constraints on kingship

Question 1

what system was the medieval society built on

Answer 1

the feudal system

Question 2

describe the feudal system

Answer 2

• the king was on the top of the system
• the king gave land to the barons
• the barons gave money and men to fight in wars to the king
• knights were given land if they promised to fight when needed

Question 3

who had the final say in the feudal system

Answer 3

• the king had the final say
• kings were supposed to listen to the great council ( a group of trusted advisors) but they rarely did

Question 4

what was a medieval king supposed to do

Answer 4

• defend the people by leading the army well
• keep the country peaceful
• successfully deal with any rebellions
• maintain good relations with the church and pope

Question 5

how was religion a part of life under king johns reign

Answer 5

• Christianity was an important part of medieval life
• it was believed that the king was appointed by god
• the church was very powerful
• the church owned large amounts of land and set up rules on everything from marriage to inheritance

Question 6

why did king john fall out with the pope and barons

Answer 6

• the pope wanted steven Langton to be the AB of C but john wanted someone that would be less loyal to the pope
• the pope retaliated by cancelling all church services, including marriage and funerals
• this made the barons very angry as they though they would go to hell

Question 7

why was king john not very well liked due to battle.

Answer 7

• he was not very good in battle, losing vast areas of territory in France that England once ruled over
• john struggled to raise enough money to govern and defend the country

Question 8

what were the nicknames for king john

Answer 8

• soft sword
• lackland

Question 9

what were the 4 reasons why the barons disliked king john

Answer 9

• they were worried about invasions from foreign countries because of the fall out with the pope; john did not maintain good relations with the pope
• johns poor battle record meant he lost land in France
• they had to pay scutage- a high tax on those barons who did not fight for john when he asked
• john repeatedly ignored the demands of the great council which meant the barons felt their views were not respected

Question 10

what was the consequence of the barons dissatisfaction

Answer 10

• the barons were fed up with john so they raised an army
• they occupied London
• john realised he would need to listen to the barons so he met with them on 15 June 1215
• this was to negotiate the way in which the country should be governed

Question 11

where was magna carta signed ?

Answer 11

Runnymede in 1215

Question 12

what were the reasons for the first barons war

Answer 12

• king john went back on his word and said that he had been forced to sign magna carta
• the pope agreed and said that it was invalid
• war outbroke
• barons had the support of the French with troops and money

Question 13

what was the siege of Rochester castle

Answer 13

• late 1215
• gave king john the upper hand as he and his men were able to storm the castle

Question 14

what happened on may 1216 in regards to the first barons war

Answer 14

• the barons promised the French prince Louis the English throne
• he arrived on the coast
• took control of most of England
• had the support of the Scottish king

Question 15

what happened on 2 June 1216 in regards the barons first war

Answer 15

• prince Louis announced ( but not crowned) the king of England

Question 16

what happened on 2 June 1216

Answer 16

king john dies

Question 17

what happened on 28 October 1216

Answer 17

• johns young son Henry becomes king henry III
• magna carta reissued and henry III agrees to the conditions

Question 18

give 3 short term impacts of magna carta

Answer 18

• king john went back on his word so magna carta had no immediate impact on society
• peasants and villeins were still not free - nothing changed for ordinary people at the time
• only the politically powerful such as the barons, the church and merchants benefitted from magna carta

Question 19

give 4 long term impacts of mana carta

Answer 19

• magna carta introduced the idea that there were some laws the king had to follow
• eventually more people gained their freedom
• kings after john signed similar versions of magna carta
• viewed as the first step in Britain becoming a democracy

Question 20

how was the pope an issue for king henry

Answer 20

• henry was a very pious king which meant he had a close relationship with pope innocent IV in rome
• henry was meant to pay the pope money to fight wars in Sicily - he did not pay
  -> the new pope alexander threatened to excommunicate the king

Question 21

how were the French an issue for king henry

Answer 21

• henrys father john had lost a lot of French lands so henry raised money to fund war campaigns to get them back
• he was unsuccessful at first but then he sent his powerful aristocrat brother Simon de Montfort who won land back in Gascony and controlled it for henry

Question 22

how were the barons an issue for king henry

Answer 22

• by 1254 henrys relationship with the barons had deteriorated- they were angry about various schemes:
  -> angry that henrys French family were given jobs in the English court and Italian clergy were given top jobs in the church
• henrys tax increases to pay the pope-> made the barons angry s they were the ones who had to pay