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English
Legal History
2/5/2007
Outline
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III. SOME KEY POINTS FROM THE DOCUMENTS
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IV. SOME DETAILS ON THE LAST PERIOD
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ANGLO-SAXON CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY
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1.
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Narrative history: Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the
English People; The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
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2.
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The so-called “law codes,” beginning with Aethelberht (c.
600) and going right up to the Conquest.
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3.
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Language and literature: Beowulf, lyric poetry, sermons,
saints'lives
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4.
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Place-names
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7.
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Charters
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1.
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The period of the invasions (Bede on the origins of the
English settlers) (Mats. p. II–1), 450–600
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2.
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The conversion to Christianity (Bede on the conversion of
Edwin by Paulinus) (Mats. p. II–2), 600–835
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3.
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The period of the Heptarchy, Aethelberht, Northumbrians,
Offa, Egbert (Bede on the concept of the bretwalda) (Mats. p. II–3),
600–835
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4.
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The period of the Danish invasions (the Battle of “Brunanburh” from the A-S
chronicle) (Mats., p. II–2), 835–924
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5.
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The period of the national monarchy, Alfred, Edward the
Elder, Edgar,Ethelred, Cnut, Edward the Confessor, 824–1066 (the coronation
oath of Edgar)(Mats. p. II–3)
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1.
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Woden, Hengest and Horsa
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2.
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Angles, Saxons, Jutes and
Frisians
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3.
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amicis principibus consiliariis (loyal chief men and
counsellors); in consilio sapientium—the
witenagemot; cum ducibus
et ministris (trans. earldomen and thegns); maiores natu and regis
consiliarii (nobles and king’s counsellors)
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4.
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bretwalda (imperium)
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5.
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cyning, the son of the kin—eorla
dryhten, lord of earls—beorna
beahgifa, ring-giver of warriors—aetheling,
son of the nobility
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6.
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peace to the church and all Christian
people, prohibition of robbery and wrongful deeds, injunction to justice
and mercy in judgments
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1.
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In 802, Egbert, way out of the line of succession, became
king of the West Saxons. In 825, he
defeated the Mercians at Ellendum. From there on the leading king in England was the king of the West Saxons.
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2.
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But the West Saxons had a
new and dangerous enemy to face. In 835, the Vikings who had been raiding England
since the early part of the century launched a major invasion. In 865 the mickel here arrived and spent the
winter. They began a conquest that threatened to take over the whole of England.
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3.
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But their progress was stopped by Alfred 871–899, the
greatest of the Anglo-Saxon kings; he contained the Danes in the Danelaw,
and launched a massive revival of Anglo-Saxon culture.
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4.
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His son, Edward the Elder 899–924, with his sister
Aethelflaed,reconquered the Danelaw to the Humber. There was a great religious revival under
Dunstan.
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5.
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During the reigns of Aethelstan of the poem 924–39 and
Edmund of the poem 939-46, the north of England was recovered, then
lost, then recovered again.
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6.
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Edgar, known as the peaceable, became king of all England
957–75—major coronation ceremony at the end of his reign. Mats. p. II–3.
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7.
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Unfortunately, the next major king was Ethelred the Unready
(means he didn't take counsel) 978-1016, who had a long and disasterous
reign.
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8.
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He was succeeded by Cnut 1016–1035, a Danish king, but this
was a different kind of Danish invasion. Cnut was a Christian. He governed
a north sea empire that included Denmark,
and he ruled in England
through native Anglo-Saxons.
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