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Unit 2: How did medieval monarchs keep control?



THIS IS THE GREAT CHANNEL FIVE SERIES kings and queens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZHen6A_rrw

Mediaeval quizzery


Let’s begin with something easy: mediaeval concentration.

Here's a hard general knowledge quiz on the Middle Ages.

And this one is about heraldry.

Now the serious business.
Choose from this site one of the following topics:

Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
Norman Conquest
England
Matilda
Henry II of England
Eleanor of Aquitaine
King John
Magna Carta
Caeptians

and become an expert on it.

1. How did William of Normandy grasp control of England?



Review the first day's lesson about the Norman Conquest:
* think hard about the Vikings;
* their origin in the freezing far north of Europe (this satellite image is from the middle of March - springtime!);
* their astonishing expansion over expansion;
* their half-French creation, the Duchy of Normandy;
* the career of William the Bastard, later to be William the Conqueror.
* Review the events of 1066: the death of King Edward the Confessor of England, the election of Harold Godwinson, the invasion of the north of England by Harald III of Norway; the English victory in the north; the Norman landing and the battle of Hastings.
* Here's a reeactment of the Battle of Hastings; and an animated version of the Bayeux Tapestry, which the Normans had woven to celebrate their victory.
* The battle is discussed by one of our greatest living historians, Sir David Starkey.


7. Controlling the succession: could women rule?

Study this contemporary account of the Battle of Lincoln (1141), when King Stephen was captured by the forces of his cousin Matilda:
Then might you have seen a dreadful aspect of battle, on every quarter around the king’s troop fire flashing from the meeting of swords and helmets - a dreadful crash, a terrific clamour - at which the hills re-echoed, the city walls resounded. With horses spurred on, they charged the king’s troop, slew some, wounded others, and dragging some away, made them prisoners. No rest, no breathing time was granted them, except in the quarter where stood that most valiant king, as the foe dreaded the incomparable force of his blows. The Earl of Chester, on perceiving this, envying the king his glory, rushed upon him with all the weight of his armed men. Then was seen the might of the king, equal to a thunderbolt, slaying some with his immense battle-axe, and striking others down. Then arose the shouts afresh, all rushing against him and him against all. At length through the number of the blows, the king’s battle-axe was broken asunder. Instantly, with his right hand, drawing his sword, well worthy of a king, he marvellously waged the combat, until the sword as well was broken asunder. On seeing this William Kahamnes, a most powerful knight, rushed upon the king, and seizing him by the helmet, cried with a loud voice, ‘Hither, all of you come hither! I have taken the king!’


Here is a televison epic about the wars of Stephen and Matilda, Pillars of the Earth (and 2 and 3).




Becket
3 3













SECTIONS


2. How did William the Conqueror secure control of England?


3. How successful were Anglo-Norman monarchs at extending their boundaries?


4. How did monarchs use law and order as instruments of control?


5. Church or state: who was in control?


6. What happened when monarchs lost control?



8. What challenges did medieval monarchs face? What qualities did they need to be successful?




THE TROUBLED FAMILY LIFE OF HENRY II

The Lion in Winter Anthony Harvey's 1968 film of James Goldman's 1966 Broadway play:
prelude, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII and XIV.







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