The History of the Normans
The Normans were a rugged, war-making people of the early medieval period. They were established as an autonomous duchy in northern France soon after the turn of the 10th century. Roughly 150 years later, a Norman duke known as William the Conqueror successfully invaded Britain -- the last time this would ever happen. Along the way, Norman belligerence would change the way battles were fought. In times of relative peace, their industry and efficiency produced great works of architecture and art that exist to this day.
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Origins
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The Norman people were descendants of ninth and 10th century Viking conquerors who settled in the north of France and interbred with the local Frankish and Gallo-Roman population. Their name, Norman, is believed to derive from either "Northmen" or "Norsemen," indicative of their Viking heritage. In the year 911, the Frankish king offered a region of land in northern France to Vikings in exchange for peace. It was during the reign of the first Norman duke, Rollo, that the territory received the name by which it is still known to this day: Normandy.
Early Conquests
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Like their ancestors, the Normans were seafaring warriors and marauding conquerors. Their first conquests in the southern half of Italy were likely inspired by the stories of pilgrims returning from Jerusalem. Normans held Sicily for about 200 years, until 1194. From there, Norman fighters took positions against Turks and the Byzantine Empire, ultimately capturing parts of Tunisia and Libya. Where the Normans settled, they built large stone castles which, in addition to being impressive architectural feats at the time, served as military strongholds.
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Invasion of Britain
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The most famous of all Norman conquests was of Britain. Just before King Edward the Confessor died in 1066, he passed the British crown to Harold. But William, the duke of Normandy at that time, also had his eyes on the crown and claimed the childless Edward had promised him the throne. Slowly and carefully, William built an armada of ships to sail across the English Channel and prepared the forces of Normandy for a full-scale invasion of the island. He sent emissaries to the pope to ask for blessings because the Holy See had not recognized Harold's coronation. Finally, when Harold was occupied defending against Viking invaders to the north, William launched his ships.
Battle of Hastings
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When the Normans landed on the British shores near Hastings, they brought with them a unique fighting style. Not only was the Norman force a highly organized collection of devoted warriors, they also had the benefit of horses, plus steel weapons and armor. The Britons, though known for their ferocity, fought on foot and depended on their defensive lines to repel enemy attack. On Oct. 14, the two sides met in battle. Though the Britons held against the early charges by the Normans, the mounted knights of Normandy eventually broke through their ranks. King Harold took an arrow to the eye and was killed. The Normans won the battle and in December, on Christmas Day, William the Conqueror was crowned King of England.
Legacy
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Though William himself would soon return to Normandy, the Norman conquest gradually extended northward to Scotland and Ireland. By their custom, they worked more or less in cooperation with the local cultures they subdued. It was this trait that ultimately contributed to their fading as a distinct ethnic group. The Norman duchy was absorbed into the rest of France. Norman culture, however, had a huge impact on medieval Europe, with important developments in architecture, music and visual arts attributed to their influence. The famous Bayeux Tapestry depicts the history of the Norman invasion of Britain on 230 feet of embroidered cloth. The mounted Norman warrior, with his devout Christian faith, was the prototype of the chivalric knights of later eras.
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References
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- Photo Credit The Bayeux Tapestry
