The Nobility Flashcards
What were idols of the multitude?
nobles who were very popular and were viewed by the people to perhaps be a preferable leader to the king
Give examples of nobles who can be seen as idols of the multitude.
George, duke of Clarence
Where was the power of an idol of the multitude likely to be heightened?
In the local area where they lived - seen as more accessible than king
What caused the numbers of idols of the multitude to increase?
increased problems e.g. as a result of a weak king
What characterised the fifteenth century nobility?
1) warriors - militaristic in outlook
2) ambitious
3) expect to be involved e.g. parliament
4) hierarchical
5) contemptuous of new nobility
6) see king as 1st amongst equals
7) close links with king, many related + only friends king has - muddies water over who is in charge and when to revert to boss + employee relationship
How was control of everyone ensured and what is this called?
everyone under control of someone above them
nobles under king, lesser gentry under nobles etc
This is called feudalism
what is bastard feudalism?
no longer based on remaining loyal to noble family had always been loyal to, more based on which noble would pay the most - retinues of powerful nobles - retinues of powerful nobles grew.
Why were the large retinues that resulted from bastard feudalism a problem?
Because they were large enough to be armies - could be a threat to royal power if used against king
What was the biggest problem that the medieval world had with bastard feudalism?
tied together by money, e.g Lord Hastings died - many in retinue changed loyalty to Buckingham, Hasting’s enemy
whereas feudalism had ben tied together by loyalty
How was a person identified as being part of a particular retinue?
wore a particular badge
How did those in retinues behave towards people in certain other retinues? What does this show?
fights amongst those in retinues of opposing kings - symptom of people at top against each other
What does the fact that there were two anti - retinue statutes suggest?
suggests they were ineffective
In what year was the first anti-retinue statute passed?
1468
How effective was the first anti-retinue statute? Why?
ineffective - stated that you could be in a retinue only if in royal service - EIV had created loophole
What was the aim of the first anti-retinue statute?
to act as a deterrent + allows to go after lesser gentry trying to form large retinues
In what year was the second anti-retinue law passed?
1504
What did the second anti-retinue law state?
fined £5 for every person illegally in your retinue for every month they were part of your retinue
Was the second anti-retinue law effective?
yes
What was the penalty for Lord Aburgavenny for going against the second anti-retinue law?
originally had to pay fine of 70,650 for illegally retaining 500 men, however this was scaled down
How many did George, duke of Clarence have in his retinue?
6000
What is an alternative term for retinue?
affinity
Which key over-mighty subject had their retinue largely in the north?
Richard, Duke of Gloucester
What was the emblem of the earl of Warwick?
bear + ragged staff
Who brought all their retinues with them for loveday?
Earl of Warwick
Who’s emblem was a boar?
Richard, duke of Gloucester / RIII
Why are not all nobles who were extremely powerful and wealthy classed as over mighty subjects?
over-mighty subjects have to be against the king
Who coined the term over-mighty subject? When?
Sir John Fortisque
15th Century
Quote from Sir John Fortisque?
‘There is no greater peril for a prince than to have a subject equipolente to himself.’
Was Sir John Fortisque lancastrian or yorkist?
lancastrian
Which king did Sir John Fortisque remain loyal to ?
HVI
What happened to Sir John Fortisque during the reign of EIV?
Exiled with Margaret of Anjou
later returned after death of HVI and EIV pardoned him
What did Sir John Fortisque believe was to blame for over-mighty subjects?
nobles e.g. overly ambitious and power hungry
Which historian changed the view on the reason for over-mighty subjects, which had been established by Sir John Fortisque? When?
K.B McFarley
What did K.B McFarley argue regarding over-mighty subjects?
Over-mighty subjects = symptom of weak monarch - filling power vacuum created by monarch
Examples of over-mighty subjects?
1) Richard Neville, earl of Warwick (the kingmaker)
2) Richard, duke of York
3) Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham
4) John de la Pole, earl of Lincoln
5) Lord Lovell
6) Henry Hotspur
7) Owain Glyndwr
8) Richard, duke of Gloucester
9) Edward, earl of March
10) George, duke of Clarence
11) Henry Tudor
12) Lord Stanley
What are the similarities between over-mighty subjects?
put life on line links with royalty large retinues ambitious against king military skill male
When was Richard, duke of York active?
1450s
What did Richard, duke of York want to achieve initially?
better govt from HVI - angry at Jack cade rebellion, French losses, King’s favouritism etc
What were Richard, duke of York’s power assets and titles?
lieutenant France 1440s
Demoted to lieutenant of Ireland
What were the major career highs for Richard, duke of York?
3 protectorates
Act of Accord
What was the ultimate fate of Richard, duke of York?
killed
Battle of Wakefield
1460
When was Warwick active?
1450s-1460s
What did Warwick want to achieve?
power behind crown
Warwick’s power, assets, titles, skills etc?
Captain of calais Constable of Dover Keeper of the seas Warden of the cinque ports too powerful for regime to take posts from him
Ultimate fate of Warwick?
killed
Battle of Barnet
1471
When was Edward, Earl of March active?
1460 - 1483
What were Edward, earl of Marches assets?
idol of the multitude in London and south west
What were the major career highs for Edward, earl of March?
Toutan
King
What were the major career highs for Edward, earl of March?
Toutan
King - 1461
What did Richard, duke of Gloucester want to achieve?
initially - fulfilled brother’s wishes + become protector of EV and brother
ultimately - king
Assets + skills of Richard, duke of Gloucester?
almost royal power in north
Richard, duke of Gloucester ultimate fate?
Killed, Bosworth
George, duke of Clarence time active?
1460s - 1470s
What did Clarence want to achieve?
king
What were Clarence’s skills?
charismatic - idol of the multitude
Ultimate fate of Clarence?
judicial murder, 1478
Duke of Buckingham (Henry Stafford) time active?
1483
What did Buckingham want to achieve?
power behind throne, possibly king
What were Buckingham’s powers, assets and skills?
Constable of all castles in the land
Lord chief Justice
Chamberlain of Wales
Buckingham career highs?
Lord Hastings dies - retinues change loyalty to Buckingham
Mater of ceremonies at RIII coronation
Buckingham ultimate fate?
Executed, 1483
What did Henry Percy want to achieve?
better treatment
kingmaker
What powers did Henry Percy have?
independent powers in holding border between England + Scotland
Career highs of Henry Percy?
important in helping EIV become king
Ultimate fate of Henry Percy?
killed, battle, Shrowsbury, 1403
Lord Stanley (x2), what did they want to achieve?
self preservation
Who were the 2 Lord Stanleys?
Thomas Stanley (married to Margaret Beaufort) William Stanley
What power, assets, titles, skills etc did the Lord Stanleys have?
William = chamberlain
Stanleys owned lands in and around Bosworth
Career highs of the Lord Stanleys?
decesive intervention at Bosworth
Ultimate fates of the Lord Stanleys?
Lord Thomas Stanley - executed for involvement in PW plot in 1504
Lord William Stanley - natural causes
What did Henry Bolingbroke want to achieve?
initially - reclaim inheritance
ultimately - king
What power, assets, titles, skills etc did Henry Bolingbroke have?
part of the Lords Appellant
idol of the multitude
established warrior
2nd to king biggest landowner in England
Career lows of Henry Bolingbroke?
exile - 1398
inheritance taken from him by RII
Career highs of Henry Bolingbroke?
king + passed throne on to son
Ultimate fate of Henry Bolingbroke / Henry IV?
natural causes
What did Henry Tudor want to achieve?
initially - out of exile, inheritance + land restored
1483 onwards - king
What powers, assets, titles, skills etc did Henry Tudor have?
wanted to restore righteousness after RIII - over mighty subject
Career lows of Henry Tudor?
exile
hunted man - EIV and RIII
Career highs of Henry Tudor?
king
Ultimate fate of Henry Tudor?
natural causes 1509
What were the de la Pole brothers called?
John
Richard
Edmund
What did the de la Pole brothers want to achieve?
wanted a Yorkist king on the throne
Edmund’s nickname = the white rose
what power, assets, titles, skills etc did the de la Pole brothers have?
Chief Yorkist conspirators
What was the ultimate fate of the de la Pole brothers?
Richard - killed in battle
Edmund - executed
John - battle of stoke field
Percy VS Neville dates?
1453 - 54
Percy VS Neville key players from the Percy family?
Thomas - Lord Egremont
Ralph
Richard
sons of the earl of Northumberland (Henry Hotspur)
Percy VS Neville key players from the Neville family?
Richard - Earl of Salisbury
Richard’s sons Thomas and Jasper
Percy VS Neville location?
north
Percy VS Neville National picture?
Nevilles side with Duke of York
Percy side with Margaret of Anjou and HVI
no blood spilt until Battle of St Albans
significant losses for Percys and Nevilles during Wars of Roses e.g. Thomas Neville + Richard earl of Salisbury
Ralph Percy
Percy VS Neville local rivalry?
Henry Hotspur dies - betrayal of HVI - Act of Attainder - Nevilles gain some of the lands
1453 - Thomas Neville going to marry Maud Stanhope - Nevilles going to inherit land that had belonged to Percys
Thomas and Jasper Percy unsuccessfully try to assassinate Neville at wedding of Thomas and Maud
Bonville VS Courtney dates?
1451 - 61
Bonville VS Courtney key players from the Courtney family?
Earls of Devon
Bonville VS Courtney key players in the Bonville family?
Lords of Harrington
Thomas - earl of Devon + his son Thomas
William - Royal Steward of Cornwall
Bonville VS Courtney location?
South West
Bonville VS Courtney national picture?
Initially William Bonville with Duke of Suffolk + M of A
WB more influence at court + Baron (1449) - Thomas Courtney with Duke of York
1452 - 55 - WB supported by HIV - great control over
west country
Steward Cornwall
Constable Exeter - post trad held by C
Bonville sides with R d of Y
Bonville VS Courtney local rivalry?
William Bonville appointed Royal Steward Cornwall - seen by Thomas Courtney as threat to Courtney authority in area
Thomas Courtney lay siege to Bonville Stronghold 1451 - D of Y intervened to stop it
23rd Oct 1455 - Courtney retinue murdered one of the Bonville’s senior councillors, Nicholas Radford
Pastons dates?
1461 - 1476
Pastons key players?
lesser gentry from peasant stock
stand to inherit estates from childless noble
John Paston
John Paston II
Pastons location?
Norfolk
Pastons local rivalry?
inheritance dispute with Duke of Norfolk over Caister castle - inherited by Pastons. Duke of Norfolk lays siege to it with army of 3000 men and takes it from Pastons. Pastons go through courts and get it back.
Warwick - quote from the French ambassador?
‘There are two kings of England, Warwick and the other who’s name I forget.’
Why did Warwick turn against EIV?
1) marriage to E Woodville - kept secret 5 moths - behind Warwick’s back when Warwick was trying to arrange marriage with French in 1464
2) Woodville allies, Burgundians, = Warwick’s enemy - EIV arranges massive tournament at Smithfield to ally English with Burgundians - Elizabeth Woodville’s eldest brother in show fight against Burgundian - 11th June 1467
3) Edward does not allow Warwick to marry daughter to Clarence
4) E Woodville’s father, Sir Richard Woodville, fought against EIV at Towton - Warwick felt betrayed
Evidence Warwick was going against the king?
1) Warwick marries his daughter Isobel to Clarence
2) 1469 - tax riots in north fuelled by rumours Woodville = skimming off top - July 1469 - Warwick and Clarence support rebels. Publicly rebellion led by Robin of Redesdale, however Warwick = really the power behind it
3) Letters showing Warwick = treasonous found in dead knight’s helmet - W into exile
4) Warwick + Mof A try to put HVI back on throne - EIV files to Flanders + E Woodville seeks sanctuary in Westminster Abbey
What personality traits contributed to Warwick’s eventual execution?
1) good at making rapid decisions without much thought
2) great at time of adversity, not at time of peace - not good at compromises, diplomacy etc
3) Warwick’s modus operandi = intrigue, betrayal and plotting - EIV wanted peace
Factors other than personality that contributed to Warwick’s eventual execution?
1) When H paraded around streets of London by Warwick to try to rally support just showed how weak HVI was compared to EIV
2) When EIV (1200 men) fights Warwick (1500 men), very foggy, in the chaos + confusion Warwick’s army attacks itself - Warwick tries to flee but hunted down by EIV’s men and killed
Why was EIV’s second reign more stable than his first?
After Warwick betrayal realises he could no longer be so lenient with nobles
People identified with the region they were in more than with the country as a whole - careful about who was in charge of diff parts of country + had personal grasp on what was happening in diff regions of country
What did Edward IV do to increase his power and income in his second reign?
passed act of resumption in 1473
How did Edward deal with sensitive areas of the country?
1) put those areas under leadership of men he trusted e.g.:
Thomas Grey (EIV stepson) - Devon, Cornwall + south-west
William Herbert - earl of Pembroke
after 1471 - R d of G - Neville estates, land from duchy of Lancaster, seniority over H Percy, lands in Wales + East Anglia + constable + admiral of England
2) did not give a great deal of power to nobles who were not trusted e.g. Clarence
3) marriage - EIV married second son, Richard duke of York to daughter of duke of Norfolk - some control over midlands - duke of Norfolk had interests there
R d of G married to Warwick’s daughter Anne Neville
How successful was EIV in terms of politics in his second reign?
knowledge of politics to a local level
How did EIV try to strengthen links at a local level?
appointed men connected to his household to be local justices of the peace and sheriffs
EIV’s second reign - what were the itinerant judicial commissions known as? What does this mean?
over and terminer
to hear and to judge
How strict was law and order in the realm under EIV according to 1 chronicler - quote?
the dominance of royal officials controlling the governance of ‘castles, forests, manors and parks’ was such that ‘no person, however shred he might be’ could commit any offence without being ‘immediately charged with the same to his face’
When York retired what role did Henry IV appoint him? Why?
master of the Royal Mews and Flacons
to give York opportunity to indulge his passion for falconry
What difficulties did Rutland (son of York) face as a result of his support of Henry IV? What did Henry IV do to help make up for this?
20 courtiers threw hoods at his feet in challenge, verbal abuse or angry silences at court
Henry IV protected him
What measures did Henry IV take to ensure that he could not be seen as relying on favourites?
sanctioned laws giving parliament unprecedented powers and establishing the custom of free debate and immunity of members of parliament from arrest
