Northmen and the Normans

By John Pennington

Background

Between 750AD and 1100AD the Northmen, Norsemen or Vikings, originating in Denmark, Norway and Sweden were very active over a wide area as pirates, warriors, traders and colonists.

Their good, fast ships enabled long sea voyages and their shallow draught allowed for ease of beaching and travel far inland along rivers.

There was a need for land, especially in Norway, so younger sons and political exiles became mercenary warriors and traders. They travelled to west to Iceland, Greenland, N. America, south- west to Britain and Ireland. They went south to the Mediterranean, Iberia, N. Africa, S. Italy, the Middle East. They went east to Russia, Ukraine, down rivers to the Black Sea and Constantinople, the Caspian Sea and Central Asia.

The Franks called them Northmen or Danes. The Normans were descended from Vikings who were given feudal overlordship in areas of northern France. The Normans were the result of contact with the native Franks. Settlement followed raids on the French coast from about 750. Rollo, their leader , agreed to swear fealty to King Charles III of West Francia (France) in 911 in return for settlement lands, later expanded in 924 and 933. They also agreed to provide protection for France against other Viking raids and any further incursions by themselves  on French territory.

Norman identity then emerged, with a major impact on the political, cultural and military affairs of Europe and Near East.

They became strong exponents of Christian Catholic piety and adopted the Gallo Romanic language, Norman French, still spoken today in the Channel Islands and parts of Normandy. This became an important literary language.

Under Richard I, (942-996) a cohesive and formidable principality was formed, noted for its culture, architecture, music, military accomplishments and innovation.

The Normans founded the Kingdom of Sicily under Roger ll after conquering Southern Italy and Malta from the Saracens and Byzantines.

They conquered England in 1066.

They contributed to the Reconquista of Iberia in the 11 – 13 Centuries. They founded the Principality of Antioch in the Levant together with much of the North African coast and the Canary Islands.

Settling in Normandy.

Initially Norse warbands raiding along the northern French coast and up rivers such as the Seine.

911 Treaty of St Claire-sur- Epte gave lands to the Normans under Rollo (846 – 929) in exchange for fealty to Charles lll and protection from other Viking raids, any further invasion by Rollo of French territory, plus conversion to Christianity. Rollo became first Count of Normandy and Count of Rouen.

Rollo’s settlers included Danes (mostly), Norwegians, Norse Gaels, Orkney Vikings, Swedes and Anglo-Danes. The Normans were the result of Rollo’s men and Frankish women. The Norman language was forged from the native ‘langue d’oil’ into Norman French by the ruling class. Norman rulers were culturally and ethnically distinct from the old French aristocracy of the Carolingian era.

Most Norman knights remained poor and land hungry, leading many to adventures abroad.    Many served as Crusaders under Bohemond l and Richard l the Lionheart.

Normans in Italy

In 999, Normans returning from pilgrimage were in Salerno, Italy, when they were attacked by Saracens, who were repulsed by them. They fought well and were asked to remain, refused, but said they would pass the word to others in Normandy. In 1016 the Normans arrived in southern Italy to evict the Byzantines. They stayed and from 1016 to1024, they established, with local support, the County of Adriano, the first political body of Normans in Italy. Two of the main families were the de Hautevilles and the Drengo, who became Princes of Melfi and Capua.   Later in 1130, they captured Sicily from the Saracens and under Roger ll, they founded a multi-ethnic kingdom with a great deal of religious freedom, with all living in harmony. They built beautiful cathedrals, palaces, churches and public buildings, still famous today.

Normans in Byzantium

The Normans fought for and against the Byzantines, Armenians, Bulgars, Turks and Georgians as mercenaries. They also of course had previously invaded and traded through Russia to Constantinople as the Varangians.  The Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Emperor.

Normans in England

Emma, sister of Duke Richard ll of Normandy (996 – 1027) married King Ethelred ll of England. Ethelred fled to Normandy in 1013 when England was invaded by Sweyn Forkbeard. He stayed in Normandy. His son Edward the Confessor returned to England in 1041, bringing Norman councillors and fighters with him. This set the scene for Duke William’s claim on the English crown. In 1066, the Normans conquered England and replaced the Anglo Saxons as the ruling class. Many Normans had property on both sides of the Channel. However, as Dukes of Normandy they gave allegiance to the King of France.  The language of the ruling classes went from Norman French to Anglo Norman to Anglo Saxon to Middle English to Modern English over time, with an input of Norse and Anglo Norse.

Normans in Ireland

The Normans invaded Ireland in 1169 settling mainly in the East around Dublin and south east. They had a profound effect on the culture and history of Ireland. There are many family names with a Norman origin, like any name beginning with Fitz, Norman for ‘son of’.

Normans in Scotland

The Normans invaded Scotland in 1072. King Malcolm submitted and paid homage to William l. They founded many noble families and Scottish clans. Robert the Bruce was Norman as was the House of Stewart .

Normans in Wales

After 1066, the Welsh Marches were ruled over by Norman lords, but the conquest of Wales took much longer. Many famous castles were built by the Normans to achieve this.

Normans Elsewhere

The Crusades to the Levant, the Reconquista in Iberia, Antioch, Cyprus (Richard the Lionheart). The Canary Islands were conquered by Normans in 1402 from Normandy and Gascony.

Norman Law

Developed from 10 – 13 Century survives today in the Channel Islands.

Norman Architecture

Exists in many countries in the form of castles, churches, cathedrals.

Norman Titles

From 911 – 996, the rulers were Counts of Normandy.

                Rollo 911 – 927

                William l Longsword 927 – 942

                Richard l The Fearless 942 - 996

From 996 to 1204 the rulers were Dukes of Normandy.

                Richard ll The Good 996 – 1027

                Richard lll 1026 – 1027

                Robert l The Magnificent 1027 – 1035

                William ll The Conqueror 1035 – 1087 (William l of England)

                Robert Curthose ll 1087 -1106

                Henry l Beauclerc 1106 – 1135

                Stephen of Blois – 1135 – 1144 (Stephen l of England)

                Geoffrey Plantagenet 1144 – 1150

                Henry ll 1050 – 1189 (Henry ll of England)

                Richard lV Lionheart 1189 – 1199 (Richard 1 of England)

                John l Lackland 1199 – 1216 (John l of England). (Lost mainland Normandy in 1204)

                Henry lll 1216 – 1259 (Henry lll of England). (renounces mainland Normandy in 1259)

In 1204, the French Crown took over Normandy and it became a French Province from 1204 to 1792.

The Channel islands

The title of Duke of Normandy is now held by Queen Elizabeth ll for the Crown owner ship of the Channel islands (not part of the UK).

Annexed by Normandy in 933.

In 1259, when Normandy was lost to the English Crown, they remained, apart from the Causey Islands, which are still part of France. It consists of 365 islands at low tide.

Norman Character

Creative, aggressive, thrusting, dedicated, ambitious and successful. Probably one of the most successful nations/cultures/races ever to exist.

According to Benedictine monk Goffredo Malaterra, who knew them well  in the 11 Century.

‘Specially marked by cunning, despising their own inheritance in hope of winning a greater, eager after both pain and dominion, given to imitation of all kinds, holding a certain mean and lavishness and greediness, that is perhaps uniting, as they certainly did, these two seemingly opposite qualities. Their chief men were specially lavish through their desire of good report. They were, moreover, a race given to flattery, given to the study of eloquence, so that their very boys were orators, a race altogether unbridled unless held firmly held down by the yoke of justice. They were enduring of toil, hunger and cold wherever fortune  laid it on them, given to hawking and hunting, delighting in the pleasure of horses and all the weapons and garb of war.’