Criticisms of the Norman Conquest of England, and the rise of St Edmund as England's patron saint
My thesis demonstrates that the Conquest, in the decade that followed the battle of Hastings, was the subject of more criticism, both in England and on the continent, than has previously been thought. Common themes emerge in my thesis. King William's claim that Edward had promised him the throne, his actions at Hastings, and the belief that God had granted him victory over Harold are all shown to have been scrutinized at the outset of his rule. Familiar texts of the Conquest are approached in new ways, including Guy of Amiens's Song of the Battle of Hastings, which has long been interpreted as a poem in praise of William. On the contrary, this thesis provides a compelling argument that Guy's poem contains a damning critique of the king. William's actions at Hastings are portrayed as those of a pagan, even a bloodthirsty lion that ravaged the English sheepfold. Enslaved to Mars and the embodiment of Fury, the Conqueror is reduced to the image of an ulcer, filled with blood. I argue that St Edmund's identity as the patron saint of England arose out of this contemporary debate. Herman's Miracles of St Edmund, neglected until now by historians of the Conquest, contains a narrative in which Edmund is portrayed
Draycott, Liam
Criticisms of the Norman Conquest of England, and the rise of St Edmund as England's patron saint. My thesis demonstrates that the Conquest, in the decade that followed the battle of Hastings, was the subject of more criticism, both in England and on the continent, than has previously been thought. Common themes emerge in my thesis. King William's claim that Edward had promised him the throne, his actions at Hastings, and the belief that God had granted him victory over Harold are all shown to have been scrutinized at the outset of his rule. Familiar texts of the Conquest are approached in new ways, including Guy of Amiens's Song of the Battle of Hastings, which has long been interpreted as a poem in praise of William. On the contrary, this thesis provides a compelling argument that Guy's poem contains a damning critique of the king. William's actions at Hastings are portrayed as those of a pagan, even a bloodthirsty lion that ravaged the English sheepfold. Enslaved to Mars and the embodiment of Fury, the Conqueror is reduced to the image of an ulcer, filled with blood. I argue that St Edmund's identity as the patron saint of England arose out of this contemporary debate. Herman's Miracles of St Edmund, neglected until now by historians of the Conquest, contains a narrative in which Edmund is portrayed
criticisms norman_conquest england rise england patron saint demonstrates conquest decade_follow battle subject criticism england continent previously_think common_theme emerge thesis king william claim edward promise throne action belief god grant victory show outset rule familiar text conquest approach new_way include song battle long interpreted poem praise william contrary provide compelling argument poem contain critique king william action portray pagan even english embodiment conqueror reduce image fill blood argue identity patron saint england arise contemporary_debate neglect_historian conquest contain narrative portray