Topic 1: Constraints on Kingship Flashcards
What was the medieval society?
The medieval society was built on the feudal system.
- The king was at the op of this system.
- The King gave land to the barons.
- The barons gave the king money and men to fight in wars.
- Knights were given land if they promised to fight when needed.
Under the feudal system the king had the final say. Kings were supposed to listen to the Great Council (a group of trusted advisors) - but they rarely did.
What made a good medieval king?
A medieval king was meant to:
- Defend the people by leading the army well.
- Keep the country peaceful.
- successfully deal with any rebellion.
- maintain good relations with the church and the pope.
Role of the church
Christianity was an important part of medieval life; it was believed the king was appointed by God. The church was very powerful. Led by the Pope in Rome but controlled in England by bishops and other members of the clergy, the church owned large amounts of land and set rules on everything from marriage to inheritance.
Who was King John?
John succeeded his brother Richard in 1199. Not long after this Arthur, John’s nephew and a possible alternative king was murdered. In 1204 John lost his land in Normandy to the French king, and spent the rest of his rule trying to win it back. This was expensive, John used every means at his disposal to collect money to pay mercenaries to fight for him in France.
What was John a bad king?
- Taxes
John made use of a tax called scutage which was a payment knights
and barons could make instead of fighting for the king. He had used
it 11 times since 1199 and each time the barons had to pay more.
The barons had enough in 1214, when many refused to pay. They
no longer believed John had the political will, or the military might,
to retake his French lands. - Religion
John was in dispute with the church. In 1207 Pope Innocent III
appointed Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. John was
not pleased as he wanted to appoint leading churchmen himself
and bind them to his own policies. Innocent III reacted by e
excommunicating John and banning all church services in England
until the king relented. In 1212 he even said it was no longer a sin
to kill the king, so some barons made a plot to do just that. Initially
John was happy, as the Church’s wealth went to the king and helped
the royal finances. But in 1213 John reached an agreement with the
Pope and promised to ‘restore the laws of Edward the Confessor’. - War
The final straw for the barons was another defeat in France in 1214,
at the Battle of Bouvines. It was ow obvious that John couldn’t take
Normandy. Another demand for scutage in 1215 was met with r
resistance form the barons who planned to challenge John. The
barons circulated Henry I’s coronation charter, suggesting it made a
good basis for agreement with the king. The pope backed John but
in May 1215 London came out in support of the barons. John knew
his position was weak.
How was the Magna Carta formed?
The two sides (king and barons) met at Runnymede in June. The barons drew up a list of demands which they presented to the King for him to agree. John was in no position to disagree so he had to sign the charter, although he never intended to keep to it. In John’s eyes this was a temporary agreement whilst he rebuilt his forces, in the eyes of the barons it was a chance to make John behave as a proper king should.
What happened after the Magna Carta was signed?
- When the barons tried to implement the term of the Magna Carta, king John refused to accept their right to impose decisions decisions on him and civil war broke out.
- The barons made an alliance with the King of Scotland and invited Prince Louis of France heir to the French throne, to be be crowned king of England. He did this and brought an army with him in May 1216. John initially had success in the siege of Rochester in late 1215, which gave John the upper hand after he and his men wee bale to storm Rochester Castle. However he lacked wealth and support he needed to defeat the barons.
- In October 1216 king John dies. His son Henry was only 9 but people thought he was the rightful king and supported him. In October 1217 Prince Louis accepted this and went home to France. A council of barons would run the country until Henry was of age.
What was the significance of the Magna Carta? Short and long term impacts
People at the time thought that what made it significant was that it established that the king was subject to the law and that consent had to be given before taxes could be imposed, and that it reinforced the right to a free and fair trial.
It was re-issued many times throughout the 13th century:
- November 1216
-November 1217
- In 1225
- In 1265 when Henry was a prisoner of Simon DeMonfort
- By Edward I in 1297 and again in 1300
Short term impacts
- King John went back on his word, meaning the Magna Carta had no immediate impact on society.
- Peasants and villeins were still not free; nothing changes for ordinary people at the time.
- Only the politically powerful such as barons, the Church and merchants benefited from the Magna Carta.
Long term impacts
- Magna Carta introduced the idea that there were some laws and rules the king had to follow.
- Eventually more people gained freedom.
- Kings after John signed similar versions of Magna Carta.
- It was viewed as the first step in Britain becoming a democracy.
