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Richard And John Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the role of the king in the feudal system

A

Extremely powerful
Owned all land in England
Duty to protect his people

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2
Q

What was the role of tenants-in-chief in the feudal system

A

Vassals of the king
Barons / archbishops / bishops
Provided knight service to king
Advised king
Granted land to under-tenants

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3
Q

What was the role of knights / under-tenants in the feudal system

A

Vassals to tenants-in-chief
Fought on horseback in king’s army
Usually lords of manorial estates

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4
Q

What was the role of peasants in the feudal system

A

Provided labour service to lord in return for protection, shelter and land
Couldn’t leave without permission

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5
Q

The king kept __% of land for himself - this was known as ____

A

20%
Demesne

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6
Q

What was a fief

A

Land held by a vassal in return for service to a lord

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7
Q

How could a vassal be punished if he broke his oath of loyalty?

A

Forfeiture or death

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8
Q

What were the 3 types of peasant

A

Villeins
Cottars
Freemen

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9
Q

What was a villein

A

Property of their lord
Worked on certain days of week (week-work) and harvest (boon-work)

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10
Q

What was a cottar

A

Held cottage with small piece of land in return for labour services
Worked 1 day a week on lord’s land

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11
Q

What was a freeman

A

Paid rent for their land
Free to move as they liked
Didn’t have to work on lord’s land

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12
Q

The quota of knights that tenants-in-chief owed to the king depended on…

A

How much land they’d been given

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13
Q

The quota of knights owed by a tenant-in-chief was known as…

A

The servitium debitum

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14
Q

Number of knights owed by a tenant-in-chief ranged from…

A

A handful to 50 or 60 knights

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15
Q

Knights swore loyalty to ____ and ____ before being given land

A

Their overlord
God

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16
Q

Rent from peasants supported the knight’s family, but…

A

They weren’t necessarily rich

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17
Q

What did knight service entail?

A

Up to 40 days’ service guarding lord’s castle and training
At least 2 months in king’s army at his own expense
Helping raise money to pay ransom of his lord if captured in battle

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18
Q

What was homage

A

Public demonstration of loyalty

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19
Q

What was fealty

A

A feudal tenant’s or vassal’s sworn loyalty to a lord

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20
Q

How much power did the feudal system give the king?

A

Most powerful person in country
Had military service, money, sources of patronage
Social and political control

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21
Q

What could the king do to his vassals that other lords couldn’t?

A

Controlled marriages of widows of tenants-in-chief
And those of heirs / heiresses when they were his wards

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22
Q

Describe two features of feudalism in the years 1189-1216 (4)
What points would you make for this Q?

A

King at top of feudal system, complete power, provided land in return for army and labour service

Peasants worked lord’s land, freemen paid rent instead and could move around whereas villeins belonged to lord

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23
Q

Describe two features of landholding in the years 1189-1216 (4)
What points would you make?

A

Villeins and cottars held land in exchange for labour services (1), for instance villeins had to work on lord’s land on certain days of week (1)

Knights held land in exchange for military service (1), for instance had to serve in king’s army for 2 months and guard service for 40 days (1)

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24
Q

What was the Anarchy and when did it take place?

A

Civil war
1135-53
Between Matilda and Stephen of Blois

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25
What were Matilda and Stephen’s claims to the throne
Matilda = daughter of Henry I Stephen = nephew of Henry I
26
Where were Matilda’s and Stephen’s power bases
Matilda in South West Stephen in South East
27
When did the nobles promise to support Matilda?
1127
28
How did the Anarchy weaken the power of the crown by the time Henry II came to the throne
Royal revenue down by 2/3 Royal lands had been granted away Control over church shaken Far north of England now ruled by king of Scots
29
How did Henry II’s qualities make him a successful ruler?
Restored royal authority to England He was passionate and intelligent Destroyed rebel castles, went back to landholdings as they’d been under Henry I, strengthened legal system
30
What compromise did Henry II have to make about his position in the feudal system?
Became a vassal of the French king
31
Henry II married ____, expanding his ___ and ___
Eleanor of Aquitaine Land Power
32
What was the crisis of Henry II?
1172-74 Reputation damaged by murder of Thomas Becket Rebellion by Henry the Young King, Eleanor, William of Scotland Henry II win but had to exploit Royal rights a lot —> resentments
33
How did Richard secure power?
Didn’t have competitors but needed to establish himself Rewarded barons who’d been loyal to his father Replaced many of Henry’s men Kept brothers quiet, released mother from prison Honoured agreements with Philip II
34
Philip II wanted to reassert ____ against the Angevin rulers
Power of France
35
Philip II had been waiting a long time for marriage between ______ and _____ He came to hate Richard personally because of actions in ____ and ____
His sister Richard France On crusade
36
Henry II reformed the legal system to…
Make law function independently of him and make the crown lots of money
37
Henry II took responsibilities very seriously - “…” He was passionate and ___ He moved around quickly - good at….
“Crucified with anxiety” Intelligent Itinerant kingship
38
What was Richard like as a person?
“Superhuman” at best, could be unpleasant and inhumane Generous, imaginative, risk taker “Inspired fear and respect” Great warrior, ideal medieval king
39
How did Richard impact the crown?
Regarded as the model of a medieval king Went on crusade - doing his duty Influenced by code of chivalry Succeeded because he was surviving legitimate son of Henry - very certain
40
What was John like as a person?
“Inspired fear and loathing” Cruel, mean and paranoid Not good in crisis Short temper, rash behaviour Worst medieval king Not chivalric - murdered nephew
41
How did John impact the crown?
Showed religious devotion - visited shrines Showed good judgement by appointing loyal baton to protect N England Made peace treaty with king of France Intelligent, capable military leader Damaged rep by murdering Arthur
42
What was the king’s primary role?
Governing the kingdom and enforcing justice
43
How were new kings chosen?
Nominated by previous king or chosen by leading barons
44
What were the king’s duties?
Keeping peace Protecting people Maintaining justice Showing fairness + mercy Defending country w military force
45
How were rituals and display important to kingship?
Needed to be seen by subjects in order to reinforce his authority At coronation anointed w holy oils - seen as God’s representative Crown-earrings at Easter, Christmas and Witsun (7th Sunday after Easter)
46
Describe two features of kingship at the end of the 12th century (4) What points would you make?
Kings expected to maintain justice (1), this meant had to travel around, hearing cases and making judgements (1) Rituals and displays of kingship v important to show authority (1), to achieve this there were several public ceremonies eg crown wearings (1)
47
What problems might have arisen from Richard not being in the kingdom long?
Someone might try to take over He wouldn’t be aware of situation in England / wouldn’t be able to help
48
Was Longchamp a good choice to govern England in Richard’s absence?
No - he had little knowledge of English government He was arrogant towards barons (replaced many of them)
49
What was the Church’s influence in society?
Widespread belief in Christian teachings Pope seen as God’s representative
50
What was the Church’s influence in economy?
Controlled 20% of land Wealth from land and wool trade
51
What was the Church’s influence in government?
Clergy were educated Worked in barons’ households as clerks Chancellor always clergyman so had influence on king’s decisions
52
How did finances preserve the system of royal government?
No clear separation between king’s household + treasury English kings among wealthiest in Europe Only supposed to use taxes rarely Money from feudal rents/payments, selling land, land taxes
53
England was an ____ society
Agrarian
54
The main unit of organisation was…
The manorial estate
55
The special status of towns gave many inhabitants ___
Privileges
56
In towns lived groups that were distant from mainstream society, such as…
Jews Foreign merchants Mendicant friars
57
What were mendicant friars?
Monks reliant on charity
58
Towns were required in times of war to…
Make extra contributions in feudal dues
59
___ of all kinds founded towns, ___ them and invested in ___ ___
Lords Promoted Urban property
60
Leicester showed ___ to its lords (the earls of Lancaster) by greeting them with ___ when they visited - they regarded them as ___ as well as ___
Deference Gifts Patrons Overlords
61
Lords and the feudal system were able to ___ well with towns
Coexist
62
Towns represented ___ and provided an appropriate setting for ___ and ___
Civilisation Castles Cathedrals
63
The ___ and ___ originally looked down on traders and urban inhabitants
Aristocracy Church
64
How did religious thinkers change their teachings about wealth to fit with the growth of towns?
Traditionally taught that personal wealth was sinful Now taught that moderate wealth was okay if accompanied by charitable giving
65
The urban sector didn’t ___ with feudal society but formed ___
Compete Part of it
66
Urbanisation was linked to…?
A more numerous + wealthy aristocracy A peasantry involved in the market
67
Who had the right to keep and graze animals in the common land and forest?
Peasants could keep animals such as cows + sheep Pigs driven into woods to eat acorns + bark Freemen had right, villeins had to pay
68
Who lived in a manorial estate and what rights did they claim over others?
Lord of the manor or his bailiff Lord kept some land, rest was divided among peasants for them to farm
69
What were guilds?
Groups of individuals working in the same trade - members paid entrance fee
70
Membership of a guild meant…
A tradesman had an unrestricted right to trade in the town
71
Why were towns such an important source of revenue?
Tolls paid on sales + purchases Tolls on certain roads and bridges Rent for market tables Trade boosted income Port towns enabled foreign trade
72
Who governed towns and how was town government linked to royal government?
Many towns established by royal charter This granted citizens freedom from certain taxes Richard and John granted charters in return for large sums of money Town had a law court and form of self-govt
73
How did royal demesne give the king money?
It was made up of royal hunting forests, manorial estates and towns Money from rent Taxes from people in towns
74
What was tallage?
A type of land tax
75
Who had to pay tallage?
Tenants of the royal demesne
76
Why was tallage unpopular?
Only paid by lower classes There was no fixed sum so amounts were seen as unreasonably high
77
How could the king make money from courts?
Cases usually started by payment of a fee for a writ, which went to the king Some kings gave favourable judgements if they were paid
78
What were the feudal incidents kings could claim?
Payments made by vassals - forest fines, wardship fines, money paid when heir inherited land, dowry for king’s eldest daughter, ransom if king captured
79
When would you have to pay a wardship fine?
If baron died while heir underage, heir became king’s ward When they reached adulthood they paid a fine in return for getting their lands back
80
What were forest fines?
Forest land was under king’s protection so he claimed fines for those living / working / hunting / foraging there
81
Why were forest fines increasingly resented?
They affected everyone and John increased them in his reign
82
What was scutage?
A payment made by the holders of a knight’s fee in return for not having to fight
83
What did kings use scutage to pay for?
Engineers, foot soldiers and bowmen
84
Why was scutage becoming resented during John’s reign?
He demanded 11 scutages in 16 years
85
How were jobs different in the countryside vs towns?
Country - all farmers Towns - many different jobs, apprenticeships started at 14, children didn’t have to follow parents’ professions
86
In towns, women were sometimes allowed to… And many women supported their husbands through…
Join guilds and work in professions Working in bakeries or taverns
87
Living conditions in towns were ___ and ___
Cramped Dirty
88
Jews had been in England since ___ Most were ___ and ___, some became wealthy like ___
1066 Poor and marginalised Aaron of Lincoln - richest man in England
89
How did Jews have a complex legal status?
Allowed to travel freely and trade Not allowed to join guilds “King’s property” Could be taxed without limits Had their estates seized when they died
90
Christians were forbidden to charge ___ on loans, this was called ___ Therefore it was ___ who made profits from ___ ___
Interest Usury Jews Lending money
91
As moneylenders, Jews were resented for… They were often disliked by…
Profiteering from Christian work Powerful members of society, who owed them money
92
Jewish people spoke a different ___ and lived in separate ___
Language Areas of towns
93
Jews lived in high concentrations in certain towns - these came to be known as…
Ghettoes
94
Events such as deaths of children were blamed on ___, who were seen as ___ with ___ religious practices
Jews Outsiders Corrupt
95
How were Jews seen in the context of the Crusades?
Seen as “other” and a potential threat to society from within Many in Germany killed by Crusaders
96
What religious reason did medieval Christians have for rejecting Jews?
Believed they had killed Jesus - not true but was taught in church
97
By 1200, how many Jews lived in England?
5000
98
What is a pogrom?
Riot against a particular group of people
99
The pogroms of 1189-90 involved…
Setting Jews’ homes on fire, stealing their property, attacking and killing them
100
What were the long term reasons for the pogroms?
Widespread antisemitism in society Jews seen as Christ’s killers and outsiders, hated for charging interest and blamed for bad events
101
What triggered the pogroms?
Jews tried to attend Richard’s coronation and give him a gift, some Christians saw it as an insult and attacked them There was a lot of “crusading spirit” as Richard was preparing for a crusade
102
How did Richard react to the pogroms beginning?
He was furious, hanged the ringleaders and ordered people to leave Jews in peace However, violence spread anyway
103
What specifically happened to Jews in York?
150 of them took refuge in Clifford’s Tower but had no way out, so they set the tower on fire and killed themselves
104
How did the Pope convince people to go on Crusade?
Promised forgiveness of sins / ensured passage to Heaven Portrayed Saladin in negative light - threat to Christians

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