The Norman in "Civilization 7" is a powerful civilization in the game that explores the times, and the background of the Norman civilization is relatively complex. When people look back at medieval England, they often think of the Normans. After the establishment of the Norman Dynasty, the knight system was formed. Its rule allowed England to be closely integrated into Western Europe. The Norman Knights also created several crusading countries in the Near East and Sicily.
Civilization 7 What is the origin and background of Norman civilization?
When people look back at medieval England, they often think of the Normans. After the establishment of the Norman Dynasty, the knight system was formed. Its rule allowed England to be closely integrated into Western Europe. The Norman Knights also created several crusading countries in the Near East and Sicily. But to trace the origins of the Normans, we need to first turn our attention to Scandinavia.
In 793 AD, the Viking Pirates in Nordics realized the rich wealth of European Christian countries for the first time. They set sail from ports in Norway and Denmark, launching attacks on settlements through rivers and coastlines. But the role of the Vikings is much more than that. They have achieved outstanding achievements in adventure, trade, crafts and agriculture, and are also brave warriors. They then established settlements in numerous warring areas, and Rollo was one of the outstanding leaders. By 911 AD, the Viking leader became a potential threat to the West Frank King "Charlie" (in fact, the nickname was meant to praise him for being honest rather than accuse him of being confused). In order to promote Rolo to be baptized and to swear all faithfulness, Charles gave him land, thus laying the foundation for the Principality of Normandy. The word "Norman" comes from Nordic in English, meaning "people from the north."
The arrival of the Normans made France's already complex racial pattern even more complicated. The title "French" covers several completely different ethnic groups. The Gauls have basically been integrated into Roman culture, although in northern France, the Celtic Brittanese still maintain their own characteristics. The Franks, as a branch of the Germanic people, soon merged with Gaul-Roman culture. The Normans did not receive universal welcome from the above ethnic groups. Although they are known for their erudition, they are also controversial for their ability to flatter and exaggerate, and their tendency to use violence once they are provoked.
This leads to the following story.
Although the Normans appeared about a century before the Rollo era, they still followed the tradition of pirates. This ethnic group spread from northern France, not only conquering southern Italy, but also fighting the Muslim emirates in Iberia and Tunisia. However, the most eye-catching action in the history of the Normans was undoubtedly their conquest of England.
Their appearance is not without warning. The marriage of British ruler Ethel Red to a Norman princess gave birth to the future king, Edward the Confessor, who spent his early adulthood in Normandy. Edward had no direct descendants when he died in 1066, and his brother-in-law, Harold Goldwinson, was later elected as king. However, there were two other two who were eyeing the throne. One was William, Duke of Normandy, who claimed that Edward had promised to pass the throne to him. The other is Norwegian king Haral Sigeldasson (i.e. "The Relentless Haral"), who became King of Norway in 1038 and received support from his brothers who were marginalized by Godwinson. In the early days of Harold Goldwinson's reign, when the political situation was not yet stable, William and Haral attacked him in the same year.
Goldwinson faces a daunting task of dealing with three threats at the same time (one of them comes from his brother who is plundering the coastal areas). In despair, he quickly headed north, encountered the army led by Haral and successfully defeated him, and shot the King of Norway in the neck with an arrow, causing him to die. However, Godwinson spent too long on the battlefield. He missed the opportunity when he turned south to fight against the Normans - the Normans had built a temporary fortress in Hastings. As for the specific cause of Godwinson's death, it is still a mystery. The most widely circulated saying is that he was shot in the eye with an arrow, but some people think that he was killed by William during the battle. Regardless of the details, England eventually fell into the hands of the Normans.
The Normans then set out to calm and unify the entire region, and in the process they strictly controlled the Anglo-Saxons, and many were forced to flee to the continent or join the Byzantine elite mercenaries, the Varyag Guard. At the same time, the traditional Saxon nobles were also replaced by the emerging Norman nobles.
We have briefly introduced the ethnic composition of Norman France and now turn to the ethnic composition of Britain. Initially, the British residents were mainly Celtic, including groups such as Britons (Bretonians), Welsh, Cornish and Scots. However, the invasion of Eastern countries in the early Middle Ages completely changed the national pattern of Britain. Germanic tribes such as the Anglos and Saxons, as well as invaders from Northern Europe, divided the island nation and injected their cultural heritage into it. Although the Normans were about a century later than their Viking ancestors, they largely adopted French tactics and techniques. In fact, Norman and French are much more similar to Norwegian.��
The Norman Conquest fundamentally reshapes and adjusts British society. The traditional shield wall tactics and tomahawk cavalry were gradually eliminated, replaced by the noble Norman Knights and Saxon infantry. The British legal system also underwent a profound change; Romanesque architecture and solid stone castles spread across the country; and ancient legends such as Celtic King Arthur and his Knight of the Round Table were reinterpreted, won widespread love and continued to this day.
After the conquest was successful, William decided to register the population, so he assigned people to compile the "Judgment of the Doomsday", a detailed land census record. The booklet evaluates the value of property based on the tax amount payable, allowing the state to assess privately owned land (i.e., non-feudal land) that could be expropriated by William.
The Norman Conquest completely changed the face of Britain, ending the dispute between the Germans and the Celtics, and strengthening the ties between England and the continent. The technology and language of the Norman period became the core elements of British social life. Although the hostile relationship between the Anglo-Saxons and the French still exists, today's British culture is more tilted towards Western Europe than Scandinavia.
The Normans' historical trajectory was not "decline", but their gradual integration with British society. From the Norman Conquest in 1066 until the outbreak of the Hundred Years War in 1337, there was a disagreement between the Anglo-Saxon population and the French-speaking Norman ruling class within Britain. The failure of the Hundred Years' War made British society more restrained and the country experienced a transformation again. With the increasing prominence of other social problems, such as the outbreak of the Roses, the cracks in social classes began to replace racial divisions and became the core issue of social concern.
