Changing Perceptions of the New Administrative Class in Anglo-Norman and Angevin England: The<i>Curiales</i>and Their Conservative Critics
Ralph V. Turner
A complaint among twelfth-century English moralists and chroniclers was that monarchs were choosing “men raised from the dust” to be their ministers counselors instead of members old noble families. They charged king as his courtiers or familiares low-born men— plebes, ignobiles , even rustici servi —allowing them usurp places belonged aristocracy. This chorus began in time William Conqueror's sons. Only then did nobiles curiales begin divide into two distinct groups, new administrative posts provided opportunities for men rise greater wealth influence. The early monastic chronicler, Orderic Vitalis, wrote Conqueror “raised up lowest Norman followers greatest riches.” Often cited is about Henry I, “So he pulled down many great [ illustres ] positions eminence …. He ennobled others base stock de ignobili stirpe who had served him well, them, so say, dust, heaping all kinds favors on stationed above earls famous castellans.” author Gesta Stephani also complained I took low birth ex plebeio genere ], entered service court pages enriched endowed with wide estates, made chief officials. Another Richard Hexham, a similar comment, although admiring rather than condemning language, “He oppressed nobles because faithlessness; elevated high honors commoners whom found upright loyal him.”
Journal of British Studies