The NormansWith their flying arrows and familiar chain-mail the Normans not only conquered Anglo-Saxon England, but had an impact on the whole of Europe. Beginning as Viking raiders (`Northmen') who settled in Northern France in the late ninth century, this energetic and enterprising race established themselves as far afield as Syria, Italy, Sicily and Ireland in the course of the next three centuries. As a people they not only produced outstanding leaders, but were inspired exponents of all the social, political and cultural movements of their time, from monasticism to feudalism and chivalry, from theology and secular government to architecture. They showed an astonishing capacity for organisation, simultaneously absorbing and transforming the cultures of the peoples they conquered, scattering superb churches and castles in the lands they settled. Professor Allen-Brown tells the fascinating story of the Norman expansion. Fully revised edition. R. ALLEN BROWNwas professor of history at King's College, London, and founder of the annual Battle conference on Anglo-Norman studies. |
Contents
Introduction | 5 |
CHAPTER | 13 |
CHAPTER THREE | 23 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 61 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 93 |
CHAPTER | 131 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 171 |
Sources of Illustrations 183 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abbey abbot aethling Alexius Amatus amongst Anglo-Saxon Apulia aristocracy army Aversa Battle Bayeux Tapestry bishop Bohemond brother Brown Byzantine Byzantium Caen Cahen Calabria Capua castles cathedral chivalry Christian Church Conquest of England Constantinople count Crusade Décarreaux ducal duchy Dudo duke William earl Ecclesiastical History Edward eleventh century Emperor especially Ethelred Fécamp feudal fief Foreville France Frankish Gesta Francorum Greek Harold Hastings Hauteville historians Holy horses Ibid infantry Italy Italy and Sicily Jerusalem king kingdom land Latin least Lombard London lords lordship Medieval Melfi mid-eleventh century military monasticism monks Montecassino Moslem Norman achievement Norman Conquest Norman Empire Norman Italy Norman knights Normanitas numbers Orderic Vitalis Outremer Papacy Patourel pilgrimage political Pope prince of Antioch principality R. H. C. Davis Richard Robert Curthose Robert Guiscard Roger Rome Rouen Runciman Salerno society southern Italy St-Gilles Tancred vassals victory Viking warfare West William of Jumièges William of Poitiers William the Conqueror