Power and the People - King John, Baron's Revolt, Magna Carta

Feudal System Order

Kings, Nobles, Knights, Peasants

Knights role

Given land in return for military service

Types of peasants

Serf - Tied to land for life and did not earn salary

Freeman - Could leave whenever and could negotiate salary

How could serf become freeman?

Escape owner and stay free without getting caught for a year

Vassalage

To owe services or loyalty to another person

What was the main industry in a medieval village?

Farming wheat, barley and rye

Peasant life conditions

- Starving

- Disease

- House of timber (cold)

- Work from dawn to dusk

Main religion of medieval England

Catholic

Why was religion important to peasants?

Gave them hope for heaven and also allowed for religious holidays where they did not have to do any work

What event would lead to the peasants life's improving?

Black Death

How much land did Church own?

~ 25%

What was everyone expected to give Church?

- Peasants had to provide work service (free labour)

- Everyone paid 10% tax (tithe) to Church

Where were a lot of crimes tried?

Church court

How could the Pope threaten monarchs?

Excommunication

Charter of Liberties

- Basic principles of law and order for everyone

- Henry 1 first to issue charter of liberties

- Promise to punish 'evil customs' and uphold traditional Anglo-Saxon laws

How did king John make peace with France, and then start war again?

Pays 20,000 to King Phillip II (unpopular as tarnishes richard's reputation) and then marries young french countess to gain land

What happened to john's nephew arthur?

Captured after battle and disappeared from all records after 1203. Rumours that arthur murdered by John with own hands

When did phillip launch his invasion of normandy and what did John do?

1204 and John escaped in fear earning nicknames Softsword and lackland

How did John try to gain funds to take back normandy and what were the effects?

- Collected scutage 11 times from barons, very unpopular as knights had to pay as well

- Royal income increased from 25k to 150k by 1211

- All attempts to retake normandy failed

- Also introduced new fines such as to Baron William de Briouze in 1208

How did John respond to Steven Langston?

- Refused him as archbishop and did not allow entry into country

- pope innocent III issued interdict on england and excommunicated

- very unpopular as everyone was intensely religious and they could no longer do things like mass or funerals

How did john try to ensure his next military campaign was successful?

- Demanded repayment of loans and confiscated land when barons couldnt pay

- Granted england to pope as papal fief and accepted steven langston as arch bishop

When did john start a major invasion of france and what happened?

- Started in 1214

- Undermined by disloyalty from barons and returned to england in autumn to deal with barons rebellion

- his final attempt had failed

When was the barons revolt and what were the effects?

1215 and was forced to sign the magna Carta in june 1215 at Runnymede which contained 63 clauses, one of which was a council of 25 barons

What happened following signing of magna carta?

- john refused to uphold terms as the pope deemed it unlawful and barons war resumed in 1215

- john died in 1216 and the barons made French prince Louis king

- after that, john's son henry inherited the throne as a child

Economic causes for Barons Revolt

- Scutage

- Pays france 20,000 marks

Religious causes for Baron's Revolt

- Indict

- Refuses langton into country and as archbishop

Political causes for Baron's revolt

- Indict

- Refused to uphold the magna cartta

- Does not allow langton into country and as archbishop

- Kills arthur

Military causes for Baron's revolt

- Makes peace with France

- Pays france 20,000 marks

- Wages war on france

- Fled in terror in invasion of normandy

What methods of protest can be identified from this case study?

- Violent rebellion (barons closing King into London)

- Political protest (Magna Carta)

What is significant about Magna carta as a document and method of protest?

Limits King's authority and challenges Divine Right

Short term impact of Magna Carta

First time divine right is challenged and put into law

Long term impact of Magna Carta

Inspiration of rights and liberties for next 800 years

What documents and events did Magna Carta go on to inspire?

- US Revolution (1776)

- UN declaration of human rights (1948)

- Used by parliamentarians against king Charles I in 17th Century