Church and State relations 1174-1189 Flashcards
(27 cards)
What was the Compromise of Avranches (1172) and why was it significant?
It reconciled Henry II with the Church after Becket’s murder. He denied ordering the killing, accepted papal authority, ended royal claims to try clergy, and allowed appeals to Rome.
What penance did Henry II agree to under the Compromise of Avranches?
He pledged to fund 200 knights for crusade, restore church lands, and abolish ‘evil customs’ infringing on ecclesiastical rights.
How did the Church respond to Henry’s compromise in 1172?
Papal legates absolved him of blame, and Pope Alexander III accepted the terms, restoring papal support.
What dramatic act of penance did Henry II perform on 12 July 1174?
He walked barefoot to Becket’s tomb in Canterbury, was scourged by monks, and held a night vigil.
What coincidental event followed Henry’s penance at Becket’s tomb?
News arrived that William the Lion had been captured at Alnwick, seen as divine vindication.
How did Henry II use clerics in governance after 1174?
He appointed loyal and educated churchmen to senior political roles and bishoprics.
Who were Henry’s post-Becket Archbishops of Canterbury?
Richard of Dover and Baldwin of Forde, both approved by Henry and the Pope.
What major ecclesiastical reform took place at the Council of Northampton (1176)?
Joint church-state reforms were passed to address justice, clerical discipline, and royal authority.
How did Henry II support the Church’s spiritual mission?
He funded hospitals and leper houses, founded three monasteries, and supported clerical jurisdiction in misconduct cases.
How did chronicler Gervase of Canterbury assess Henry’s church policy after 1174?
He noted that Henry ‘never again openly defied the Church,’ showing a desire for ecclesiastical peace.
How did Henry II manipulate church elections despite the Avranches compromise?
He frequently influenced cathedral chapters, such as ensuring Geoffrey Plantagenet’s election as Archbishop of York.
Why was Geoffrey’s election controversial?
He was an illegitimate royal son and had to resign the Bishopric of Lincoln, facing resistance due to his birth.
What conflict erupted between Baldwin of Forde and Canterbury monks?
Baldwin sought to reform the Christ Church monastic chapter and accused them of greed.
What action did Baldwin take against the Canterbury monks in 1188?
He imprisoned the monks in their priory for over a year and suspended services at Canterbury Cathedral.
How did the Pope respond to Baldwin’s measures at Canterbury?
Pope Urban III ordered Baldwin to abandon his Hackington project and sided with the monks.
What was Henry II’s role in the Baldwin-monk dispute?
He supported Baldwin throughout, backing royal or episcopal authority against lower clerical opposition.
How was the Baldwin dispute resolved after Henry’s death?
Richard I dissolved Baldwin’s Hackington project in 1189, siding with the monks.
What was the Saladin Tithe of 1188 and why is it significant?
A 10% tax on income and movable goods to fund the crusade, showing unprecedented cooperation between royal and church agents.
Who collected the Saladin Tithe and how?
Clergy and Templars/Hospitallers collected it in dioceses, with local priests assessing contributions.
How much was raised by the Saladin Tithe?
£70,000 from the laity, plus further sums from the Jewish community.
Why was the Church’s support for the Saladin Tithe critical?
Without church endorsement, such a large tax would have been politically impossible.
How did the Church react to Henry II’s crusade plans post-1187?
It actively preached the crusade and legitimized taxation efforts, highlighting a mature partnership between Church and Crown.
How did Henry II manage to maintain peace with the Church post-1174?
By honoring canon law, avoiding overt confrontation, appointing loyal clerics, and acting as a patron of Church reform.
What was the political impact of Becket’s canonization in 1173?
It strengthened royal prestige as England gained a powerful new saint and pilgrimage site.
