Topic 1 The Crises Flashcards
1
Q
long term causes of 1399 crisis
A
- Son of loved parents - Edward the black prince
- Child king - caused tensions between nobles - John of Gaunt, Thomas of Woodstock
- 1377-81 - French attacks and high taxation
- 1381 - ‘Peasants’ Revolt’ - hated poll tax - blamed evil councillors
- Richard forgave them, promised improvement - later revoked pardons and executed them
- 1347 Black Death - caused class tension - shortage of labour increased wages - nobles and gentry unhappy -1350 Statute of Labourers passed to keep wages down
- Marriage with Anne of Bohemia arranged by de la Pole and Simon Burley - people not happy as was expensive (£12,000) and no military assistance
2
Q
Richards fallings as an adult monarch
A
- Accused of favouritism - e.g. William de la Pole and Robert de Vere - disliked men who Richard gave lots of land and power
- Generosity unsustainable - led to debt
Accused of pro-French lenanings - not into the war, grew up in France - Didn’t lead military expeditions himself - tried for peace with France
- Alienated Gaunt in Scotland - bottled attacking Edinburgh - Gaunt left for Spain
3
Q
wonderful parliament of 1386 and its consequences
A
- Parliament demanded de la Pole be reomved from office - Richard refused
- Meeting between Richard and nobles - told him that parliament could dissolve and no taxation would come
- Richard angry - threatened to seek help from French
- Thomas of Woodstock and Thomas Arundel threatened to depose the king
- Richard forced to meet with parliament and watch favourite fall. Also inquiry into royal finances
- Richard angry - started moving round - de Vere made justice of Chester - looked for miltary and legal advice there
- ‘Lords appellant’ (including Henry Bolingbroke) accused favoruites of treason
Battle at Radcot Bridge - de Vere/ de la Pole defeated - they fled - ‘Merciless Parliament’ 1388 - Richard’s favourites tried for treason - Richard angry
- Consequences limited - John of Gaunt returned to bring back some stability - sent Henry on trip round Europe - became great warrior
4
Q
Richard II and problems of succession
A
- Anne of Bohemia dead in 1394 with no heir
- Technically heir was Roger Mortimer - however John of Gaunt had strong claim and support - Gaunt and Henry threats to Richard
- Richard II refused to marry again - death of Anne made him unstable
- Married Isabella (daughter of French king) - only a child so remained unconsumated - accompanied 28-year truce - controversial
5
Q
tyranny of Richard II 1397-99
A
- Richard allied with France because more independant from parliament (no taxation) and could use their help to suppress nobles - very paranoid
- July 1397 - arrested 3 of lord’s appalent - Gloucester, Warwick and Arundel
- Gaunt and Bolingbroke sided with king - Henry betrayed Arundel, Gloucester murdered * Gorwing unease of tryanny of richard
- Bolingbroke begged pardon for 1387 and hosted feasts for him
- Henry and Mowbray fell out - let to them both being exiled
- Initially promised Henry he would still inherit Lancaster
- John of Gaunt died Feburary 1399 - Henry disinherited - allied with duke of Orleans and French king’s brother militarily - politics in France had changed
- Richard not worried - had alliance with France - went to Ireland
- Henry invaded July 1399 - had Lancastrian support. Duke of York supported Henry - most of king’s army in Ireland
- Richard delayed in returning to England
- Henry arrested Exeter and Surrey (Richard’s allies) and seized Richard’s treasure
- Northumberland met Richard - brought back to Henry - was imprisoned in tower
6
Q
why was bolingbroke able to seize power
A
- Originally claimed to regain lost lands - disinheritance was criticised so got support Unclear whether he wanted to be king - maybe was revenge
- Didn’t want to leave Richard in power - may get arrested like other lord’s appellant Henry well recieved - king’s supporters in Ireland
- Richard unpopular among noblemen - wanted new king
7
Q
Henry IV and the problems arising from his behaviour in 1399
A
Claimed that Richard willingly gave up throne - said he was ‘utterly inadequete’
8
Q
accusations against Richard II
A
Fact that Richard was forcibly removed caused instability - needed to show he was immoral - Accused with:
* Heavy taxation
* Treatment of lords appellant - snaked them
* Chesire retinue became unlawful
* Unjust treatment of Henry
* Made local officers more accountable to king Failed to repay loans
* Infringements on rights of the church
* Richard claimed he invented the law
* False accusations of treason to gain money Ignoring advice from nobles
* Taking the crown jewels to Ireland on campaign
* Seizing land unlawfully and imprisoning without trial
* Not trustworthy - continual uncertainty made nobles unhappy
Important for Henry - needed overwhelming reasons to overthrow kings - however made possible for nobles to overthrow kings they disliked
9
Q
justification for Bolingbroke becoming king
A
- Henry claimed it was bloodright - however left vague
- Mortimer only other candidate - however was child and inherited through grandmother
- Mortimer a threat - powerful family with connections in Wales - made Edmund and Roger wards - lived in Windsor
- 1402 - moved boys to loyal Lancastrian - Mortimer’s uncle allied with Welsh and said nephew was rightful king
10
Q
first revolt and death of Richard II
A
- Solidified reign - Henry made Prince of Wales - guaranteed heir
- Revoked Richard’s unpopular policies
- Told parliament he could ‘live of his hown’ - gained popularity as less taxes
- Reconciled with Richard’s supporters - prevented backlash
- ‘Epiphany Rising’ - Ricardian’s planned to murder king - plan stopped - Henry found out - lack of support and locals killed rebels
- Richard dead 1400 - suicide or murder - to stop pretenders
11
Q
owain glynder and welsh rebellion
A
- Welsh prince who plotted death of Henry and Lancastrians
- Attacked Ruthin - overwhelmed by Lancastrian forces
- Prince of Wales in charge - Henry Hotspur military commander
- Continued threat in 1400s - guerrilla tactics
- Edmund Mortimer (uncle) joined Welsh - parliament banned all weapons going to Wales
12
Q
Hotspurs rebellion 1403
A
- Percies disliked Richard II - supported Henry IV - Hotspur rewarded - lots of power in Wales
- However, Hotspur became dissatisfied:
Victories in Scotland - Henry didn’t allow prisoners to be ransomed - however Hotspur didn’t hand prisoners over - maybe Henry IV jealous of success - Financial disagreements - not paying Percies in time to protect from Scotland
- Hotspur’s wife Elizabeth Mortimer - aunt of Edmund Mortimer
- Disliked wars in Wales - wanted to concentrate on Scotland
- Refused to ransom Edmund Mortimer in Wales
- Prince of Wales took away Hotspur’s power
- Some claimed Hotspur wanted to be king
- 1403 - Hotspur rebelled - defeated at Shrewbury - Hotspur’s body displayed
13
Q
influence of relations with scotland and france 1400
A
- Needed to solidify international reputation because was usurper
- Duke of Orleans lent support for rebellion - would cause chaos
- When Henry usurped, Orleans unhappy - requested queen be returned and challenged Henry in armed combat
- Previously, Duchy of Aquintane given up by Henry III - Edward III claimed it back and started 100 years war
- Richard popular in Aquintane - Henry wasn’t
- 1401 - Charles VI granted Aquintane to his Dauphin
- Led to lots of piracy and increased English defence costs - not good for Henry
- Channel became dangerous - increased French attacks on the South coast and Aquintane
- Parliament criticised English defences - mismanagement of funds on king’s households
- French had allied with Scotland
Henry tried for peace with Scotland - didn’t work - waged war and told Robert III to perform acts of homage - Henry invaded with large army - gained very little - went back quick to deal with Owain Glyndwr
- Northen lords defended England from Scotland - Percie’s got important victory - tension over ransom money led to rebellion
14
Q
scropes rebellion and break down of Henrys health
A
- Scope (Archbishop of York) invaded - rebellion put down quickly
- Scrope executed - criticised because senior clergyman
- Henry defied everyone to execute him
- Led to a breakdown in his health
15
Q
how did Henry IV survive threats to reign
A
- Henry under a lot of pressure from Scotland, France and Wales - all worked together
- Was successful in reigning until his natural death - good at diplomacy:
- 1402 - marriage between his daughter and ‘King of the Romans’ (in Germany) gave important ally in good location
- 1406 - Marriage of other daughter to King of Scandinavia - Hanseatic trading league
- 1402 - Henry married Joan of Brittainy - gave foothold in France
- Invitied king of Portugal and king of Castile to ‘Order of the Garter’ - buttered them up as military romanticsed heroes
- Most important factor was Richard’s death - no alternate kings
- Earl of March closely guarded - Hotspur’s rebellion crushed
- Also had a militarily able heir in Henry V
