Middle English 1066 1485 Middle English period begins

Middle English 1066 -1485

Middle English period begins in 1066 after the Norman invasion v. Influx of French language v. French is now the language of government and rich (aristocracy). English is pushed to peasants v. Latin is the language of the church

Middle English Flashback to Anglo-Saxons The king suddenly dies, but who will have throne? v. William from Normandy invades and wins the crown But who will rule England after William dies? (Hint: A lot of people, mostly because of upheavals and murdering)

Middle English List of rulers after William: üWilliam II üHenry I üStephen üHenry II üRichard I (Richard the Lion-Hearted) ü John (think Robin Hood!) Magna Carta üHenry III üEdward I 1272 (proclaimed himself king of Scotland, but not for long…the Scots claimed their independence in the Battle of Bannockburn 1314) üEdward III 1327 (Hundred Years’ War began) ü Great advances in literature and education during The Hundred Years’ War: ü English poetry became important for the first time ü Geoffrey Chaucer/ William Langland

Middle English Even more: üRichard II 1377 (Peasant’s Revolt) üHenry IV üHenry V 1413 19 Rulers in about 400 years! * This means a new ruler almost every 20 years. üHenry VI 1422 (House of Lancaster) ü Nobles from the House of York wanted to overthrow him. ü Resulted in The Wars of the Roses. üEdward IV (York - 1461) üHenry VI (Lancaster -1470) üEdward IV (York -1471) üEdward V üRichard III (self-proclaimed king) 1483 -1485 üMiddle English Period ends in 1485, with the ascension of Henry VII to the throne of England, thereby ending The Wars of the Roses.

Middle English The government becomes a feudal system A feudal society is a world where oaths and obligations, vows and promises, and established expectations and customs provide the only stability possible. Loyalty to others and fulfilling one's oaths are the most important values in a feudal society. If these ties break down - then anarchy is possible.