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Chapter 69: A Norse Conquest of England
Hello folks, I am back and have decided to finish off Europe.
Between the Alps and the Rhone is the Kingdom of Two Burgundies. Relatively distinct are the regions of Provence, known for its lavender and pleasant weather, and the highland region of Savoy.
Continuing with Aquitain, this feudal kingdom can be localized between the rivers of Loire and Rhone, and the Pyrennees. With its capital at Tolosa, the realm remains however fractured between powerful vassals, who will soon break free. Powerful duchies emerge, such as that of Gascony, Septimania/Gothia. These dukes are very powerful contenders of royal power, and Aquitain royal control barely extends into these semi-independent duchies.
While the dukes are a very important element in the society of Aquitain, so is the Church and especially the cities. The old Roman network of cities was preserved, and many grew as they became seats of ecclesiastical or feudal power. The urban culture was especially strong on the Septimanian (1) coast, from Tolosa to Marselha (2). In the case of Montpelier, the citizens got control of its surroundings rather than any lesser vassal of the Marchwarden of Septimania. In other cases, such as Auch, parts of the country were given to the Church (as part of the policy to weaken down the extensive power of the vassal dukes). All in all, however, the Church was relatively weak in power and influence in Aquitain, in comparison to other neighbouring realms.
Linguistically, Aquitain was almost exclusively Romance-speaking, with Occitan/ Lengadocien being the form spoken in Tolosa; the rival Gascon variety was spoken in Bordeu and along the Atlantic coast; and Taraconese was spoken beyond the Pyrenees. Furthermore, Pointevin, a form of the Oïl languages was spoken in the region of Poitou to the south of the Loire Delta. Aquitain had also two non-Romance languages within its borders: the Basques in southern Gascony and the Arverns in the highlands of the Massif Central.
The peninsula of Armorica was home to another Celtic nation, the Bretons. Brittany preserved its independence, as a Duchy outside of the suzerainty of Neustrian kings. Bretons sought to push further eastwards, to encompass not only Cotentin, but also Calvados and on the Loire valley into Anjou and Maine.
The kingdom of Neustria (Neûtrie) is now based around the city of Paris, and extends between the Loire and the Meuse. In comparison to its southern neighbour, Neustria features much stronger Germanic influence and is a much more rural and agrarian country. This translates into a stronger influence of the church and nobles, and less liberties of the few free cities there exist in Neustria. As for Normandy, the Viking chieftains have been turned into Dukes and reign over their own small duchy to the east of the Seine estuary. Similar to the south, also in the north, royal power was checked by the authority of the Dukes of Normandy, Anjou, Burgundy, Flanders and Vermandois.
Reims, not France was the coronation city of the Neustrian kings, due to it being the see of the primate of Gallia Belgica; the most senior archbishop of the kingdom; and the archbishop was landed with the surrounding county.
Flanders was culturally distinct from the rest of the kingdom, speaking a Germanic variety (Flemish) and was highly prosperous due to its textile industry and linen and wool trade; the city of Ghent became a city-state.
Across the Channel, we arrive to the British Isles. The kingdom of England, was briegfly incorporated by the Danish Cnut into his North Sea Empire, encompassing also Denmark and Norway; however, the Danish rule was interrupted by the house of Godwinson; after the death of Edward the Confessor, the Norwegian Harald Hardrada lay claim to the English crown.
Due to a weakened England in general, the Norwegians were able to win the Battle at Stamford Bridge (3). The new Norse victors move the capital to Jorvik (4), which now speaks a North Germanic variety called Jorvikish.
Resistance to the Norse conquest was particularly strong in Wessex and Mercia, where it was aided by Welsh and Cornish allies. Along the frontier, a handful of counties remained independent.
These western fringes of the British Isles remain as they were, without any major changes, save for perhaps some regroupings of the petty kingdoms in Wales. The most important of them were Deheurbath and Gwynedd.
The northern part of the British Isles remains also disunited; the Welsh kingdom of Strathclyde encompassing Cumbria and Galloway as well, while Scotland being the major contender in Lothian, Fife, but also pushing into Northumberland. The region of Inverness is still held by the Dukes of Moray, while the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetlands are controlled by the Earldom of the Isles.
In linguistic terms, the regions to the south of the Firth of Forth – Lothian and Northumbria- spoke Anglish, while the lands further north spoke Gaelic. Furthermore, Cumbric, a relative of Welsh could be heard especially in the mountains of Cumbria but also in the rest of Strathclyde, where it was however being gradually displaced by Gaelic.
The Scottish monarchs were feeling increasingly uneasy of the Norsemen neighbours from all sides: to the west was the Lordship of the Isles, while to the south was Viking England. The scots welcomed Anglic refugees fleeing from Viking yoke; these farmers and townsfolk were settled predominantly in Lothian.
Scottish society at this time was predominantly rural, with now towns or cities, just oppida, which were seats of powerful clan chiefs. Those chiefs enjoyed a relatively high authority and autonomy from royal control.
Ultimately, Ireland remains as well disunited into a handful of quarrelling petty kingdoms, such as Leinster, Munster, Connaught, Aileach, Ulster, Argiall and Mide. Norse settlement of Ireland takes the form of the establishment of cities such as Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Cork, which become major centres of trade in Ireland.
View attachment 498973
Languages of western Europe. notice surviving Celts in Auvergne and surviving Britano-Romans in the Severn area.
View attachment 498974
A political map of western Europe. Notice the fragmented left coast of Britain
View attachment 498975
Forms of government in western Europe. Mostly feudal.
(1) Also known as Lengadoc (Languedoc) together with Catalonia.
(2) Provensal for Marseilles
(3) Thus we have a Norwegian, not a Norman conquest of England. As a result, English (or Anglish) is a much more Germanic tongue, with much less French and Latin borrowings, yet a more Scnadinavian influence.
(4) York
Between the Alps and the Rhone is the Kingdom of Two Burgundies. Relatively distinct are the regions of Provence, known for its lavender and pleasant weather, and the highland region of Savoy.
Continuing with Aquitain, this feudal kingdom can be localized between the rivers of Loire and Rhone, and the Pyrennees. With its capital at Tolosa, the realm remains however fractured between powerful vassals, who will soon break free. Powerful duchies emerge, such as that of Gascony, Septimania/Gothia. These dukes are very powerful contenders of royal power, and Aquitain royal control barely extends into these semi-independent duchies.
While the dukes are a very important element in the society of Aquitain, so is the Church and especially the cities. The old Roman network of cities was preserved, and many grew as they became seats of ecclesiastical or feudal power. The urban culture was especially strong on the Septimanian (1) coast, from Tolosa to Marselha (2). In the case of Montpelier, the citizens got control of its surroundings rather than any lesser vassal of the Marchwarden of Septimania. In other cases, such as Auch, parts of the country were given to the Church (as part of the policy to weaken down the extensive power of the vassal dukes). All in all, however, the Church was relatively weak in power and influence in Aquitain, in comparison to other neighbouring realms.
Linguistically, Aquitain was almost exclusively Romance-speaking, with Occitan/ Lengadocien being the form spoken in Tolosa; the rival Gascon variety was spoken in Bordeu and along the Atlantic coast; and Taraconese was spoken beyond the Pyrenees. Furthermore, Pointevin, a form of the Oïl languages was spoken in the region of Poitou to the south of the Loire Delta. Aquitain had also two non-Romance languages within its borders: the Basques in southern Gascony and the Arverns in the highlands of the Massif Central.
The peninsula of Armorica was home to another Celtic nation, the Bretons. Brittany preserved its independence, as a Duchy outside of the suzerainty of Neustrian kings. Bretons sought to push further eastwards, to encompass not only Cotentin, but also Calvados and on the Loire valley into Anjou and Maine.
The kingdom of Neustria (Neûtrie) is now based around the city of Paris, and extends between the Loire and the Meuse. In comparison to its southern neighbour, Neustria features much stronger Germanic influence and is a much more rural and agrarian country. This translates into a stronger influence of the church and nobles, and less liberties of the few free cities there exist in Neustria. As for Normandy, the Viking chieftains have been turned into Dukes and reign over their own small duchy to the east of the Seine estuary. Similar to the south, also in the north, royal power was checked by the authority of the Dukes of Normandy, Anjou, Burgundy, Flanders and Vermandois.
Reims, not France was the coronation city of the Neustrian kings, due to it being the see of the primate of Gallia Belgica; the most senior archbishop of the kingdom; and the archbishop was landed with the surrounding county.
Flanders was culturally distinct from the rest of the kingdom, speaking a Germanic variety (Flemish) and was highly prosperous due to its textile industry and linen and wool trade; the city of Ghent became a city-state.
Across the Channel, we arrive to the British Isles. The kingdom of England, was briegfly incorporated by the Danish Cnut into his North Sea Empire, encompassing also Denmark and Norway; however, the Danish rule was interrupted by the house of Godwinson; after the death of Edward the Confessor, the Norwegian Harald Hardrada lay claim to the English crown.
Due to a weakened England in general, the Norwegians were able to win the Battle at Stamford Bridge (3). The new Norse victors move the capital to Jorvik (4), which now speaks a North Germanic variety called Jorvikish.
Resistance to the Norse conquest was particularly strong in Wessex and Mercia, where it was aided by Welsh and Cornish allies. Along the frontier, a handful of counties remained independent.
These western fringes of the British Isles remain as they were, without any major changes, save for perhaps some regroupings of the petty kingdoms in Wales. The most important of them were Deheurbath and Gwynedd.
The northern part of the British Isles remains also disunited; the Welsh kingdom of Strathclyde encompassing Cumbria and Galloway as well, while Scotland being the major contender in Lothian, Fife, but also pushing into Northumberland. The region of Inverness is still held by the Dukes of Moray, while the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetlands are controlled by the Earldom of the Isles.
In linguistic terms, the regions to the south of the Firth of Forth – Lothian and Northumbria- spoke Anglish, while the lands further north spoke Gaelic. Furthermore, Cumbric, a relative of Welsh could be heard especially in the mountains of Cumbria but also in the rest of Strathclyde, where it was however being gradually displaced by Gaelic.
The Scottish monarchs were feeling increasingly uneasy of the Norsemen neighbours from all sides: to the west was the Lordship of the Isles, while to the south was Viking England. The scots welcomed Anglic refugees fleeing from Viking yoke; these farmers and townsfolk were settled predominantly in Lothian.
Scottish society at this time was predominantly rural, with now towns or cities, just oppida, which were seats of powerful clan chiefs. Those chiefs enjoyed a relatively high authority and autonomy from royal control.
Ultimately, Ireland remains as well disunited into a handful of quarrelling petty kingdoms, such as Leinster, Munster, Connaught, Aileach, Ulster, Argiall and Mide. Norse settlement of Ireland takes the form of the establishment of cities such as Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Cork, which become major centres of trade in Ireland.
View attachment 498973
Languages of western Europe. notice surviving Celts in Auvergne and surviving Britano-Romans in the Severn area.
View attachment 498974
A political map of western Europe. Notice the fragmented left coast of Britain
View attachment 498975
Forms of government in western Europe. Mostly feudal.
(1) Also known as Lengadoc (Languedoc) together with Catalonia.
(2) Provensal for Marseilles
(3) Thus we have a Norwegian, not a Norman conquest of England. As a result, English (or Anglish) is a much more Germanic tongue, with much less French and Latin borrowings, yet a more Scnadinavian influence.
(4) York
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.1k