Kingship during William I's reign Flashcards
Why did the king have to be strong?
Physically - to lead his army in battle and continually travel
Personally - to control powerful barons
Why was it important that William I was strong personally to control the barons?
Needed to retain their loyalty when he was absent
How many months out of 170 did William spend in Normandy after 1072?
130
What were the implications of William being in Normandy a lot?
His kingship was less hands on than previous rulers
Encouraged the development of institutional structures
How was William’s absence and appointment of regents similar to the latter years of Edward’s reign?
Harold acted as sub-regulus
Who did William appoint as regent?
Odo
Why was the coronation service important?
Legitimated his power after victory in battle
How did the coronation service remain the same?
He continued the public spectacle of the coronation with large numbers present to witness it and acclaim their approval. This was important for William as it stressed that he was the true heir of Edward, as he was his cousin
Why was the public spectacle aspect of the coronation important for William?
This was important for William as it stressed that he was the true heir of Edward, as he was his cousin
What ideas did William develop regarding the throne/coronation/kingship?
- developed the idea of ‘hereditary right’, and this was reinforced by its appearance in royal documents
- added the idea that as a king he ruled by ‘the grace of God’, developing the idea of a king’s priest-like status
what was the most notable visual symbol of kingship?
crown wearing
when is the earliest evidence of crown wearing in England?
1050
On which 3 occasions did William wear his crown and where?
Easter at Winchester, Whitsun at Westminster and Christmas at Gloucester
Where did William wear his crown during Easter?
Winchester
Where did William wear his crown during Whitsun?
Westminster
Where did William wear his crown during Christmas?
Gloucester
What Anglo-Saxon musical tradition did William keep?
Laudes Regiae - ceremonial hymns which invoked God’s aid for the king - choirs chanted ‘victory and long life to the most serene William, crowned by God, great and pacific king’. This helped reinforce the idea that the king was appointed by God and would have helped to deter rebellion
