p&tp part one: challenging authority & feudalism Flashcards
chapter 1: constraints on kingship (MC stuff), chapter 2: the origins of parliament (Simon de Montfort stuff), chapter 3: medieval revolt & royal authority (Peasants' Revolt)
1
Q
chapter 1: what was the structure of the feudal system?
A
- king at top of this system
- king gave land to barons
- barons gave king money & men to fight in wars
- knights given land if they promised to fight when needed
under feudal system king had final say; kings supposed to listen to Great Council but rarely did
2
Q
chapter 1: who was the king meant to listen to in the feudal system?
A
the Great Council (a group of trusted advisors), but they rarely did
3
Q
chapter 1: what was a Medieval king meant to do?
A
- defend the people by leading the army well
- keep country peaceful
- successfully deal w any rebellions
- maintain good relations w Church & Pope
4
Q
chapter 1: why was Christianity an important part of Medieval life?
A
- believed kings appointed by God
- Church v powerful
- Church led by Pope in Rome but controlled in England by bishops & other members of the clergy
- Church owned large amounts of land & set rules on everything from marriage to inheritance
5
Q
chapter 1: why did King John fall out w the Pope?
A
- Pope wanted Stephen Langton to be Archbishop of Canterbury, but John wanted someone who’d be less loyal to Pope; wanted someone who’d listen to him instead
- Pope retaliated by cancelling all church services, incl. marriages & funerals
- made barons (& everyone else) v unhappy as thought they’d go to hell
6
Q
chapter 1: how did King John do in battle?
A
- not very good
- lost vast areas of territory in France that England once ruled over
- this earned him nicknames ‘lackland’ & ‘softsword’
- as result, John struggled to raise enough money to govern & defend country
7
Q
chapter 1: why might King John be remembered as a good king?
A
- religious tolerance
- fair justice system; always made sure to be there at trials & that they were fair
8
Q
chapter 1: why were the barons unhappy w King John?
A
- worried about invasions from foreign countries bc of fall out w Pope; didn’t maintain good relations w Pope
- had to pay scutage - high tax on those barons who didn’t fight for John when he asked
- John repeatedly ignored demands of Great Council which meant barons felt their views not respected
- John’s poor battle record meant he lost land in France
9
Q
chapter 1: what did the barons do as a result of their dissatisfaction?
A
- fed up w John
- raised army against him & occupied London
- John realised he’d need to listen to them, as he needed their support to stay in power, so met w them on 15th June 1215 to negotiate way in which country should be governed
10
Q
chapter 1: where did the barons & King John meet to sign the Magna Carta?
A
Runnymede, 1215
11
Q
chapter 1: what were some key terms of the Magna Carta?
A
we grant to all freemen the liberties written below:
- a baron’s heir shall inherit his lands on payment of £100 to the king
- no scutage shall be imposed on barons except w the common counsel of the realm
- no freeman shall be arrested or imprisoned w/o proper trial & according to law of the land
- English Church shall be free to make its own appointments
- all merchants shall have safety, in staying & travelling in England, for buying & selling goods, free from evil tolls
- group of 25 barons will be created to monitor king & ensure he commits to MC (Clause 61)
12
Q
chapter 1: what are the stages/events of the First Barons’ War?
A
- John quickly went back on word, saying he’d been forced to sign MC
- Pope agreed, stating MC invalid
- war started in England between barons & king; barons had support of French who sent troops & money to help barons
- Siege of Rochester late 1215 gave John upper hand after he & his men able to storm Rochester Castle
13
Q
chapter 1: what is the timeline of events after the Magna Carta was signed? (not incl. first barons’ war)
A
- may 1216: barons promised French Prince Louis the English throne, he arrived on the coast; he takes control of England, & has support of Scottish King
- 2 june 1216: Prince Louis announced (but not crowned)) King of England
- Oct 1216: King John dies
- 28 Oct 1216: John’s young son Henry becomes King Henry III; MC reissued & Henry III agrees to conditions
14
Q
chapter 1: what were the short term impacts of the Magna Carta?
A
- King John went back on word, meaning it had no immediate impact on society
- peasants & villeins still not free; nothing changed for ordinary people at time
- only politically powerful e.g. barons, the Church & merchants benefited from it
15
Q
chapter 1: what were the long term impacts of the Magna Carta?
A
- MC introduced idea that there were some laws & rules the king had to follow
- eventually more people gained their freedom
- kings after John signed similar versions of MC
- viewed as first step in Britain becoming a democracy
16
Q
chapter 1: summary of chapter 1/constraints on kingship/Magna Carta stuff?
A
- Christian religion v important in Medieval life; Medieval kings believed they were appointed by God
- King John seen as bad king when lost wars, made barons pay high taxes (scutage), & fell out w Pope
- John panicked when barons went against him - needed their support both in running country, and in disagreements w Pope
- at Runnymede June 1215 barons made him sign MC
- John quickly went back on his word, supported by Pope
- barons gained support of French & challenged John again by declaring that French Prince Louis was king
- King John died Oct 1216 & young son became King Henry III; he agreed to conditions of MC
17
Q
chapter 2: who did Simon de Montfort marry?
A
King Henry III’s sister, Eleanor
18
Q
chapter 2: when did King John die as who become king after him?
A
1216; his young son became King Henry III & ruled w help of advisors as he was 9, ruled on his own in 1234
19
Q
chapter 2: when did King Henry III start to rule on his own?
A
1234
20
Q
chapter 2: what were King Henry III’s problems?
A
- the Pope
- the French
- the Barons
21
Q
chapter 2: why was the Pope a problem for King Henry?
A
- henry very pious king - close relationship w Pope Innocent IV in Rome; pope tried to use him to fight wars in Sicily
- Henry meant to pay Pope money to fight these wars, & when he didn’t pay, new Pope (Alexander IV) threatened to excommunicate him
- Pope also wanted Henry’s brother Richard to become Holy Roman Emperor, which was an important job - meant Henry’d feel pressured to help pay for Pope’s wars
22
Q
chapter 2: why was the French a problem for King Henry?
A
- Henry’s father, King John, had lost a lot of French lands so Henry had to raise money to fund war campaigns to get them back
- unsuccessful at first but then sent his brother in law, powerful & aristocratic SdM, who won land back in Gascony & controlled area for Henry
- reports reached Henry that SdM had been too harsh w French people so sent son Edward to keep control
23
Q
chapter 2: why were the Barons a problem for King Henry?
A
- by 1254 Henry’s relationship w barons had deteriorated - they were angry about his various schemes (land lost in France or more money to Pope in Rome for wars against Sicily)
- angry that Henry’s French family given jobs in English court & Italian clergy given top jobs in Church
-Henry’s tax increases to pay for Pope made barons angry as they were ones who had to pay - but he needed support of barons otherwise he couldn’t pay Pope & so would be excommunicated
24
Q
chapter 2: when were the Provisions of Oxford signed?
A
1258
25
chapter 2: what happened in the Provisions of Oxford?
- barons refused to support king
- SdM led barons to call a Great Council meeting in 1258 - here, king had to agree to P of O
- barons also refused to fund planned payment to Pope over wars in Sicily
- P of O gave barons great power - barons could now make decisions w/o king's approval, but king couldn't make decisions w/o approval of council
26
chapter 2: what were the main terms of the P of O?
- council of 15 barons would be in charge of Great Council, elected by 24 men (12 appointed by king & 12 by barons)
- foreign members of royal household would be banished
- castles would be held by Englishmen
- each county would have a sheriff & taxes would be decided locally
27
chapter 2: why were the Provisions of Oxford significant?
- gave barons great power - barons could now make decisions w/o king's approval, but king couldn't make decisions w/o approval of council
- P of O, extended in 1259 in P of Westminster, reformed local gov and gave more power to less powerful & wealthy in society
28
chapter 2: why were some barons angry about the Provisions of Oxford/Westminster?
- some older barons felt reforms got in way of their local interests
- some younger barons angered by them as they weren't elected to council & therefore lost their influence
- barons were divided
29
chapter 2: how did King Henry III get back his power after the P of O?
- gained support of barons who didn't like SdM & P of O
- he wrote to Pope & asked for his permission to cancel provisions
- 1261 Pope agreed
- so Henry appointed his own men to Great Council
30
chapter 2: what happened in the Second Barons War?
- henry ruled as badly as he had before after he got his power back, so after 3 yrs barons called upon SdM
- 2nd barons war began
- at Battle of Lewes in 1264 SdM captured king & imprisoned his son, young Prince Edward
- SdM now in charge & England on its way to becoming a republic
31
chapter 2: how did SdM create the first Commons?
- SdM created a **council** of 9 of his closest friends & allies
- he **reconfirmed MC & P of O**
- barons started to worry he'd become **too powerful**
- **1265** he called meeting of Great Council inviting rich merchants (burgesses) & knights
- this meant he'd now **secured support from ordinary people** - burgesses of the towns - who were sometimes referred to as **'commoners'**
- this group later became known as **the Commons,** in this early form of parliament
- this **developed democracy** in England & would help **pave way** for **all** groups to have a voice
32
chapter 2: when was the first 'Commons' made?
in the parliament of 1265
33
chapter 2: when was the Battle of Evesham?
1265
34
chapter 2: what happened in the Battle of Evesham?
- barons started to get concerned that SdM becoming an autocrat so put support behind Henry
- Prince Edward had been released from prison & raised an army
- they were out to get SdM
- 4th August 1265 at Battle of Evesham SdM fell from his horse; body cut up into pieces & sent around country as warning
- monarchy back
35
chapter 2: when did Simon de Montfort die?
at the Battle of Evesham on 4th august 1265
36
chapter 2: what was the short term significance of the parliament of 1265?
- Henry III ruled until 1272 but never called another meeting of Great Council; when son Edward I became king he learned from father's mistakes & called many parliaments
- 1295 Edward called the Model Parliament, which was first parliament that resembled our parliament of today, w invited aristocrats & elected commoners
37
chapter 2: what was the medium term significance of the parliament of 1265?
- king's power challenged again in **1649** w death of Charles I & the start of **English Revolution;** a republic governed for a period of time
- king's power not totally changed until **Glorious Revolution of 1688 & 1689 Bill of Rights** - parliament gained more control than monarch
38
chapter 2: what was the long term significance of the parliament of 1265?
- 1840s: Chartists campaigned for representation for working class
- women waited long time for voices to be heard: all women & men over 21 got vote in 1928 (1918-1928 women aged 30+ allowed to vote but only if owned property)
39
chapter 2: what is the significance of the parliament of 1265 today?
the queen/king is a figurehead w no direct influence over gov
40
chapter 2: summary of chapter 2/SdM & parliament of 1265 stuff?
- Henry III started to rule on own in 1234 & quickly annoyed barons
- Pope threatened to excommunicate Henry unless he funded war w Sicily
- SdM close to king & fought for him in France, but then lost favour
- H started to raise taxes to fight French - SdM led barons against king
- SdM called Great Council in 1258, where king's power limited by P of O
- Battle of Lewes 1264 SdM & barons took full control
- early form of a parliament w the burgesses/commoners called in 1265
- monarchy restored along w royal authority after Battle of Evesham 1265
- 1295 King Edward I held first Model Parliament
41
chapter 3: where were the peasants of Medieval England in the feudal system?
at the bottom, working for a lord & serving the king - life was hard
42
chapter 3: what were the economic causes of the Peasants Revolt?
- **1348: plague/Black Death** arrived in England; killed most of peasant workforce, so fields of crops left to rot & villages abandoned; as there were fewer workers, peasants could demand **higher wages**
- **King Richard II raised taxes** to fund campaigns against French in 100 yrs war - **poll tax**
- by **1380** everyone > 15 had to pay **4 groats** per yr to king; massive inc. from the 1 groat previously
43
chapter 3: what were the political causes of the Peasants Revolt?
- local lords & even king worried peasants **becoming too powerful** & that feudal system would break down
- **1351 King Edward III** passed the **Statute of Labourers** which restricted movement & wages of peasants; they were forced to return & work for their lord again
- peasants wanted reform to **reduce the influence of landowners**
44
chapter 3: when was the Statute of Labourers passed, by who, and what did it do?
**1351 King Edward III** passed it, which **restricted movement & wages of peasants;** they were forced to return & work for their lord again
45
chapter 3: what were the religious causes of the Peasants Revolt?
- many priests started to preach that the Church was **exploiting the peasants** by making people pay **pardons** for their sins
- **John Ball**, a priest, said God had **created everyone equally** & there shouldn't be rich/poor; Ball was **arrested**
46
chapter 3: what were the social causes of the Peasants Revolt?
- Black Death plague spread across country **killing 1/3 of pop;** mostly **poor** people
- many peasants started to **move around** from village to village looking for best paid work
- between **1377-1379, 70%** of people brought before **Justice of the Peace** were accused of breaking Statute of Labourers
- peasants returning from 100 yrs war forced to go back to old lives & pay higher taxes
47
chapter 3: what is the timeline for the Peasants Revolt?
- **30 May:** peasants refuse to pay poll tax & threaten to kill local tax collector
- **2 June:** Chief Justice comes to collect poll tax & also threatened; peasants fine tax collector's clerks & behead them, also set fire to houses of poll tax supporters
- **7 June:** peasants march to Maidstone & make Wat Tyler leader; free John Ball, storm Rochester Castle & burn tax records
- **12 June:** peasants reach London's city walls & Richard II sails to meet them, but crowd too rowdy
- **13 June:** peasants storm city walls, burn palaces & kill supporters of king; some peaceful as Tyler had ordered
- **14 June:** Tyler meets king & outlines peasants' demands; king agrees & asks peasants to go home. while this happening, another group kills A of C
- **15 June:** king meets peasants again & agrees to demands, but 1 of his men kills Tyler; peasants leave London & revolt over
48
chapter 3: what were the peasants' demands in the peasants' revolt?
- all villeins to be made freemen
- full change to system of law
- Church lands to be given to the people
- all bishops except 1 to be removed
49
chapter 3: what did Richard do after the Peasants' Revolt?
- went back on his word
- said he'd been forced to agree to demands so didn't count
- rebel leaders all rounded up & hanged, and John Ball & Wat Tyler's heads stuck on spikes on London Bridge
50
chapter 3: when was the Peasants' Revolt?
1381
51
chapter 3: what was the impact of the Peasants' Revolt? (short term significance)
although appeared to be a failure as Wat Tyler killed:
- King Richard did **stop poll tax** - not repeated until 1989 in Scotland & 1990 in England & Wales
- peasants' **wages began to rise** bc situation before revolt remained same: lack of workers so could demand more money. parliament eventually gave in & **stopped trying to control their wages**. Statute of Labourers eventually **withdrawn**
- some peasants even able to **buy own land** bc so much unused after Black Death
- gradually peasants became more independent & **within 100 yrs peasants & villeins were freemen**
52
chapter 3: what do historians think about the Peasants' Revolt? (kind of longer term significance)
- some believe it was unnecessary; society already changing & serfdom coming to an end
- most believe it was significant, as was 1st time ordinary people/working class rebelled; some further believe the revolt marks start of English ideas of freedom
53
chapter 3: summary of Peasants' Revolt?
- Black Death arrived in England 1348, killing 1/3 of pop
- fewer workers so peasants started to demand higher wages
- Statute of Labourers passed in 1351 as way to control peasants & their rising wages
- King Richard II fighting France in 100 yr war - needed funding so introduced a poll tax
- John Ball started to preach about how Church had been exploiting peasants
- uprisings in Essex & Kent against bad priests & evil landowners
- Wat Tyler became leader of revolt & peasants marched to London in 1381
- king agreed to speak w rebels but too much violence at first; eventually met w Tyler & agreed to demands
- Tyler killed 15 June 1381, possibly by 1 of king's men
- King Richard went back on word - **in short term, revolt ended in favour of king, but had lasting impact on land ownership, wages, taxes & freedom**
