Vitenagemot (Whitenagemoth [1] , sometimes Vitan ; other English. Witenagemot - letters. Collection of wise , from witema - wise and gemot - collection ) - national assembly in the Anglo-Saxon period in the history of England . Vitenagemot represented the interests of the Anglo-Saxon nobility and the clergy and had advisory functions with the king. This body is considered the predecessor of the English parliament . The institute of vitenagemok arose in the 7th century and over the next four hundred years all the most important questions of state policy were decided by the king with the approval of the council.
Content
Name and Origin
The name "Vitenagemot" (witena gemōt [ˈwitena jeˈmoːt]) in Anglo-Saxon language meant "a collection of wise people" ( Old-English. Witan - sage, adviser; other-English. Gemot - collection). This body probably originated from the ancient German institute of tribal people's assemblies , which later transformed into the meetings of the most influential people in the country (military nobility, clergy and aristocracy). The popular assembly is a similar organ in Kievan Rus . Such assemblies existed in all Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Britain, and after the unification of the country under the rule of Wessex in the 9th century , the kingdom of this kingdom acquired a general English character. Nevertheless, the regional councils in Northumbria and Mercia , apparently, met until 1065 .
There is also a variant of the name "Witan" ( Witan ; this word more correctly means the title of the members of the vithenhemot).
Composition
One of the most important duties of the nobleman of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy was to advise the king. The fulfillment of this duty was carried out in vitenehemot in which all the service people of the country were to participate. It consisted of bishops , abbots , the most influential clergymen ( chaplains of the royal court), the earls and the tenas of the kingdom. The main constituent element of Vitenagemoto was secular nobility (tena), directly dependent on the king, although in the 10th century the clergy usually dominated the councils. The meetings of the vitaehemoths were fairly representative and could include more than a hundred people [2] . Particularly numerous were the councils of the first half of the 10th century, when King Etelstan presided over the vitenamoths, which included Welsh princes, Danish labels , tenas and eldormenes from all over England. Over time, representatives of remote North-British regions practically ceased to take part in the vitenehemoths, which weakened the national character of this institution and led to the isolation of the interests of northern England. This was clearly manifested in the political events of the mid- XI century .
Competence
Vitenagemot was supposed to provide the king with advice on any matter brought to his consideration by the king. Based on the analysis of the decisions of Vitagenhem, it is obvious that there was no problem that could not be brought up for discussion. Anglo-Saxon Vitenehemoths approved royal laws, sanctioned the establishment of taxes (" Danish money "), passed decisions on international politics and worked out measures to organize the country's defense. The councils made a trial of state traitors, approved the king’s land grants and candidacies for the replacement of episcopal departments.
Witenhemoth acquired particular importance in the matter of electing a king, because the strict dynastic principle of inheritance in the Anglo-Saxon period has not yet been finalized, although the idea that only a direct descendant of the English kings could be king was already dominant. The principle that every king who ascended to the throne must receive the approval of the Vitenhemoth, by the 11th century acquired the character of established custom. The most well-known meeting of the council was held on January 5, 1066 , after the death of Edward the Confessor , at which Harold Godwinson was elected the new king. This decision was the impetus for the Norman conquest of England .
In most cases, the vitenehemoth confirmed the king’s decisions, but the presence in it of a large number of representatives of the regional military-service nobility, who was little dependent on the royal will, allowed them to maintain a certain freedom of will.
Organization
Vitenehemoth convened by the king, usually once a year, and sometimes more often. No rule enshrines a certain regularity of convocations, however, did not exist [3] . A specific place for the convening of the Vitenagemot was not established either: the council followed the king moving around the country [4] . From sources it is known 116 points in which Vitenagemot gathered. These were mainly urban settlements or royal castles, but the council could also sit under the open sky: on rocks, hills, meadows or, for example, under a famous tree.
Value
After the Norman Conquest, the Vitenehemoth transformed into the Great Royal Council . However, the general principles of convocation, composition and competence are preserved. Although instead of Anglo-Saxon tens, the Great Royal Council of William I and his successors included the Anglo-Norman barons and knights , and the convocation became more regular, the special role of the vethenagemoth as a national aristocratic representation restricting royal power remained in the new institution, and later gave rise to English to parliament .
The main significance of the vitenehemotus was that he supported the principle of ruling the king in agreement with the representatives of the nobility. Despite the dependence of the decisions of the council on the will of the king and the fact that the Vitenhemoth did not represent the interests of all regions of the country, it was he who ensured the “constitutional” character of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy.
In culture
Appears in the historical television series The Last Kingdom ( BBC , Netflix , 2015-2018), which is a television adaptation of Bernard Cornwell 's novels Saxon Chronicles (2004-2018), as well as the larger television project The History Channel Vikings (2013-2018), based on the original plot.
Notes
- ↑ Whitenagemotte // Soviet historical encyclopedia : in 16 t. / Ed. E.M. Zhukova . - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1961-1976.
- ↑ known [to whom? ] that 106 people took part in one of the vitenehemot.
- ↑ Referred by some historians [ what? ] The custom of convening a large royal council three times a year (at Christmas , Easter, and Trinity ) is a borrowing from the Norman system of government extended to England by William the Conqueror .
- ↑ In the Anglo-Saxon period, the concept of the capital did not exist. Although the kings spent most of their time in Winchester , the king moved with his court around the country for most of the year, taking advantage of the population’s duty to supply the king with food and his squad.
Literature
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
- Whitenagemot, Vitenagemot // Uzi - Fidel. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1956. - P. 55. - ( Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 51 t.] / Ed. B.A. Vvedensky ; 1949-1958, t. 44).
- Morton A. L. History of England. - L. , 1950.
- Savelot KF Rannefeodalnaya England. - L. , 1977.
- Stenton, F. Anglo-Saxon England. - Oxford, 1973. (English)