Anglo-Norman Poetry Anglo-Norman Poetry and the Concept of and the Concept of

Courtly LoveCourtly Love

England started being invaded by the England started being invaded by the Germanic Anglo-Saxons in the 5Germanic Anglo-Saxons in the 5thth century. Anglo-Saxons themselves were century. Anglo-Saxons themselves were invaded by the Danes in the 10invaded by the Danes in the 10thth century. century.

Thus for nearly a thousand years, Thus for nearly a thousand years, England had no national unity, but was a England had no national unity, but was a country of many small kingdoms, and country of many small kingdoms, and recurrent battles. But in 1066, a final and recurrent battles. But in 1066, a final and decisive conquest put an end to all that.decisive conquest put an end to all that.

In 1066, a nobleman from In 1066, a nobleman from Normandy in the north of Normandy in the north of France, conquered Britain, France, conquered Britain, united it under one united it under one kingdom, and replaced the kingdom, and replaced the Anglo-Saxon rulers with Anglo-Saxon rulers with his own men.his own men.

To better know and control To better know and control his new acquisition, his new acquisition, England, England, William the William the Conqueror Conqueror made a vast made a vast inventory of all property in inventory of all property in England called the England called the Doomsday BookDoomsday Book..

The famous Bayeux Tapestry The famous Bayeux Tapestry narrating the Battle of Hastings and narrating the Battle of Hastings and William’s Conquest of England.William’s Conquest of England.

The Anglo-Normans spoke a variety The Anglo-Normans spoke a variety of French. In arts, literature and of French. In arts, literature and architecture, they were more architecture, they were more advanced than the Anglo-Saxons advanced than the Anglo-Saxons they invaded. They brought their they invaded. They brought their culture with them.culture with them.

Unlike the Anglo-Saxons who built Unlike the Anglo-Saxons who built wooden mead-halls,wooden mead-halls,

the Anglo-Norman built stone castles,the Anglo-Norman built stone castles,

and cathedrals...and cathedrals...

William the Conqueror took the lands William the Conqueror took the lands of most Anglo-Saxon kings and of most Anglo-Saxon kings and thegns, and he gave them to Norman thegns, and he gave them to Norman noble warriors who helped him in his noble warriors who helped him in his conquest. Thus feudalism came to conquest. Thus feudalism came to England.England.Thus the ordinary Anglo-Saxon Thus the ordinary Anglo-Saxon people, the ceorls, villagers, became people, the ceorls, villagers, became villeins villeins subjected to a lord who had subjected to a lord who had every right over them.every right over them.The Norman lords built manors The Norman lords built manors (castles) and lived in them.(castles) and lived in them.

The Anglo-Norman brought with The Anglo-Norman brought with them them

the concept of courtly life style and the concept of courtly life style and etiquette, etiquette,

““romance” literature, romance” literature, the the concept of chivalryconcept of chivalry,,

and and courtly love.courtly love.

““Romance” meant:Romance” meant:

1.1. The French vernacular The French vernacular language of the middle ages.language of the middle ages.

2.2. Poetry in this language.Poetry in this language.

3.3. Narratives about adventure Narratives about adventure and loveand love..

Stages of Courtly Love according to Stages of Courtly Love according to Capellanus’s Capellanus’s The Art of Courtly The Art of Courtly

LoveLove (12th century): (12th century): Attraction to the lady, usually via eyes/glance Attraction to the lady, usually via eyes/glance Worship of the lady from afar Worship of the lady from afar Declaration of passionate devotion Declaration of passionate devotion Virtuous rejection by the lady Virtuous rejection by the lady Renewed wooing with oaths of virtue and eternal Renewed wooing with oaths of virtue and eternal

fealty fealty Moans of approaching death from unsatisfied Moans of approaching death from unsatisfied

desire (and other physical manifestations of desire (and other physical manifestations of lovesickness) lovesickness)

Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart Consummation of the secret love Consummation of the secret love Endless adventures and subterfuges avoiding Endless adventures and subterfuges avoiding

detection detection