Civilisation Britannique

Chapter 1: The romans and the Anglo-Saxon

I-Roman Britain (55BC – AD 440)

The romans period is a turning point in the Britain history. It's an emergence from
pre-history to history. In contrary of Brits, Ireland and Scotland weren't Roman's
provinces.
Jules Cesar was the first to start the conquest of Britain in 55BC, He led 2
expeditions against the Brits, the success was limited but he started the relation with
the Britains.
Brit started to be the orbit of Rome.
When Jules Cesar died in 44BC the conquest of Brits wasn't a priority.
The Britain conquest really begun with Brutus in 43 and Britains were 4 centuries
under the control of the Romans.

Roman territory went to South Coast (England) to the Islands (Scotland)

Hadrian's wall was built in 122AD and was 122km long with forts along it with
Roman guards to protect the empire It's a defensive fortification and the northern
limit of the Roman Empire.

We can see the influence of the Romans in the names of cities (London)
(Museum of London, history of evolution of London)

During the 2th and 3rd centuries Roman's provinces of Britania enjoys a prosperous
and peaceful period, with turns in development of network of roads. (The Fosse Way
which linked the south to the north) which facilitated the trade and commerce.
The Government in Britannia was roman's governance which had responsibilities
over administration civil and military.

Some areas kept the Celtic language, but Latin became the language of culture and
education. In nowadays we can see the presence and spreads of the Romans in Britt
(Roman's buildings, bath towns)

In the countryside, Celtic traditions and believes resisted and frequently we can see
the fusion between Roman' culture and Celtic' heritage. (Aqua Sulis – bath town)
The RWOL affected cities, especially higher classes. In England today, we can find
Roman's villages.
In the 4th century (410), there is a collapse because new settlers started to arrive
(Germany who are Anglo-Saxon)
In the 3rd century, many Britain's towns were fortified because of the insecurities.

In 416, the East Coast was invaded by Saxon from the North-West of Europe.
In the North, difficulties were increased by the departure of Roman's trips.
Romans' empire declined in the 5th.
Brits suffer from the weakness of Roman's empire and became vulnerable.

In 410, the end of the Roman' occupation. The last roman's coin was made in 407.
The important of the Roman' vestiges are explained by the long occupation (4
centuries).

II – The Anglo-Saxon and christianity

In the middle of the 5th century, Anglo-Saxons arrived and established Kingdoms (see
anglo-saxon kingdoms in the map) Their rules became the most powerful in Europe.

The invasions came from different tribes. Germany and Netherland and were divided
in 2 tribes (Saxon and Angles). They were tempted by the declined of Brit (after the
collapse of the Roman).

In the beginning of the 6th century the pope sent missionaries over to Britain
(especially in Kent) and were warmly welcome by the Anglo-Saxons King
Aethelbert.
He converted to Christianism and it was the beginning of the propagation in England
of the Christianism.
The first archbishop in England was established in the capital of Kent: Canterbury in
the spiritual leader in England (became one of the great pilgrim destinations in
Europe).

The last kingdom to convert to Christ is Mercia (but they were all converted).
English' churches flourished, many monasteries were established, and the English
church started to send missionaries over Europe.
Monasteries made important distributions to scholarship and the art, painted
illustrations, carves,... (The book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book
in Latin, created in Ireland).

By the end of the 8th century, English's churches and Christ were well established.

Following the 2 centuries, monasteries were targeted by the Vikings. (they were easy
to attack and wealthy). It's the beginning of the Vikings invasion in England.

III -The Vikings (8th - 11th )

At the end of the 8th the Vikings attacked the East of England. All were conquered at
the exception of Wessex.

The attacks were intermitted (by boats) and they returned in Scandinavia in winter.
But, in 850, they didn't return for winter and stayed in England and attack 2 major
cities: Canterbury and London.

865: what was called the Great Army (350 boats from the Vikings) is a grand
invasion landed in East Anglia and they stayed there for 13 years. They put an end at
the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

The area where the Vikings settled was known as the Danelaw.
Some words after the Danelaw remains (bread, eye, sky)
The name's end by ''by'' or ''soap'' = Viking's presence.

IV –Alfred the Great, King of Wassex and the reconquest

(849-899)
Alfred the Great was the Wessex' king between 871 to 889.
He became a legend in English' history because he managed to beat the Vikings.

Alfred spent years dealing with Viking invasions. After a decisive victory in the
Battle of Eddington in 878 Alfred made a deal with the Vikings, creating the
Danelaw.
He kept Wessex and gain part of Mercia (West)
Vikings kept East Anglia and East of Mercia.

Alfred the Great built an important naval fleet which led to an important victory in
882 → fist Anglo-Saxon victory over the Vikings and Sea. He built a network of
fortified towns and reorganized the army → useful to fight off a massive invasion
from the Vikings in 892.
The Vikings weren't secure anymore and abandoned England.
He's known for his encouragement of learning; he translated several books from
Latin → Anglo-Saxon. He created schools for the children of nobility.
During his reign: Anglo-Saxon chronicle: → tells the story of Anglo-Sax
→ information for today

Wessex → only king that beat Vikings → the rulers of England.

Winchester → cathedral became capital city of the huge nordest empire.
V- The Danish Rule (990-1042)

New raid of the Vikings in 990 which turned into an invasion.

Danish King became the ruler of England.
Canute ruled over ¼ of England.
England became part of a kingdom including Denmark and Norway.

His rule was made more secure, married to the widow of the last Anglo-Saxon' king
(The king of Denmark) → a way to avoid war.

He established is court in Winchester (important symbol)

Canute rule → peace on English territory
Vikings didn't attack because the King was Scandinavia.
His death in 1035 led to the end of the empire and to the restoration of the Anglo-
Saxon's rule with Edward the Confessor.

VI -Edward the Confessor's rule (1042-1066)

King Harold Godwinson (II) was the last Anglo-Saxons king (He was the half-
brother of Edward the Confessor). Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his
death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, fighting the Norman invaders led
by William the Conqueror.

His accession to the throne marked the end of the Danish Rule.
During this time, Anglo-Saxon society evolve toward the medieval system.

Ireland was not invaded by the Romans, it was not a Roman' province it was
inhabited by the Celtics, divided in 4 kingdoms: Ustler, Leinster, Munster and
Commaught today there are regions.
Christianism in Ireland during 5th and 6th
Patrick converted the Irish, monasteries were built, missionaries were sent.

Vikings led raid in Ireland against monasteries and they settled but not conquered the
Ireland. Viking ports were established at Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and
Limerick, which became the first large towns in Ireland. In 1014 Irish were
victorious over Vikings → end of the Vikings settlements in Ireland.

The Roman's didn't colonize Scotland. They were dominated by the Picks; they were
tribes and fought against the Romans. We don't know much about them their
language was Celtic. Picks may be polygamous and matrilineal (mother blood)
society.

In the 6th immigrants from norden islands settled, in today call Scotland, Picks’
territory → The Dal Riata kingdoms that included parts of western Scotland and
northeastern Ireland.

In 843, The Picks collapsed due to the Vikings attacks and the land became the
kingdom of Alba.

Wales was inhabited by tribes with kingdoms, christ, important monasteries.

Viking's raid → monasteries
was united at the end of the 10th century.
1283 → The Conquest of Wales by Edward I. It resulted in the defeat and annexation
of the Principality of Wales.