Crown/Magnate Conflict

Question 1

Pierce Gaveston

Answer 1

Friendship/ alliance with edward II angered other nobles
executed by warwick and lancaster 1312
magnates go against kings wishes and execute closest advisor and get away with it

Question 2

Thomas Becket

Answer 2

only when given enough power to be able to stand up to Henry II did he actually do so
murder/martyrdom in 1170 caused henry a lot of problems
had to go and get penance at his tomb, now a pilgrimage site
using power of church to state up to royal power

Question 3

Conclusions

Answer 3

England - magnates trying to deal with an unfit king
Scotland - king trying to reign in the power of magnates
in scotland kingship seen as sacred, untouchable, so naturally less violent
in england magnates frequently usurp throne, more common

Question 4

Douglases

Answer 4

Growth in power of Douglases through 14th/15th centuries
culminated in James II attitude towards them
Black Dinner 1440
Crisis of 1442
Douglases forfeited 1455
their power challenged that of the king, couldnt happen, yet king still held somewhat accountable for actions when trying to reign in power

Question 5

Percys

Answer 5

earl of northumberland revolts 1405
joined by other northern magnates to revolt over problems with royal finances
rebellion quashed and northumberland flees to scotland
archbishop of york executed
shows kings of england as powerful/worried enough to execute bishops

Question 6

Lords of the Isles

Answer 6

Greatest magnate house in western scotland
growth of macdonalds because of alliance to Bruce
by 1411- army supposedly bigger than crown
1437- 3rd Lord confirmed as earl of ross- supposedly start of downfall
after James finds out about treaty of westminster, ross forseited
forfeited 1493 after Murdac tried to retake ross
power tried to grow until only option was to take land off of king - not an option - but again king waited for excuse to strike

Question 7

Wars of the Roses

Answer 7

York claims the throne and kick-starts 30 years of magnate warfare between yorkists and lancastrians
both have periods as crown and magnate, so essentially two magnates fighting for the crown
eventually the vitorious Tudors (lancastrians) realise that they need the Yorkists to rule effectively so marries Elizabeth of York

Question 8

Wars of Independence

Answer 8

it could be argued that magnates led opposition to both english overlordship and Robert I
Murray/Wallace backed by nobles like Robert Bruce
Bruce faced rebellion from Comyns and Balliols, who had support of other magnates as well
even in time of all out war, magnates still trying to alter balance of power

Question 9

Primary Sources

Answer 9

Walter of Guisborourgh - william wallace- shows involvement of robert bruce
Parliamentary declaration on killing of douglas 1452- exhonerates king as parliament didnt have any other choice
Abbot of St Albans- reports on richard of york claiming throne - physically claims throne and expects people to accept it