Restoration of royal authority

Question 1

Major problems for H2 on his accession to the throne regarding magnates and barons

Answer 1

royal lands, castles and offices had been given by Stephen to his supporters during his reign, often in perpetuity
many earldoms had been created by Stephen for his supporters, who now had “semi-regal powers” Jones
many illegal castles had been built and were used by “over-mighty” barons
many magnates had too many illegal castles and controlled their land outside of their authority- too much land
many barons opposed Henry and supported other members of his family e.g. Henry of Blois

Question 2

Major problems for H2 on his accession to the throne regarding his continental territories

Answer 2

H2’s younger brother, Geoffrey, staged a rebellion as he laid claim to Anjou, Maine and the Touraine on the grounds of their father’s will- there is a considerable rift between H2 and Geoffrey still
Henry’s continental territories were perpetually vulnerable, especially in his absence

Question 3

Major problems for H2 on his accession to the throne regarding England

Answer 3

England was devastated by civil war and was in need of fixing
the North and the West were ungoverned and had to be taken under control as local officials who were supposed to carry out the king’s law could be controlled by powerful local barons
the country had many foreign mercenaries in it, especially Flemish

Question 4

Main magnates in 1154

Answer 4

Hugh Bigot earl of Norfolk
William le Gros earl of York
Robert earl of Leicester- major landowner and well respected old nobility
Richard de Luci- new money

Question 5

December 1154

Answer 5

Henry II and Eleanor crowned king and queen of England
Proclamation on H2’s accession- only promises that “which King Henry my grandfather granted and conceded”
Reference to HI’s “Charter of Liberties” 1100- inheritance comes by the king

Question 6

Major problems for H2 on his accession to the throne regarding economy and finance

Answer 6

loss of royal demesne from barons
royal revenue had fallen by two thirds under Stephen- loss of royal authority seen in the existence of over 30 mints
agriculture, which accounted for a large part of tax revenue, was running low
the exchequer system of taxation was no longer functional- sheriffs were easily swayed by local barons and often were barons by inheritance- this lack of taxes allowed some barons to become too wealthy and powerful

Question 7

Major problems for H2 on his accession to the throne regarding the Church

Answer 7

Dispute between the crown and the church regarding ecclesiastical courts
Theobald, a/b of C, was elderly, so would need a replacement soon
The church had gained large amounts of influence during the Anarchy 1135-1153

Question 8

HII’s solution to the over-abundance of earldoms that shrink the royal lands and defy royal authority

Answer 8

H2 allows earldoms to lapse

only 11 earls under Stephen survive into the 60s e.g. Ranulf of Chester dies in 1153, his son Hugh doesn’t become earl

Question 9

HII’s solution to the over-abundance of adulterine castles and barons defying royal will

Answer 9

destroys them
1155- marches to enforce submission of William le Gros in Yorkshire and Roger of Hereford, and takes the castles of Hugh Mortimer, most powerful Welsh marcher lord, by force, Henry of Blois loses his castles
1157- William earl of Surrey and Hugh Bigod, earl of Norfolk surrender their castles

Question 10

HII’s solution to King Malcolm IV of Scotland encroaching into Cumbria and Northumbria

Answer 10

Henry marches army to enforce submission in 1157

Question 11

HII’s solution to royal castles having fallen from royal control

Answer 11

H2 insists that supporters as well as former opponents hand back lands

Question 12

HII’s solution to royal forest law not being enforced- no cash

Answer 12

Appoints Alain de Neville as the chief forester to uphold the forest law, 1166

Question 13

How did England function in H2’s absence, 1158-62

Answer 13

H2 did not set foot in England 1158-62
Robert de Beaumont, earl of Leicester was appointed royal justiciar, and presided of the exchequer and to an extent justice
H2 also sent messengers frequently from Normandy and Eleanor issued writs in her name on the king’s behalf

Question 14

How did H2 restore royal finance?

Answer 14

improvement of the English silverpenny
restoration of the exchequer
the Cartae Baronum
borrowing from the exchequer
the Inquest of the Sheriffs 1170

Question 15

improvement of the English silverpenny to restore royal finance

Answer 15

pennies were in a bad state before- 1156 Danegeld shows inflation due to debasement
1157-8 new coinage made- mage of H2 on coins asserts authority up North- mint in Carlisle
1180- second minting
30 mints in 1154 reduced to 10 in 1160, all under royal control next to royal exchanges which raised money

Question 16

restoration of the exchequer to restore royal finance

Answer 16

H2 brings bishop Nigel of Ely to restore the exchequer, having proved his capability under H1
Nigel of Ely is succeeded by his illegitimate son, Richard FitzNigel
Richard was vital for the restoration of authority as he oversaw transfers of funds to the king’s chamber, through which money was directed for warfare

Question 17

the Cartae Baronum to restore royal finance

Answer 17

1166 Cartae Baronum
Recorded how many knights each baron had, to be set against how many knights each baron had to provide or else pay scutage for in servitium debitum
gives H2 the opportunity to charge barons more

Question 18

borrowing from the exchequer to restore royal finance

Answer 18

borrowed money to raise mercenary armies to assert royal authority
1155-56 borrowed over £12,000
Borrowed heavily from William Cade, a Flemish merchant

Question 19

The Inquest of the Sherriffs (1170) to restore royal finance

Answer 19

Set up in 1170- a commission to investigate the malpractices of local government as there were concerns over sheriffs i.e. see where all the money is being lost
local barons were replaced by beaurocrats who were loyal to the king
2/3 of sheriffs replaced in 1155 and 1/2 again in 1162 already

Question 20

Why is restoration of royal justice important?

Answer 20

a duty of kingship
administration bolsters confidence in the king
vital to have a working system in the king’s absence
vital after the Anarchy to restore peaceful resolution of disputes
a source of revenue- writs are purchased
necessary for resolving land disputes

Question 21

How did H2 reform royal justice? (9 points)

Answer 21

Assize of Mort d'Ancestor
The Judicial Eyre
The General Eyre 1166
The Assize of Clarendon 1166
Assize of Darrein Presentment 1166
Inquest of the Sheriffs 1170
Assize of Novel Disseisin 1176
Returnable writs and the Grand Assize 1179

Question 22

Assize of Mort d’ancestor to reform royal justice

Answer 22

allowed a plaintiff to appeal to the court in disputes over who was heir
popular with land owning class and more organised as required a writ, which also generated royal revenue as it had to be bought

Question 23

The Judicial Eyre to reform royal justice

Answer 23

circuits around the shires by royal justices to dispense justice
standardises punishments across counties
land disputes settled without violence
barons controlled and prevented from influencing cases
more contact between localities and central gov’t
legal fees went to the crown

Question 24

The General Eyre to reform royal justice

Answer 24

1166
Richard de Luci and Geoffrey de Mandeville, earl of Essex (who died halfway through)
universalised rule of law across shires
stopped influence of barons on justice
now isolated shires held accountable by Westminster
increased king’s income by reducing income

Question 25

The Assize of Clarendon to reform royal justice

Answer 25

1166
introduces standard procedures and punishments for Crown pleas
sheriffs have more access to pursue criminal
criminous clerks should be tried in royal courts not ecclesiastical ones

Question 26

Assize of Darrein Presentment to reform royal justice

Answer 26

1166
a possessory assize action that required a writ to initiate
to enquire who was the last person to appoint a priest if the plaintiff felt they had been deprived of the role
forces disputes to be resolved in a lawful manner

Question 27

Inquest of the Sheriffs to reform royal justice

Answer 27

Shires that had not been visited by the General Eyre 1166 reported such low numbers of felons compared to shires that had that H2 set up the Inquest
the king’s justices enquire into local malpractice
decreased independence of local governments and lawlessness
reigned in “over-mighty” sheriffs- more accountability and their status as a vassal to the king reinforced

Question 28

Assize of Novel Disseisin to reform royal justice

Answer 28

1176
all freemen could sue in the royal courts over being unfairly dismissed from their land
very popular
thorough and efficient dealing of land disputes at the time
sorts out disputes post-anarchy

Question 29

Returnable writs and the Grand Assize to reform royal justice

Answer 29

1179
a returnable writ was a royal instruction which essentially superseded the justice
a grand assize replaced a jury of twelve freedmen with twelve knights when the case was unclear or lacked evidence- usually for land disputes
ensures peaceful resolution of disputes- before undetermined cases would be resolved through “trial by battle”
decentralises power and decreases corruption
allows the king to have more control of who gets land

Question 30

Why did H2 want to subdue the Welsh?

Answer 30

Welsh threatening marcher barons e.g. earldom of Chester- lapsed, H2’s son as ward
Powys (S. Wales) is the only part to accept H2 as overlord in 1154
William the Conqueror had Wales- H2 wanted to reassert English authority

Question 31

Why did H2 want to subdue the Scottish?

Answer 31

lacked control of N England when he came to the throne- wants security for the North
promises everything North of the Humber to Duncan I, doesn’t give it to his son Malcolm IV
wants fealty and homage from Malcolm III as a powerful king

Question 32

Why did H2 want to subdue the Irish?

Answer 32

Laudabiliter (papal bull) secured in 1155 to reform the bad Irish church- allowing divorce, not paying Peter’s Pence
Strongbow authorised to help Dermot of Leinster, 1167-70
Strongbow claims kingship of Leinster 1171

Question 33

Welsh successes for H2

Answer 33

1157 H2’s first expedition- marches on Rhuddlan, brings Owain Gwynedd to submission
1158 Rhys ap Deheubarth submits to H2
1163 H2’s scond expedition- captures Rhys ap Deheubarth and holds him captive, demands homage from all Welsh princes at Woodstock
1170 Owain of Gwynedd dies- was rebel leader
1171 Rhys ap Deheubarth pays H2 homage for his lands in S Wales
1172 Rhys made H2’s Justiciar in Wales

Question 34

Welsh failures for H2

Answer 34

1162 Rhys ap Deheubarth captures Llandovery Castle
1164 Rhys leads a massive uprising across Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth
1165 H2’s third expedition a disaster- Owain of Gwynedd, princes of Gwynedd and Rhys defeat him- orders all 22 hostages to be mutilated and hanged
1167-8 Owain takes the royal castle at Rhuddlan, offers his help to Louis VII against H2

Question 35

Scottish successes for H2

Answer 35

1157 Malcolm IV surrenders lands H2 had promised to Scotland in 1149- south of the Solway and Tweed, and Northumberland- made earl of Huntingdon
1159 Malcolm fights for H2 on the Tolouse Campaign
1163 Malcolm pays homage at Woodstock, gives his younger brother David as a hostage
1165 Malcolm accompanied H2 on his disastrous campaign in Wales
1170 William the Lion and his bro David attend HtY’s first coronation- shows how firmly subjugated after 1165, David is knighted- reduced to a vassal

Question 36

Scottish failures for H2

Answer 36

1160 Malcolm IV makes an alliance with Brittany
1162 Malcolm IV makes an alliance with Holland
1165 William the Lion accedes
1168 proposes an alliance to Louis VII

Question 37

Irish success for H2

Answer 37

1167 Dermot MacMurrough appeals to H2 for help against Rory O’Connor, H2 says he can ask Richard de Clare, aka Strongbow, who agrees so long as he gets Dermot’s daughter in marriage and to be king next
1170 Strongbow lands in August, captures Waterford and Dublin
1171 H2 puts a trade embargo on Ireland, orders all Anglo-Norman noble back, takes Storngbow’s lands
1171 October- H2 prepares a large expedition to Ireland, receives submission from Strongbow, H2’s men garrison garrison Waterford, Dublin and Wexford, Hugh de Lacy gets Meath as a fief from H2, Strongbow can be lord of Leinster
1171-2 At a Church Council the Irish Church agrees to pay tithes and not divorce
1172 H2 has to go to Avranches- leaves an Anglo-Norman Justiciar of Ireland to deal, threatens to pull out of Ireland to Pope, John still can’t get more than titular role control of Ireland

Question 38

Irish failures for H2

Answer 38

1171 May Richard de Clare claims the kingship of Leinster, Rory O’Connor is outraged as he claimed to be High King

Question 39

Which of Ireland, Scotland and Wales had been most subdued by H2 by 1172?

Answer 39

Scotland as it is reduced to a vassal state whereas Wales still has a Welsh justiciar and John can only get titular control of Ireland

Question 40

H2 in Flanders

Answer 40

important for wool and grain imports to Flanders
Thierry, Count of Flanders had supported Louis VII of France
1159 when Stephen’s last son William of Bolougne dies H2 marries Stephen’s remaining daughter to Thierry so Thierry gets Bolougne
1163 treaty between England and Flanders- 1000 knights to England

Question 41

H2 in Brittany

Answer 41

1156-8 H2 installs his brother, Geoffrey as count of Nantes
1165 rebellion in Brittany exploited by H2- Geoffrey married to Conan, duke of Brittany’s daughter, Constance
1166 H2 deposes Duke Conan of Brittany, H2 keeps guardianship until the two are old enough to marry

Question 42

H2 in Normandy

Answer 42

1150 H2 made Duke of Normandy at age 16
1156 Louis VII confirms H2’s dukedom- H2 performs homage, made seneschal of France
1172 Cartae Baronum in Normandy- writs in place, itinerant justice

Question 43

H2 relations with Louis VII of France

Answer 43

1156 H2 homage to Louis promotes peace
1158 HtY betrothal to Margaret arranged
1160 H2 speeds up marriage so he gets Margaret’s dowry of the Vexin

Question 44

H2 relations with his brother Geoffrey

Answer 44

1151 Geoffrey allies with Louis to attack Normandy
1156 Geoffrey rebels in Anjou, contesting H2’s inheritance of Anjou, Maine and Touraine
1156 Geoffrey and H2 have a peace conference that breaks down
1156 Geoffrey is conveniently elected count of Nantes and lower Brittany, H2 placates him with the border castle Loudon and a cash pension
1158 Geoffrey dies conveniently and H2 claims Nantes by force

Question 45

The Tolouse Campaign

Answer 45

1159 The Tolouse Expedition- H2 makes war on Tolouse by right of his wife, with massive army with lots of noble, lays siege to Tolouse late summer
1159 autumn L7 occupies Tolouse so H2 can’t attack his feudal lord- Becket wants to anyway and they fall out (L7 had tried to take Tolouse in 1141- difficult to attack- on a river and well-defended)
1161 By this point both Louis and H2 have heavily garrisoned the Norman border
1169 H2 forces Louis to peace talks on the Norman border, having destroyed more than forty villages belonging to the count of Ponthieu