The Royal Court Flashcards
What was the purpose of the royal household?
Saw to the monarch’s domestic needs
What was the royal court?
A group of people who support the king eg. Servants
In what ways did the royal court collectively uphold the power of the monarch?
Creates the impression that the king is very powerful through banquets
Courtiers owe their positions to the king (patronage)
How did the royal household uphold the monarch’s power?
Patronage necause people desperately wanted to be part of it
How did the royal household undermine the monarch’s power?
Opening it up to too many people dilutes power and makes it too costly
Traditional nobility view outsiders as bad influences
In what ways did the privy chamber uphold the monarch’s power?
Under HVII it was very well guarded (yeomen of the guard) which was important because he was a usurper
Allowed him to always have access to income
Dry stamp improved efficiency
Allowed for patronage eg groom of the stool
In what ways did the privy chamber undermine the monarch’s power?
HIII allowed the Seymour faction to have access to the dry stamp so they were able to make changes to his will without his permission
Under E and Mary it declined in importance bevause roles were increasingly filled by women
What was the privy council?
A formal body which advised the king
Size of the royal council under HVII?
Larger and more formal with over 200 members. Included nobility and yorkists like John Morton
In what ways did the royal council uphold HVII’s power?
Nobility were v useful bevause he had no experience in ruling
Used 5 great councils to make it difficult to argue with his decisions because it made it look like he was taking the nobility’s opinions into account when he had already made a decision
In what ways did the Privy council uphold HVII’s power?
It became in charge of all work that was previously assigned to Cromwell eg. Norfolk demanded that in any given matter, all members are written to to prevent anyone gaining too much power
In what ways did the privy chamber uphold Mary and Elizabeth’s power?
The reduced size meant that power remained concentrated eg. Average council attendance under Mary was just 12
In what ways did the privy chamber challenge HVII and Edward’s authority?
Seymour used his position to make decisions usong members of his household eg Michael Stanhope became groom of the stool
Changing size of the privy chamber
Under HVII: 227 members
1540: 19 members
1603: 13 members
(GREW SLIGHTLY UNDER EDWARD BECAUSE HE WAS SO YOUNG!)
