15 Key People of the Middle Ages

1. 15 Key People of the Middle Ages

2. Joan of Arc • French Peasant who lived from 1412-1431 • Grew up when France was largely under the power of the English • -The French people had no representation, no king, no power. • She grew to pity her country • As a teenager, Joan began to hear voices of angels that told her “You can deliver the land from the English; Go to the relief of King Charles.” • -Family tried to dissuade her, but others believed her visions • She ended up leading the French army of about 5000 men in battle with England. • -They were victorious and the French King was crowned in front of Joan in Rheims • At 19, Joan was captured by the English, tried for sorcery, and burned at the stake.

3. Saint Thomas Aquinas • An Italian Priest who lived from 1227-1274 • Was one of the Catholic Church’s foremost theologians and was well known for his belief that truth is known through “reason and faith.” • -This was a very contemporary idea as the church believed that God was above any kind of reason of man. • Created 5 components of God: God is simple, God is perfect, God is infinite, God is immutable, and God is one. • As an older man, Thomas claimed to hear the voice of Jesus that said to him “What do you want in return for your good deeds?” to which he replied “Only you Lord.” • Is still considered the most prominent theologian of the Catholic Church. • Was made a Saint in the 1300s

4. William the Conquerer • English ruler who is responsible for the construction of castles all over England • Lived from 1028-1087 • Brought about a new form of war: Sieges • Most famous castle is The Tower Of London which is still standing today

5. Hereward The Wake • Inspiration for the character of Robin Hood • Led the final rebellion against William the Conqueror. • Birth and death are unknown • Was considered the champion of ordinary people, and as a symbol of resistance to oppression • Fought against unfair laws, taxes, and rulers.

6. Dante Aligheri • Was a major Italian Poet • His work The Divine Comedy is considered the greatest literary work in the Italian Language and a marvel in the Literary World. • The Divine Comedy documents Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.

7. Johan Gutenberg • was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe • His invention of mechanical moveable type printing started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important event of the Modern Period. This allowed for mass production of books. • It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, Englightenment, and the Scientific Revolution and and allowed for the spread of knowledge to the masses.

8. Eleanor of Aquitaine • At age 15, Eleanor married King Louis VII of France. • At 19, she rallied troops to join the crusades and surprised her husband, and country, by insisting that women be allowed to accompany the men to the battle and “tend to the wounded.” • The involvement of women in the battle was criticized by many, but the women dressed in armor and carried weapons, although never participated in the actual battle. • Her marriage to King Louis was eventually anulled, and at the age of 30, she married 20 year old Henry who later became the King of England. • One of the only women in History to be Queen in two countries during her lifetime.

9. Louis IX, King of France • Born in 1214, crowned King of France at the age of 12. • Was responsible for many social advancements • Worked to write down laws so there would be no confusion • Advocated for trial by jury rather than trial by combat or trial by ordeal • Reformed the systems of taxation and the court system so that justice would be more easily attainable • Established a hospital for the poor, sick and blind • Fought in two of the Crusades • Died of Typhoid at the age of 56

10. Henry the VIII of England • Was king of England in the late 1400s • Is best known for leading England in its separation from the Catholic church. • He established The Church of England as the sole religion of England • Turned the country to a Protestant nation, although it maintained many of the Catholic beliefs • Named himself the head of The Church of England • Is also famous for having six wives, two of whom he had beheaded. He was distantly related to all of his wives. In addition to his wives, he kept a number of mistresses. • He had three children with three of his wives, all of whom eventually took the throne.

11. Saint Francis of Assissi • Was born to a wealthy Italian merchant family in Assisi. • After having been captured and imprisoned in a local war, he had a series of spiritual “visits” which led him to reject all material goods and live/preach in poverty, working and begging for his food. • He soon attracted a band of followers who came to be known as the Franciscans. • The Franciscans undertook missionary work, aided the poor, and lived off of charity. • The Franciscan Order continues today.

12. Hildegard of Bingen • Lived from 1098-1179 • Entered a religious house for females at the age of 8, took her religious vows at 14, and became abbess (head of the house) at age 24. • After becoming abbess, she began to write about her visions… “A great flash of light from heaven pierced my brain and…in that instant my mind was imbued with the meaning of the sacred books.” • She wrote 3 books about her visions • Gained fame as a mystic and prophetess • Kings, popes, emperors, dukes, bishops and others often sought her advice.

13. Pope Gregory VII • Served as Pope from 1073-1085 • Is known for issuing a decree which explained the power and importance of the Pope. • Parts of the decree stated, “10: That the Pope’s name along shall be spoken in churches. 11: That his name is the only name in the world…19: That he himself may be judged by no one….22: That the roman church has never erred; nor will it err to all eternity…” • He exerted his power and took pride in his position, using it for both the advancement of the Catholic church and the advancement of his own position. • Was the first of many Popes to exert extreme power over society.

14. Gengis Kahn • was the founder and Great Kahn (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his demise. • He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed "Genghis Khan", he started the Mongol invasion that resulted in the conquest of most of Eurasia • These campaigns were often accompanied by wholesale massacres of the civilian populations. • By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China. • He also promoted religious tolerance in the Mongol Empire, and created a unified empire from the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. Present-day Mongolians regard him as the founding father of Mongolia

15. Leif Ericson • A Norse Explorer • Believed to have been the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus • He established a Norse settlement at Vinland on the northern tip of Newfoundland in modern-day Canada. • His father Erik the Red founded the first Colonies in Greenland • Leif’s two sons, Thorgills and Thorkell, became chieftains after his death.

16. Richard the Lionheart • Is actually Richard I, King of England from 1189 until his death • By age 16, Richard was commanding his own army in defense of his father’s empire. He led the third Crusade for Jerusalem, against the Muslim leader Saladin. • Well liked for his Christian devotion • Although he only spoke French and spent very little time in England, he was named King after his father’s death. • Was well-loved by his people, although made very few political/social changes.

17. Discussion • What similarities do you see between these key figures? • How are these people different than famous figures of today? • Homework: Tonight, choose one of these people to research more thoroughly. Tomorrow, you need to have extensive knowledge about this person’s life. Hint: It will help if you either admire them or criticize them.