Saxons and Normans

From London Requiem

<<< 700 to 1066

The conquest of Britain by William of Normandy in 1066, and the subsequent formalisation of administration, government and trade, leads to a concurrent increase in our knowledge of kindred history.

London grew to around 15,000 inhabitants by the end of the 11th century, and this doubled by 1200. It meant that, taking into account surrounding areas and a wider rural population, the region had the ability to support a steady kindred population, perhaps for the first time.

The building of the new St Paul's Cathedral in 1087 reflected the growing influence of the Christian religion in society, and kindred were no different. For much of the next century the Lancea Sanctum held dominant sway over the kindred population. According to a stone tablet discovered in the late 19th century, Stephen of Rouen is the first kindred known to have claimed the right of domain over the city, in the name of Longinus and in service to the Lancea Sanctum. He made his declaration following the destruction by fire of the original St Paul's Cathedral, and it appears he believes this event to have been a warning from God to the kindred who were entering the city in greater numbers. Stephen is also responsible for the first formal declaration of an Elysium in London, an area on the west side of Wood Street, close to the site of St Paul's Cathedral.

Though the Lancea Sanctum remained powerful in London, the growth of the City of London as a trading centre led to increasing influence for the Invictus. The recognition by Richard 1 of the commune of London, is as integral to kindred history as it is to the development of the city as a whole. Further development of the government of Aldermen in the City of London was mirrored among kindred society. Early in the 13th century London was essentially split, with the area outside the 'Square Mile' remaining under the nominal control of the Lancea Sanctum and, much more formally, an Invictus named Richard of Lincoln claiming the City as his domain, naming himself as Lord Mayor. He declared the entirety of the 677 acre site as his, and his covenant's, and named the entire area an Elysium in around 1223, with the specific exception of Old Jewry street, centre of London's new Jewish community. It is possible that the initial intention was for this area to be used for feeding purposes, the Jewish community being more expendable based on attitudes of the time, but this appears not to have actually occurred. Some vague rumours suggest that a Jewish Daeva took residence in the area for a time, and seemingly managed to maintain some level of influence or protection over the area.

Therefore, by the middle of the 12th century kindred London was split into essentially two administrative centres. The Invictus maintained solid control over the City of London, inside the historic Roman Walls. Meanwhile the Lancea Sanctum were generally most influential in the newly growing Westminster and all other areas outside of the Square Mile.

London and the Imperator of Albion >>>

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