How Did Two Chroniclers Perceive England and Normandy ? : The Case of Orderic Vitalis and William of Malmesbury
1991 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 74-99,156-155
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1991 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 74-99,156-155
J.Le Patourel and C.W.Hollister have pointed out and emphasized that England and Normandy after 1066 existed as a unit, especially for the royal/ducal family, prelates and magnates. In this paper the author tries to make clear how Orderic Vitalis and William of Malmesbury, the chief chroniclers of that period, perceived England and Normandy. First, the auther investigates whether in fact they perceived England and Normandy as one, by checking objects indicated by the words "regnum", "ducatus ", "honor", "imperium", "patria", "fegio", and "terra"-the words which are able to represent a territory. It is certain that cases do exist in which England and Normandy was implied in the singular of these words. But they are rare and mostly seen in the reports from the point of view of the kings. It is hard to say that they were the spontaneous remarks of the chroniclers themselves. Secondly, the author examines the words "Anglus" and "Normannus". These words were used in terms of nationality, that is to say, the former meant an Anglo-Saxon, and the latter a Norman. As time passes from the Norman Conquest, however, it is observed that prelates, magnates and knights, of course not AngloSaxons by blood, came into the category of "Anglus ". In this shift, we can recognize the strength of the division of England and Normandy in their minds. Further, the author examines the objects indicated by the words which have to do with "we" (ex."noster", "nostrates"), "in/out" (ex."indigena", "exter", "advena"). There were cases in which "Anglus" and "Normannus" were divided by "in/out" words. On the other hand, the "we" terms never meant "Anglus" and "Normannus" together at the same time. In the image of England and Normandy, seen through the eyes of Orderic and William-they were both of the mixed Anglo-Saxon and Norman (or French) blood-, we see the strong liveliness of the idea of the land which Englhnd-or Normandy-has.
