French Coronations in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
When Charles III was anointed in Westminster Abbey did he spare a thought for William I? It was he who introduced the French tradition into England.
The Witan (Wise Men) of London chose the King of England. Bastards were not eligible that is until one, a Frenchman declared himself king.
He was called Guillaume le Conquérant in Normandy and William The Bastard in London.
Much to the horror of The Witan, he arranged for his coronation to be held in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.
It didn’t go well.
The Archbishop of Canterbury refused to crown ‘one who was covered with the blood of men and the invader of others’ rights’.
The Archbishop of York had to be drafted in.
As the crown was placed on William’s head, his triumphant countrymen, anticipating the spoils of war, shouted with joy. Norman soldiers outside guarding the Abbey from an angry mob, thought it was an assassination attempt. They retaliated by setting fire to houses around the Abbey.
When dense smoke filled the church, a panicked congregation tried to break down the locked doors and a terrified clergy rushed through the rest of the religious ceremonial.
England was now a French colony. Norman aristos replaced their English counterparts. The Church was restructured along Norman lines by Norman Bishops. Norman castles (six hundred of them) and Romanesque cathedrals popped up all over the place. French influenced the local language*.
The Normans introduced rabbit and cider to the peasant’s table. They introduced French entertainments such as jousts among the gentry which became a hugely popular spectator sport. Small local fairs grew into big annual events, three day celebrations. Trade with Europe flourished. The wealthy imported luxury goods never before seen in England.
William’s son Henry I nominated his daughter Matilda as his heir but there was a problem.
She had lived in Germany and France for most of her life so Londoners revived the ancient tradition of choosing who ruled them by rejecting Matilda in favour of her cousin Stephen of Blois, son of William’s daughter Adele. He was crowned King of England on St Stephen's Day, 26th December 1135 by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Château royal de Blois
William’s great-grandson, Henry Plantagenet, duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou (Henry II) and Henry’s wife Eleanor of Aquitaine ex Queen of France were crowned in Westminster Abbey 19th December 1154 by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
William’s great, great, grandson (son of Henry II) ‘bad’ King John married Countess Isabella of Angoulème. She was crowned in Westminster Abbey 8 October 1200.
In 1215, English barons, who had had enough of John, invited Louis, the eldest son of Philip II of France, to replace him. It wasn’t so much they wanted a French King, what they most definitely did not want was John.
Louis landed in Kent 21 May 1216 unopposed. A few weeks later, on 2 June 1216, he was proclaimed King Louis I of England in St Paul's Cathedral with great pomp and ceremony but was not crowned. His reign lasted five months.
King John’s nine year old son Henry was with his mother the Dowager Queen Isabella of Angoulème, when his father died. She arranged for her son to be crowned immediately at Gloucester Cathedral on 28 October 1216.There was no time to summon the Archbishop of Canterbury so the Bishop of Worcester stepped up to the plate.
John lost the Crown in the Wash** so Isabella’s gold bracelet was placed on the boy’s (Henry III) head.
Window depicting the coronation of Henry III
Isabella returned to France. In 1244, she bribed a royal cook to poison her enemy Louis VII, the king of France who had usurped her husband. Before she could be taken into custody, she sought sanctuary in Fontevraud Abbey. She was buried in the nun’s cemetery.
Looking for his mothers grave, Henry visited Fontevraud and was shocked to find it hidden away, one among many. He said that a crowned Queen of England must be inside the Abbey near other members of the royal family, his grandfather Henry II, his grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine and his Uncle Richard the Lionheart.
Effigy of Isabella, Fontevraud Abbey
A later Isabella, daughter of Philip IV of France, who married Edward II was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1308.
Sisters from the French Royal House of Valois, Isabella and Catherine, daughters of Charles VI, also married Kings of England (Richard II and Henry V respectively).
Isabella was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1397. Catherine was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1421.
Margaret of Anjou, who married Henry VI, was crowned in Westminster Abbey 1445.
* Sixty per cent of the English language is of French origin
** The Wash (old English wāse meaning mud) is a bay on the East coast of England.
Post by Pamela (BA History of Art), Photography by Mark.
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