1.3A - Rise & Fall of the Feudal System Flashcards
What did the barons receive in return for making sure the law was obeyed and taxes were collected?
A share of the taxes collected but they did have to pay ‘feudal dues’.
= A way of making money for the crown as well as preventing certain barons from gaining too much land.
What did local lords or knights do in return for land?
Provided a military service
What did the peasants do?
Worked on the land belonging to the lords and knights in return for a small plot of land
By what year were there 500 castles in England and Wales?
1086
Why would a baron build a castle?
To control his lands
To house knights
Use as a residence
Why were castles a vital part to the feudal system?
They were the most powerful weapon of the time period
Why didn’t feudalism always work the way it was intended to?
There is evidence to suggest that whenever someone in a particular position showed signs of weakness, there was always someone one step below them ready to take advantage
When was the anarchy?
The period of war between 1130s and 1150s
When did Henry I die?
1135
What did Henry I want to happen if he died?
He persuaded his barons to accept his daughter Matilda as queen.
Why didn’t Matilda become queen when Henry I died?
What happened as a result?
Because she was in France and so her cousin Stephen of Blois (richest baron in engand) seized the throne for himself.
A civil war between Stephen and Matilda
When and at which battle did Matilda beat Stephen?
Battle of Lincoln in 1141
In what years was there a stalemate between Matilda and Stephan?
1143 to 1146
What happened when there was a stalemate?
Neitherside was in control and royal authority broke down.
What was the deal that the barons forced on Matilda and Stephan?
It involved Matilda leaving the country and allowing Stephan to rule until his death but he would be succeeded by Matilda’s son, the future Henry II
What was the impact of the civil war between Matilda and Stephan?
Law and order broke down as Matilda and Stephan were too concerned with fighting one another than running the country
What were the 2 reasons why the feudal system failed during the anarchy?
Failure of the monarchy
Barons fault
Explain what the failure of the monarchy had to do with the failure of the feudal system.
Stephen was unable to enforce his authority.
He relaxed many of Henry I’s restrictions on the barons
Needed to fight a civil war for a lot of his reign
Explain what the barons had to do with the failure of the feudal system
In some areas local lords and barons wanted stability so they ignored Matilda and Stephan therefore made their own peace agreements with rival lords.
In other parts of the country local lords took advantage of the lack of royal authority to build up their own power, seize land and strengthen their castles without royal permission.
When was Henry II crowned King?
1154
How did Henry II re-establish control?
He seized over 40 castles from the barons and in the 1160s he forced the barons to provide detailed information about the lands and other income they held.
He replaced 2/3rds of the local sheriffs with officials he approved himself.
How was the loyalty between Henry II and the barons proven?
When Henry clashed with his Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, most barons remained loyal to the king.
When did Henry II die?
1189
Who was the thrown passed onto when Henry II died?
His son Richard I
