Week 5: Wednesday, February 15
The Bayeux
Tapestry
For the best contemporary depiction of medieval warfare, you ought to take a
look at the Bayeux Tapestry which tells the story of the Norman invasion of
Anglo-Saxon England in 1066 (go to http://www.battle1066.com/intro.shtml).
Here, you can find out more about how Duke William "The Bastard"
of Normandy wrested the English throne from King Harold.
I would like you take a look at the Bayeux Tapestry which provides a history of the Norman invasion. Go to: http://hastings1066.com/baythumb.shtml
From there, you can go to "The Full Bayeux Tapestry." Concentrate on images 25 through 35 which show the battle of Hastings.
The Chronicle
of King James of Aragon (1208-1276)
From 1213 to 1276, James ("The Conqueror") led Aragon, one of the
most important kingdoms on the Spanish peninsula. When James was only five,
his father was killed in battle and the kingdom plunged into chaos. With the
help of family and loyal nobles, James was able to bring some order back to
Aragon by the early 1220s.
This extract,
from a chronicle written by James himself, describes the Aragonese conquest
of Majorca ("Mallorca"), the most important of the Balearic Islands,
in 1228. His success at defeating Muslim forces ("the Saracens" under
the "King of Mallorca") in this campaign helped solidify his reputation
among the Aragonese nobility and contributed to the consolidation of his rule.
As you read this passage, remember that James did his best throughout the chronicle
to portray himself in the best light.
1) According to the textbook, what were the origins of feudalism? Where exactly did it come from? What exactly characterized the feudal relationship between a lord and his man or vassal?
2) According to the textbook, "The characteristics of the knight, then, determined the nature of battle." How did these characteristics determine the nature of warfare overall?
3) To what extent did James take the initiative in planning, organizing, launching, and commanding the invasion of Majorca? How would you describe his role? What about the Cortes (consisting of representatives of the church, aristocracy, and the towns)?
4) What factors appeared to motivate the Aragonese nobility to join the invasion force?
5) What were the different methods the Aragonese employed, military and otherwise, in an attempt to bring an end to the siege of Mallorca?
6) What do the Aragonese discussions surrounding the terms proposed by the King of Mallorca imply about James' relationship to his nobles (pp. 153-163)? How do the discussions concerning the auction (to dispose of the loot and prisoners captured in the city) imply the same thing about this relationship (pp. 176-180)?
Other Questions
1) According to the texbook, what was the role of infantry in medieval battle? How did it cooperate with knights and archers?
2) What does James' relationship with Beanabet suggest about European interaction with Muslims ("Saracens")?
3) Overall, what does this excerpt from James's Chronicle teach us about medieval warfare?
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Copyrighted by Hugh Dubrulle, 2006.