the origins of parliament

Question 1

when did king henry decide to rule on his own ?

Answer 1

1234 and before long his relationship with the barons was at breaking point

Question 2

how was the pope an issue for king henry

Answer 2

• henry was a very pious king which meant he had a close relationship with pope innocent IV in rome
• henry was meant to pay the pope money to fight wars in Sicily - he did not pay
  -> the new pope alexander threatened to excommunicate the king

Question 3

how were the French an issue for king henry

Answer 3

• henrys father john had lost a lot of French lands so henry raised money to fund war campaigns to get them back
• he was unsuccessful at first but then he sent his powerful aristocrat brother Simon de Montfort who won land back in Gascony and controlled it for henry

Question 4

how were the barons an issue for king henry

Answer 4

• by 1254 henrys relationship with the barons had deteriorated- they were angry about various schemes:
  -> angry that henrys French family were given jobs in the English court and Italian clergy were given top jobs in the church
• henrys tax increases to pay the pope-> made the barons angry s they were the ones who had to pay

Question 5

what were the causes of the provisions of oxford

Answer 5

• due to the issues between the barons and the king they refused to support him
• Simon de Montfort led the barons to call a great council meeting in 1258
• here, king henry had to agree to the provisions of oxford

Question 6

what did the provisions of oxford give the barons

Answer 6

• the barons refused to fund the planned payment to the pope for the wars in Sicily
• the provisions of oxford gave the barons great power
• barons could now make decisions without the kings approval
• but the king could not make decisions without the approval of the council

Question 7

what were the provisions of Westminster

Answer 7

• extended in 1259
• reformed local government and gave more power to the less powerful and wealthy in society
• this angered older barons who felt that the reforms were getting in the way of the local interests
• some younger barons were angered as they were not elected to the council so they lost their influence
• the barons were divided

Question 8

give the 4 terms of the provisions of oxford

Answer 8

• a council of 15 barons would be in charge of the great council, elected by 24 men ( 12 appointed by the king 12 appointed by the barons)
• foreign members of the royal household would be banished
• castles would be held by Englishmen
• each country would have a sheriff and taxes would be decided locally

Question 9

how did henry gain back charge after the provisions of oxford

Answer 9

• henry gained the support of the barons who did not like de Montfort and the provisions of oxford
• henry wrote to the pope and asked for his permission to cancel the provisions
• pope agreed in 1261
• henry then appointed his own men to the great council

Question 10

how did henry rule after gaining back control and the lead up to the 2nd barons war

Answer 10

• henry ruled as badly as before
• after 3 years the barons called upon Simon de Montfort
• the second barons war begun
• at the battle of Lewes in 1264 de Montfort captured the king and imprisoned his son- prince Edward
• de Montfort was now in control of England and it was on its way to becoming a republic

Question 11

what was the parliament of 1265 and the first ‘commons’

Answer 11

• de Montfort created a council of 9 of his closest friends and allies
• he reconfirmed magna carta and the provisions of oxford
• barons started to worry that he was becoming to powerful