Factional rivalries and their Impact on English Society Flashcards
Bastard Feudalism
Clear interconnections between local and national politics
Lesser men involved in private quarrels or seeking to establish their claims to land turn to a lord
(who is often fighting with his own rivals)
They support the Lord’s interests and in return wanted him to help maintain them in their quarrels
Role of the King
Yet while factional rivalries were a Key Factor in the cause of the War of the Roses, they weren’t the prime cause of it
Rivalries that became private Wars were a consequence of a weak government and an ineffective King
Rivalries between powerful noblemen were common during the middle ages but it is the way in which they were managed by the King that affected English Society
Henry made attempts at keeping the peace but failed every time
Greatest impact
The greatest impact was the uncertainty of running the country as the king was ineffective and the nobility who were supposed to be his advisors were fighting amongst themselves
What was the impact of factional rivalries by 1459?
By 1459 factional rivalries had begun to have an impact on English Society but only in a very limited way
They were only short-term impacts and affected certain pockets of society
The noble families involved and particularly the losing side who suffered losses of land, possessions and titles
However factional rivalries were to have a far greater impact in the following decades
