View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Liverpool Repository The Battle of the Standard (1138): A benchmark of Norman and English assimilation. 200763510_Oct2017 Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Master of Philosophy. Ronald Richard Greenwald 10-05-2017 1 2 ABSTRACT This dissertation will explore the social science construct of assimilation between the Norman English and the English two generations after the conquest of England in 1066. The Normans English shall be identified as the descendants of Continentals that either fought alongside Duke William at the battle of Hastings or followed shortly thereafter. The English shall be identified as the descendants of the subjects of Edward the Confessor. This thesis is about perceptions. Many people can perceive the same man very differently. He may be an uncle, son, or brother. He might be a member of a gens, which has more than one nationality, religion, language or set of mores. This thesis examines the relationship between two gentes that shared a nationality, a government, a language, a religion and the holy relics of indigenous saints. Yet, they were separated by the perception that they were different. This thesis examines this perception of differences with medieval charters and poems and the work of historians: medieval, nineteenth century, and modern. The battle of the Standard (1138) shall be used as a benchmark to assess the degree of assimilation between the Normans and English. Seventy-two years after the Norman Conquest, this battle took place at Northallerton between the forces of the Scottish King David and a disparate coalition of Yorkshire noblemen of Continental descent, Flemish mercenaries, English and Anglo-Scandinavian parish fyrds and a small contingent sent by a distant king occupied in an internecine war of succession. By this time the bilingual Norman English had co-opted an English identity, yet were still proud of their Norman heritage. In the next fifteen years, two of the chroniclers, Henry of Huntingdon and Ailred of Rievaulx, writing about the battle, stripped these 3 Norman Englishmen of their patina of Englishness and extolled their Norman exclusivity and superiority. In recent decades, the idea has been established that chroniclers attempted to create a single gens in England during the 1120s. Historians have theorised that medieval clerics used the term ‘barbarians’ for the Christian Welsh, Scots and Irish to create an ‘otherness’, which fulfilled the assimilation of the Normans and English. This thesis shall refute this argument. 4 Nancy, my love i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation could not have succeeded without the guidance of Clare. Dr. Clare Downham, senior lecturer at the Institute for Irish Studies, University of Liverpool, is my senior supervisor and my enthusiastic mentor. I would not be here without her. This dissertation would also not have been possible without my muse, Dr. Patricia de Leeuw, Vice Provost for Faculty at Boston College, who inspired me. This year Pat stepped up and became my second supervisor. I am very proud to say I have two strong women guiding me. There are so many people I need to thank. My family and friends will be pleasantly surprised when they learn of my accomplishment, and I must thank them for all their support. This dissertation could not have been written save for my students at Mount Ida College who allowed me to vent for many years. Academia is different than many professions. I had full professors answer my questions, critique chapters and encourage me. Most of these men and women I either met once at a conference or never met at all. So, I want to thank: Stephanie Christelow; Mary Dockray-Miller; John Gillingham; Graham Loud; Keith Stringer; Fiona Edmonds; Sally Shockro; Matthew Hammond; Hugh Thomas; Judith Green; Emily Albu; Charlotte Newman; Robin Fleming; Paul Hayward; and Loring Danforth. I must thank some phenomenal librarians at O’Neill Library, and at the Theology and Ministry Library, Boston College. And thank you to the librarians at Mugar Library, the Law Library and the School of Theology Library at Boston University; Goldfrab Library, Brandeis University; Queen’s Mother’s Library, University of Aberdeen; Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool, and Clapp Library, Wellesley College. ii I would not be here without the total love of two very special ladies, the diva, Nala and little Miss Cassandra. I also need to thank my four very special students who are far more than students but an integral part of my life: Jessy; Antwan; Kristin; and Nicole. I also need to mention Steve Li who would be very upset if he was ignored. This is for Nancy, my wife of thirty-nine years. She loves me more than I know and certainly far more than I deserve. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Table of Contents iv Abbreviations vii Notes on Terminology 1 INTRODUCTION 2 BARBARIANS 3 The Definition of ‘Barbarians’ 3 ‘Barbarian’ Acculturation 4 Ethnogenesis 6 The Traditionskern school 8 GENS 9 Evolving Definition of Gens 9 Expanding Definition of Gens 11 Evolving Characteristics of Gens 11 Organisation of the Gens 14 Gens, Exercitus, and Regnum 15 ACCULTURATION AND ASSIMILATION 17 Acculturation 18 Examples of Acculturation and Assimilation in Medieval England 20 Assimilation 21 Conclusion to the Introduction 23 iv CHAPTER ONE; THE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF ENGLISH ANS NORMAN ENGLISH ASSIMILATION 25 Introduction 25 Assimilation and Acculturation: pre-20th century national historians 27 Assimilation and Acculturation: Nineteenth Century Yorkshire 30 Historians Assimilation and Acculturation: 20th century perspectives 33 ‘The Gillingham thesis’ 37 Civilizing the English 39 The ‘Barbarian fringe’ 42 Ethnic Hatred of the Scots 44 Northern England or Southern Scotland? 48 Institutions 50 The Aristocracy 51 The Monarchy 53 The Church 56 Laws 61 Intermarriage 65 Language 69 The Problems with Nomenclature-what is Gens and what is Natio? 72 Conclusion to Chapter One 73 CHAPTER TWO: THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD 77 Introduction 77 BACKGROUND 79 David’s Motives 86 The Scottish Army 91 The ‘Southern’ Army 97 Southern Commander 101 Battle Order 103 Religious Overtones 106 Negotiations 114 BATTLE ORATIONS 119 John Bliese 125 ‘Show Bravery, Win Honour’ 128 ‘Our Cause is Just’ 129 ‘God Will Help Us’ 130 ‘We Have Some Military Advantage’ 131 ‘You Should Not Try to Flee 132 ‘Defend Yourself, Family, and Country’ 132 ‘Reminder of Victory’ 134 v ‘Vengeance’ 135 ‘Remember our Nation’s Reputation’ 136 ‘A Small Force Can Beat a Larger One’ 136 ‘Promise Eternal Rewards of Martyrdom’ 137 Conclusion to the Battle Orations 138 THE BATTLE OF THE STANDFARD 140 The Initial Charge 141 The Response 145 Earl Henry’s Charge 147 The Outcome of the Battle 150 Conclusion to the Battle 152 Conclusion to Chapter Two 154 CHAPTER THREE; MEDIEVAL SOURCES THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD 159 PART ONE; THE MINOR SOURCES 160 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles (E) (1-1154) 164 Chronicon ex Chronicis 164 Vita Thrustani Archiepiscopo Auctore Anonymo 165 William of Newburgh, Historia Anglorum 167 Annales of Dunstaplia 168 Annales Monasterii de Osnei 168 Chronicon Vulgo Dictum Chronicon Wykes 169 Annales de Theokesberia 170 Annales Monasterii de Waverleia 171 Gervase of Canterbury, Chronica 172 MINOR NON-ENGLISH SOURCES 173 Orderic Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica 173 Chronicon Sanctae Crucis and Chronicon Anglo-Scotticum 175 The Chronicle of Melrose 176 Robert de Torigni, Chronicon 177 Annales de Monte Fernandi 178 Chronica Regum Manniæ et Insularum 178 Conclusion to Minor Sources 179 PART TWO; THE MAJOR SOURCES 180 Introduction 180 Richard, Prior of Hexham, Historia de gestis regis Stephani de bello de standardii 181 John, Prior of Hexham, History of the Church of Hexham 183 Ailred of Rievaulx, Relatio de Standardo 186 Henry of Huntingdon, Historia Anglorum 192 vi Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene 195 Rogeri de Wendover Chronica sive Flores Historiarum 198 Matthew Paris, Chronica Majora 200 Matthew Paris and Roger of Wendover 202 Proceres Angliae 203 Incipit Descriptio Serlonis Monachi 204 William of Malmesbury 207 Conclusion to the Major Sources 210 THE CONCLUSION 212 APPENDICES 226 BIBLIOGRAPHY 243 ABBREVIATIONS ANS Anglo-Norman Studies: Proceedings of the Battle Conference AR Aelred of Rievaulx: The Historical Works, ed. Marsha Dutton and trans. by Jane Patricia Freeland (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 2005). AR ‘Introduction’ ‘Introduction: A Mirror of Twelfth-Century England’, p. 1-37. ‘Lament for David, King of Scots’, pp. 45-70; AR Genealogy ‘The Genealogy of the English Kings’, pp. 71-122; ‘The Life of Saint Edward, King and Confessor’, pp. 125-243 and AR Battle ‘The Battle of the Standard in the Time of King Stephen’, pp. 247-69. ASC 1 ‘Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (60 B.C. – A. D. 1042)’ in English Historical Documents, ed. by Dorothy Whitelock, 12 vols, 2nd edn (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1979) i. (c. 500-1042), pp. 145- 260. ASC 2 ‘Anglo Saxon Chronicle (1042-1154)’ in English Historical Documents, ed. by David C. Douglas and George W. Greenaway, 12 vols, 2nd edn, (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1979), ii. (1042-1189), pp. 103-215. AM Annales Monastici, ed. by Henry Richards Luard, Rolls Series, 36, 5 vols (London: Public Record Office, 1864-69). vii I. De Margram Theokesberia (Tewkesbury) AM Tewkesbury ii. Annals of Tewkesbury II. De Wintonia (Winchester) et Waverleia (Waverley) i. Annals of Winchester AM Waverley ii. Annals of Waverley AM Dunstable III. De Dunstaplia (Dunstable) et Bermundeseia Bermondsley) i. Annals of Dunstable IV. De Oseneia (Osney) AM Osney i. Annals of Osney AM Wykes ii. Chronicle of Thomas de Wykes Bello De Bello Standardii Tempore Stephani Regis. (Twisden et Selden Rerum Anglic. Script. X, Londini, 1652, I, 337.) BIHR Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research viii Carmen Barlow Guy, Bishop of Amiens, The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio of Guy, Bishop of Amiens, ed.