The Growth of Royal Government Flashcards
who was Eleanor of Aquitaine?
- wife of Louis VII (r. 1137-80)
- Eleanor accused of infidelity → divorce
- excuse = technically too closely related to be legit. married (tech. true)
- divorce likely the result of daughters over sons
Louis married another 2 times until he had a son
who was Philip II Augustus (r. 1180-1123)
- king of France
- gained throne at 15
- gained wealth by banishing Jews (seized possessions & money owed)
- won English possessions in France → allowed him to hire salaried officials
what was France like under the rule of Philip VI (r. 1285-1314)?
- developed royal admin.
- parliament became central royal court (judges, clerks, etc.)
- accounting depart. subdivided into specialized departments (chambre de comptes)
what did Ethelred (r. 978-1016) implement?
the Danegeld (land tax)
payed regular tribute to Danes to prevent [viking] invasion
who was Canute (r. 1017-1035)
England was prosperous under his reign
- took over rule of England
- Wife Emma (widow of Ethelred)
- organized England into provinces
what did Angevin Empire do?
- Henry II (r. 1154-89) took up throne at 21
- had 4 sons with Eleanor of Aquitaine
- subdued illegal castles
- investigated complaints against sheriffs (justice)
- centralized gov’t
- charges of felonies
- trial by ordeal
what were the overall goals of the Assize of Clarendon (1166)?
established judicial procedure
- to est. an overarching law code rather than regional
- crackdown on heresy
- expel those with a bad reputation
what was the Juries & Writ system?
- written common
- those who lost cases were fined a small amount
- royal justice quick & efficient
- collection of fees
who was Thomas Becket
- one of the most important saints in Europe
- jurisdiction of ecclesiatical courts
- argued it was morally wrong to punish the same crime twice
who was Richard I (r. 1189-99)
- impressive fighter (crusade & ransom)
- succeeded by youngest brother John (bad rep.) → lost French lands to Philip Augustus
who was Isabelle of Angouleme
- married John while marries to one of his vassals (violation of feudal rights)
- John didn’t show up to court summons → lands forfeit
what impact did Richard & John have on English culture?
seperation of French & English culture:
- Anglo-Norman
- Middle English
middle ENG = amalgamation of old English & French
what was the Magna Carta?
statement of feudal laws & customs
- limitation of kings power (free elections)
- protections for women (widows) & heirs (underage)
- merchant rights (fishing)
- power given to freedmen
- fines proportional to the crime
- standardized measurements for alcohol, cloth, etc.
who was Edward I (r. 1272-1307)?
English king
- king of England
- conquered Scotland, Wales, & France
- refused to let daughters marry young (late-ish teens)
what was the result of the centralization of Iberia?
- Christian reconquest
- co-existence of Christians & Muslims
- Christ. allowed to live without conversion until 15th-16th c.
