kingship and succession

Question 1

rights of the king

Answer 1

he could make laws
decide on foreign and domestic policy
raise an army
set taxes
mint coins

Question 2

display of king

Answer 2

display power and majesty by showing himself
to his people to keep authority
travelled around the country meeting barons ,
nobles and bishops- known as itinerant kingship

Question 3

king as lawmaker

Answer 3

maintain justice
show mercy and fairness
consult with others when making laws to ensure they were fair
king heard court cases himself and sent his own judges to settle other cases

Question 4

king as decision maker

Answer 4

govern in the interest of his people
expected to consult with leading barons/ bishops to ensure this

Question 5

king as christian

Answer 5

support and respect church
believed to be chosen by god
expected to behave like a good christian
follow advice of leading churchmen

Question 6

king as protector

Answer 6

defend the land and people from attack
was in charge of the army
have military strategy/ skills to lead it effectively
most kings led army into battle themselves

Question 7

coronation

Answer 7

crowned at westminster abbey
anointed with ‘holy oil’
had to take coronation oath where he swore to protect the church and act in justice and mercy
tenants- in- chief then swore homage to the king

Question 8

crown wearing

Answer 8

3x a year at winchester ( easter), gloucester (christmas) and westminster (whitsun) the king took part in crown wearing ceremonies
during religious festivals
took place in important cathedrals to enforce the message that the king had been chosen by god

Question 9

richard as king

Answer 9

crowned on 3 sep 1189
took power peacefully
set about preparing kingdom for his absence when he left on a crusade 3 months later

Question 10

richard’s claim to the throne

Answer 10

eldest surviving son of Henry II
experienced rule
Duke of aquitaine since 1172
successful and proven military leader
favourite son of Eleanor (had much power and influence)

Question 11

How power was secured

Answer 11

made peace with people who had fought with his father
appeasing those with other strong claims to the throne
accepting scotland as a country - William the lion wouldn’t have to pay homage to him- in return for W abandoning claims to northern england
putting able , loyal men in charge in his absence
winning support of many barons
treating nobles/ knights with courtesy and respect

Question 12

death of richard

Answer 12

march 1199 was badly wounded
6 april 99 died
R named John as heir
nepheq arthur was son of an older brother, rules of primogeniture would make arthur king

Question 13

john claim to the throne

Answer 13

only surviving son of henry and eleanor
favourite son of henry
acknowledged by richard as heir
claim was supported by his mother

Question 14

how john secured power

Answer 14

crowned soon after richard’s death - 27 may
showed religious devotion by visiting canterbury and Bury st edmunds after his coronation
left england to be run by men who had governed under richard
entrusted protection of northern england to a powerful baron to ensure it wasn’t under threat of scottish invasion
secured support of Count of Angouleme by marrying his daughter isabelle
driving back philip II’s forces and making peace in may 1200

Question 15

the treaty of le goulet

Answer 15

philip recognised john as king of angevin empire
john gave philip some land in normandy
arthur remained duke of brittany but paid homage to john for this
john agreed to do homage for philip for his land in france and pay an enormous fine for inheritance of this land

Question 16

murder of prince arthur

Answer 16

captured by johns army in august 1202
imprisoned in chains, went against chivalric code
arthur then disappeared
john blamed for his murder
many of john’s supporters then switched sides to support philip, eventually leading to john losing normandy