Henry II History Paper 2 - Topic 3

Papal primacy

Papal primacy

The idea that the pope was in charge of the whole Catholic church in Europe. Aka papal supremacy.

The Gregorian reform movement.

Named after Pope Gregory, these were a set of ideas for reforming the church; it included the idea of papal primacy. See below for further details. It is also known as the papal reform movement.

The clergy

People who worked for the church. It accounted for about 5% of the male population. It included priests, monks, bishops and archbishops as well as clerks (secretaries), administrators and other workers for the church.

The senior clergy.

Refers to the leaders of the church: the archbishop of Canterbury, the archbishop of York, and the other bishops.

The benefit of the clergy.

The right of all clergy to have their legal case tried in a church court using church law.

Canon law.

The name given to church law. These had recently been updated by a lawyer in Europe called Gratian and published in a book called the Concordia; church courts throughout Europe were using Gratian’s canon law.

Ecclesiastical.

An adjective meaning ‘church’. So, for example, ecclesiastical law = church law.

Secular/ lay.

An adjective meaning ‘not church’. So, for example, secular power would refer to the power of anyone not in the church, such as the king. A lay person was someone not employed by the church.

Excommunication/ to excommunicate.

A church punishment banishing someone from the church; they could not go to church services or receive any of the sacraments: mass, confession, the last rites, burial etc. Usage: “Becket excommunicated the bishops.”

An interdict.

This was basically a church strike: churches would close and hold no services. Usage: “Pope Alexander placed an interdict on Henry’s continental lands.” It could also apply to a person, with them being forbidden to attend any church service.

A papal legate.

A representative of the pope sent to negotiate on the papacy’s behalf.

Briefly describe the traditional view of kingship.

The king ruled over the entire kingdom, over matters of church and state.

Briefly describe the main idea of the papal reform movement.

The papacy controlled the Catholic church in Europe, not secular rulers.

Did Henry believe in the ideas of Gregorian reform or the traditional view of kingship?

The traditional view

State 2 ways in which the church was involved in affairs of state.

Crowned and legitimised the monarch/ provided literate and numerate people for gov departments/ ran the church legal system/ archbishops and bishops were part of the curia regis and helped make major decisions.

State 2 ways in which the church depended on the state.

Provided protection and security/ the king gave it land, c.⅕ of England

What was the dilemma which faced senior church leaders?

Who did they owe loyalty to – the king or the pope?

What was the power struggle about between monarchs and the church in the decades before Henry’s reign?

Who had ultimate control of the church, particularly over appointments.

Give 2 examples of how the papacy had increasingly been involved in England in the decades before Henry’s reign.

New ideas about reform brought in by papal legates + letters/ archbishops such as Theobald pushed for greater church freedom + independence/ more and more legal cases went to church courts which used canon law/ were more appeals to Rome/ in Stephen’s reign the papacy had heavily influenced the appointment of the archbishop of York.

Give 2 examples of how Henry himself had benefitted from papal intervention.

Papacy had backed his claim to the throne/ Pope Adrian had given his blessing on Henry’s invasion of Ireland/ Pope Alexander had given permission for young Henry to marry princess Margaret (despite their age!).

What was Henry’s general aim with regard to the church?

He wanted to bring it back under strong royal control.

Why did Henry admire William I?

He had very strong control over the church by introducing the Customs of the Realm.

Why did Henry admire Henry I?

He also had a firm grip over the church and had negotiated a deal with the papacy which meant church leaders did homage to kings for their lands but they were also able to recognise the spiritual authority of the papacy; seemed to solve the dilemma church leaders faced, but not totally, as the papacy was pushing for even more control over church affairs which monarchs did not like.

Why did Henry not like the growing power of church courts?

They had some jurisdiction over his subjects/ used canon law not his common law.

What was the phrase used to describe someone found guilty in a church court?

A criminous clerk.

Why did Henry think church courts were too lenient?

Didn’t hand out harsh enough punishments/ no death penalty/ undermined justice.

What was Henry’s “solution” to all his problems with the church?!

Appoint his chancellor and best friend, T Becket, as archbishop of Canterbury and the

leader of the church in England.

Explain why Henry wanted Thomas as leader of the church.

He trusted him/ relationship already strong/ wanted him to bring the church back under his control, particularly the law.

Which bishop was particularly outspoken about Becket’s appointment?

Gilbert Foliot, bishop of Hereford (later bishop of London).

Explain why those in the church did NOT want Thomas as archbishop.

He was Henry’s right hand man and best friend/ felt he would do Henry’s bidding and bring the church back under royal control/ he wasn’t a priest or monk.

In what year was Becket appointed as archbishop?

1162.

What was the specific issue Henry and Becket clashed over at Woodstock?

The tax, Sheriff’s Aid.

What was the specific issue they argued over at Westminster?

Criminous clerks being punished twice.

What was the famous phrase Becket began using which suggested he was agreeing with Henry, but actually meant he would not agree to anything which went against the best interests of the church?!

“Saving our order”

What were the 16 customs called that Henry tried to introduce at Clarendon in 1164?

The Constitutions of Clarendon.

What was clause 3 of the Constitutions and why was Becket so against it?

The clause was about criminous clerks being punished twice for the same offence. Becket was so against it because a. it had never been a custom; b. he had already refused to agree to it at Westminster; c. it disagreed with the Bible.

Why did Becket and the bishops verbally agree to the Constitutions in the end?

The barons threatened them.

What “surprise” did Henry spring on the barons near the end of the meeting at Clarendon?

He produced a written copy of the Constitutions.

What is a chirograph and why was it a mistake for Thomas to receive it?

A chirograph is a document cut in half with jagged edges which could later be matched to prove authenticity; in an illiterate age, this was as good as signing and therefore agreeing to the document. So, by accepting the chirograph, Thomas was accepting the Constitutions.

What did Becket do in the weeks following the meeting at Clarendon?

He withdrew his consent for the Constitutions and offered his resignation to the pope.

At the Council of Northampton, what did Henry initially charge Becket with?

Mishandling monies as chancellor.

When Becket didn’t turn up to court, what happened next?

Henry charged him with treason and Becket fled the country going into exile in France for 6 years.

Why did those in the church not speak up for Thomas in the exile period?

Many still did not trust him/ still saw Becket as Henry’s man/ were afraid that Henry might turn on them.

What did Henry do to many of Thomas’ friends and family?

Confiscated their land and sent them into exile; c. 400 affected.

Why did Pope Alexander have to tread carefully?

He needed to support Henry as he’d helped him become pope; he was the most powerful man in Europe and there was still trouble with the anti-pope. At the same time, he needed to support Becket as he was standing up for the church.

What did Becket do in the Sentences of Vezelay?

He excommunicated those officials involved in the Constitutions of Clarendon, and condemned the Constitutions themselves.

Name the 2 meetings where Henry and Becket met, but failed to come to terms.

Montmirail and Montmartre.

Who performed the coronation of young Henry in 1170…and why was Becket furious?

Roger, Archbishop of York, crowned young Henry. Thomas was angry because it broke tradition – it should have been him!

What did Becket do to the 3 bishops who performed the coronation?

Excommunicated them.

Name the meeting at which Henry and Becket finally “made up.”

Freteval.

What did the 3 excommunicated bishops tell Henry in Normandy?

Becket was leading an army in Kent.

Who were the 4 knights involved in the murder?

Reginald FitzUrse, Richard le Bret (sometimes written le Brito), William de Tracey and Hugh de Morville.

When was Becket killed in Canterbury Cathedral?

29 December 1170

Where did Henry go to escape criticism for the murder?

Ireland.

At the Settlement/ Compromise of Avranches in 1172, what were the 4 terms Henry agreed to?

 Abolish all “evil customs”

 Allow appeals to Rome

 Restore confiscated church property

 Provide 200 knights to crusade in the Holy Land

When was Thomas canonised?

1173.

How did Henry publicly show he was sorry for his part in the murder?

Did penance in Canterbury/ was whipped by monks/ lay all night by Thomas’ tomb.

What further concession did Henry make to the church in 1176?

He gave way on the issue of criminous clerks.

Give 2 examples of how Henry’s power remained strong in England after the settlements.

 Excommunications still needed Henry’s approval.

 The Constitutions remained firm, apart from the issues of appeals to Rome and

criminous clerks.

 Papal legates still needed permission from Henry to enter England.

 Bishops still needed royal permission from Henry to attend councils abroad.

 Henry still controlled ecclesiastical elections.

Give 2 examples of how the church’s and the papacy’s power was strengthened after the settlements.

 Henry had given way on the issues of appeals to Rome and criminous clerks.

 Henry’s relations with the church and papacy were far better and less bitter;

negotiation and compromise were more common than had been between Henry and Becket.

 Alexander’s position as pope was strengthened. Papal involvement and influence continued to grow in England.