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Middle Ages Struggle for Power in England Section 4 Struggle for Power in England • Anglo-Saxon and Norman England – Before the1000’s – Kings and lords struggled for power • Anglo-Saxon England – – – – By 450 Roman rule in Britain ended Germanic tribes moved in Culture that emerged called “Anglo-Saxon” Over time they formed several independent kingdoms • • • • • Northumbria – Northern England Mercia – Central England Wessex – Southern England Kingdoms divided into districts called Shires Governed by shire-reeve which becomes the word Sheriff Alfred the Great • 800’s Kings of Wessex controlled • Vikings (Danes) challenged Wessex kings – Over ran much of England • Alfred the Great - 871 CE – Wessex King – Attacked Danes-lost fight – Made a temporary peace and spent 5 years built powerful army and navy – 876 - Attacked Danes-won in 886 • Treaty allowed Danes to live and govern themselves • Alfred’s successors – Strengthened the government – Spread Christianity – Unified country • Danes began to attack again – 1013 Danes control England til 1042 – Anglo-Saxons choose Edward the Confessor The Norman Conquest • Edward died had no heir in 1066 – Duke William of Normandy • From France – A distant relative - claimed the throne – Anglo-Saxons refused to recognize his claim – Selected Harold of Wessex to be king • Edwards brother-in-law • William was determined to win the throne – Crossed the English Channel with group of knights – Defeated Harold’s army • Crowned William I King of England – Known as William the Conqueror The Conqueror and his Successors • William the Conqueror ruled from 1066– 1087 – Brought feudalism to England – King, not nobles held supreme authority • lord swore loyalty to king • Stopped the lords from uniting against him • Scattered their fiefs throughout England • Sent royal commissioners to count shire’s people, assess land holdings, and measure type and value of property to set up accurate tax system – Domesday book Reforms under William’s Successors • Henry I – Ruled from 1100 1135 – Williams son, Able ruler – Exchequer-finance dept. • handled king’s finances • government more efficient – Sent traveling judges throughout the country to try cases • Weakened feudal lords • Kings royal court, not the lords feudal courts dispensed justice Henry II • Henry II - 1154 – 1189 – increases royal authority – England’s legal system grew • Traveling judges established routes or circuits • Used a 12 member jury system – Replaced trial by ordeal or combat – Decided civil as well as criminal cases – Vassals could pay the king a fee instead of performing military service • Money used to hire soldiers • Military loyal because they are paid Henry II • Sought to try members of the clergy who had already been judged in church courts – To decrease the influence of church courts • Thomas Becket - Archbishop of Canterbury – Refused to allow his clergy to be tried – Becket and Henry became bitter enemies • 4 of the king’s knights murdered the archbishop in his cathedral, to help the king • Henry denied any part of the murder, but did penance to appease the church – Henry leaves church alone Henry II • The Last years of his reign were trouble – Sons plotted against him – Marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine was stormy – She brought into their marriage a lot of French lands which ended up causing conflicts with the French • Overall Henry strengthened the English monarchy, reduced influence of the nobility. King John and Magna Carta • King John – Henry II’s son • Demanded nobles pay more taxes – To support wars with France – His actions led nobles to revolt – In 1215 group of nobles joined together against the king • Threatened armed revolt against him • Forced John to accept a document--the Magna Carta Magna Carta and beyond • Magna Carta – Protected the liberties of the nobles – Provided a limited outline of rights for England’s ordinary people – King John agreed no new or special taxes without consent of the Great Council • A body of nobles and church leaders who advised the king – Promised not to take property with out paying for it – Promised not to interfere with justice of the courts – Agreed to trials by jury of peers – Importance: King is not above the law Parliament • 1260’s - Nobles revolt against Henry III – Threatened the Monarchy – led by Simon de Montfort (Lord) – Tried to build middle class support for the nobles • To unite against the king – The Great Council – Nobles and Clergy • Middle class representatives – becomes the English Parliament divided into 2 “houses” » Nobles and clergy - House of Lords » Knights and burgesses - House of Commons Common Law • Edward I - ruled from 1272 – 1307 – One of England’s greatest monarchs – Divided the king’s court into 3 branches • Court of Exchequer – kingdom’s financial accounts – Tried tax cases • Court of Common Pleas – cases between ordinary citizens • Court of the King’s Bench – Conducted trials concerning king or government • Decisions made by royal courts were collected and used as the basis from future court verdicts – Known as Common Law – Applied equally to all citizens – Living Law, not based on code, but on modern times. Rise of Capetian Kings • France – Last of the Frankish/Carolingian kings die. – Nobles choose Hugh Capet as King of France – Will work to create a strong central government • Create Estates General – Representative body of the three social classes – Commoners, nobility, and clergy – unsuccessful, no support at local levels • France remains feudal Clash over Germany and Italy • After Charlemagne’s death his empire slowly fell apart • Several of Charlemagne’s descendants in Germany inherited the title of Holy Roman Emperor – However they did not really rule Italy – Part ruled by the Pope – Part ruled by the Arab Muslims Holy Roman Empire • Germany – Feudal lords elected Otto I - 936 • Known as Otto the Great • Worked to developed a strong kingdom in Germany • In 951 Otto attacks territory in northern Italy • Later Pope John XII struggled with Roman nobles – Begged Otto for help – Pope crowned him ‘Emperor of the Romans’ in 962 » Same title given to Charlemagne • Otto rules Germany and northern Italy • Germany becomes a major power Holy Roman Empire • Henry III - 1046 – 1056 – Viewed the church as a branch of the imperial government – Expected the church to actively support the empire and its ruler – 3 different men claimed the papacy during his rule – Removed them from office and elected a German pope • Also chose next three popes Struggles - Papacy vs. European Rulers • Henry III dies – 5 yr old son Henry IV king – German nobility sees this as an opportunity to regain their independence – The church also moves to restore its power – At age 15, he tries to strengthen his rule • Pits him against Pope Gregory VII – one of the most powerful popes in the Middle Ages • Clash between Pope and Henry IV Pope Gregory VII • Pope Gregory was a strong & able leader – Worked to bring spiritual reform – Increased the power and authority of the papacy • Believed the church was the supreme spiritual and temporal power in the earth • Thought had control over rulers and people Pope Gregory and Henry IV • Main Conflict involved lay investiture – Appointment of bishops by temporal rulers • Henry believed he had the right to appoint bishops • Gregory opposed this –In reaction he excommunicated Henry –Also released Henry’s subject from their vows of loyalty –Urged nobles to elect another king Imperial Submission • Fearing rebellion Henry sought the pope’s mercy – Traveled to meet the pope – Met in the mountains of northern Italy • Bitter cold, icy mountain paths – Pope made Henry wait 3 days to see him – Henry pleaded for the pope’s mercy • Pope revoked his excommunication Imperial Submission • Struggle continued over lay investiture • Finally representatives for both sides meet – Agreement reached called Concordat of Worms • Named after city they met in • Limited imperial power of the German church • Emperor could appoint bishops to fiefs (land grant) • Only the pope had power to name bishops • Recognized the spiritual leadership of the pope Frederick Barbarossa • Frederick I (Frederick of the Red Beard) – Ruled Germany from 1152-1190 – Set out to capture Lombard states in northern Italy • Captured Milan –Destroyed city and drove out the people • Other city states and Pope unite to form the Lombard League –Raised a powerful army – defeated Fredrick Innocent III • • • • 1198 – 1216 Strongest of the medieval pope’s Skillful political leader Believed in the supreme earthly power of the papacy • Felt he had authority to settle all political as well as spiritual problems – Involved himself with disputes all over Europe • Used his powers of excommunication and interdiction