) Donation of Pepin.

II. II. CarolingianCarolingian DynastyDynastya. Charlemagne or Charles the Great 768-814

Dynasty named after him-Born in the city of Aachen (later named his capital)-Father was Pepin the Short, mother was Bertha of the Big Foot

Pepin divided the kingdom up when he died½ to Charlemagne and ½ to Carloman II (his brother, but he died unexpectedly leaving the

whole kingdom to Charlemagne)-He takes over at the age of 29-Could hardly read, write, but could build an empire-Great military leader and administrator-6ft 4in, bearded and reddish-blond hair

b. Charlemagne Expanded his territory

1. Attacked Lombards in Northern Italy (killed brother’s wife

and children

2. Conquered Saxony (Northern GM) in a religious fight

Pagans v. Christians-if refused Baptism or converted back

were killed. (1/4 wiped out)

3. Southern GM and Southern France

4. Hungary and Yugoslavia (Avars>>relatives of the Huns)

5. Failed in Spain***United most of Western Europe under his reign close to the Pope but Charlemagne was more

powerful.

c. Christmas day-800AD

Charlemagne was a very pious or religious man In 795 the Pope diedNew pope had to be elected & Pope Leo III was

elected (controversial) a lot of people did not support.

He was driven out of Rome and was restored by Charlemagne.

Charlemagne went to Rome for Christmas mass—

800ADPope crowned him emperor-Did Charlemagne

know???? **Charlemagne now known as (Holy) Roman Emperor

But…Implies Pope is more powerful Emperor has spiritual powerStruggle between Church and State that would go on

for centuries

d. Accomplishments of Charlemagne

1. Involved with education (Carolingian Renaissance)

2. Writing (capital letter fancy) lower case letters3. Spread Christianity

4. Built roads and bridges

5. Fairer laws (Before, commit murder-pay the family Now, crime against the state)

6. Missi Domenici: eyes and ears of the king, spies

7. Aachen the new capital

8. Divided kingdom into counties

e. Charlemagne died (Now What?)

Only had one son and he was very religious (had two other sons but they died shortly before Charlemagne’s death)

Louis the Pious 814-840Charlemagne made it very clear that he was going

to take over>Smooth transitionBut>>>Louis had three sons1. Lothair2. Louis the German3. Charles the BaldBefore he died, Louis the Pious divided it up among

his three sons Treaty of Verdun—to prevent any further fighting

Treaty of VerdunTreaty of VerdunLouis the German

Charles the Bald

Lothair

Two younger brothers’ team up against the older and divide up the land formally.Lothair died and overtime this becomes the line or boarder between Germany and France.Lothair’s old territory had very rich land (Iron and Coal) and both sides want it.It became one of the causes of WWI about 1000yrs later—Alsace-Lorraine Emperor fell apart about 30 years Charlemagne’s death

III. III. William the William the ConquerorConqueror

a. Duke of Normandy-Duke William wanted to be king (felt he had a claim through a promise from his cousin (Edward the Confessor)-In order to be king, he needed to get rid of the current king (Harold of Wessex)-Ready with a fleet of 500 large ships loaded with armor, swords, wooden crossbows, and at the last moment- horses

b. Battle of Hastings 9:00am October 14, 1066

At the time of the invasion, King Harold was in Northern England. (just defeated brother & had to fight off an invasion from King of Norway)Heard of the invasion and marched his troops where the two armies met at the Battle of Hastings (town in Southern England).They each had 7-8 thousand men.Harold’s men had swords, spears, and battle-axes

Harold’s men stayed on the top of Senlac Hill. While the arrows were shot Harold’s troops strategy was to interlock their shields for defense.Anglo-Saxon’s (Harold’s) fought on foot.

Word circulates that William’s dead. Some of the Norman’s fled thinking their leader was dead. William stood up & pointed to himself (psyched them up). Norman’s made it through he hill because Harold’s men broke rank and ran after the previously fleeing Norman’s.Harold’s men pursued leaving holes for William’s troops.

To defeat the interlocking shields, they shot their arrows in a high arch. When they went to protect their head, they left their body open. They swept underneath.

Strategy before that was to charge, retreat, and then charge again to break the shields.King Harold was killed in the fighting and his army began to run away.

c. William IHe became the King of England and he was crowned on Christmas day in 1066.There still was unrest for 5 years before he controlled everything completely &most of Harold’s men left the country The Norman knights and lords became the rulers of England.

d. 2 people become 1

Norman’s and the Anglo-Saxons (English) shared one bond: ReligionWilliam got loyal subjects and he did not change English law or government. Problem: Language

Both could not understand each otherNorman’s spoke FrenchAnglo-Saxons spoke Old English/Middle English

In time both languages mixed and became the language that we speak today.

Anglo-Saxons and the Norman’s also married each other and mixed the both cultures. (Children had their bloods mixed)

In the end the Norman’s and the Anglo-Saxons people became one and hey made up the nation that we know today.e. Other Results of William the Conqueror

1. Introduced Feudalism to England2. Domesday Book -1086It was a economic survey. Questions people’s life now and how was there life during Edward the Confessor.It was probably going to be used as information on taxation. 3. Bayeux Tapestry

IV. IV. The 100 Years War & Joan of The 100 Years War & Joan of ArcArc

France vs. England France in a war with England since 1337All the fighting on France soil

a. Conflict started by English

Edward III (English) claimed French crown to protect his land in France. English held all of Northern France (North of the Loire River)War was later known as the 100 years war.

Not continuous fighting –Fight takes a dramatic turn when????King Charles VI or Charles the Mad (insane), left the French crown to an English king (Henry V)

NOT HIS SON (Dauphin—Doe FAA), eldest son of a French King

b. Joan of Arc 1412-1431She came from the dark forest called the Wood of Oaks in a small village called Domremy. She claimed that a great light burst forth in her father’s garden. Saw angels one being the Archangel Michael. He urged her to have greater faith. She kept hearing voices and seeing visions. She was told to help the French Dauphin get restored and save France. God would tell when the time would be right.c. Joan was the Messenger of God16 /17 years old & walked into a French stronghold and told the king that God told her she would get the crown back to the rightful owner (Charles’s son).

d. War rages on Room full of people: Joan went right up to the Dauphin while never seeing him before. She said that her voices told her which one he was.Council was very impressed because she was good looking, healthy, strong, smilingEnglish forces attacked Orleans (major French trading city- that if France lost, the war would be over).Joan convinced the royal palace to let her save Orleans & restore CharlesTwo Goals: -Restore the Dauphin

-Save OrleansGiven a Duke, an army (3-4000 men) and given armor.

e. Joan’s battleJoan led the troops in the Battle of Orleans. People felt that she was sent by God and it gave them hope.

Asked them to surrender and they laughed at surrendering to a girlJoan’s forces eventually won the battle.

After several more battles and victories>> She had the Dauphin crowned and he became known as Charles VII. She restored the monarchy.

f. War not overThere were still troops in Paris and Joan wanted to go but Charles

VII refused. Eventually went but Joan lost her advantage and lost.

She was then was captured by the Burgundians a short time later. They opposed Charles VII.

g. Trial at Rouen For months, Joan was questioned and heckledTold she could not claim she knew God better then the Clergy. She was called a sinner. They wanted to prove that she was a heretic thus having Charles crowned by a heretic.-Would not let her attend mass until she wore women’s clothes she refused, wanted to be treated and dressed like a warrior-They could not prove she was a witch but attacked her for cross-dressing.-Signed a confession and then 3 days missing from the trial records-Dressed like a man again-Felt she was a witch and burned her at the stake-King Charles did not lift a finger to save her

h. War ended 1453War separated forever the ties between France and England& would lead to many more conflicts

Before the war, England and France thought of themselves as near relatives. Now they saw themselves as two separate countries.