Succession

Significantly, which noble died in 1153?

Ranulf of Chester. This shows how the most powerful nobles died in the 1150s, which meant that Henry II would not have to struggle to control them and also meant he would not face opposition from them. Stephen left behind a legacy where he couldn’t control nobility and had to rely on luck for the death of independent barons.

Who succeeded David of Scotland in 1153?

Malcolm IV. Malcolm was too young, and this also meant that Henry didn’t have to keep his promise he made to david of scotland to give him northumbria, and allowed henry to go back on this promise in order to retain a strong position as the promise would have weakened his position as king, also allowed him to keep claims over north of england. This shows that stephen left behind a weak legacy with david of scotland due to treaty of durham where he gave up direct conflict on return for allowing david to have control over the north. But also that due to david of scotlands death, the issue with scotland was resolved.

Who did Henry distance himself from?

his mother. Henry II distanced himself from his mother empress matilda in order to portray himself as stephen’s legitimate heir and to strengthen his claims to throne as he was Henry Is grandson and queen matilda grandson.

The breakdown of what system had undermined Henry’s ability to implement justice?

Justice-in-eyre. Limited Henry IIs ability to implement justice and shows how government broke down, stephen left a weak legacy as he left decentralised and broken government to Henry II, this also created a reliance on sheriffs and local officials who could be bribed so was not reliable. Limited the kings ability to implement justice due to officials being corrupt so royal writs were not heeded.

What position was in danger of becoming Hereditary?

Sheriff/local officials. This meant that sheriffs would no longer be appointed by the king so local government would become decentralised, as the authority of local officials increased, the harder it would be to remove them from their positions which means the king would just lose complete control. Stephen left behind a weak legacy.

Who still held a claim against Henry for the English throne?

William of Boulogne. (remained earl of surrey and count of bolougne). This was stephen’s son, and it meant that stephen’s family still held claim for the throne and he was a potential claimant. Shows how stephen left behind a claimant for the throne.

however he was too young to act on this claim and Henry II had a stronger claim.

Which church member still held influence in England, albeit waning?

Henry of Blois/ winchester. He held many castles and was very influential, so he had strong control, and also he was still Stephen’s brother, meaning he had some influence from before, although this began to wane due to theobald supporting empress matilda, and theobald was a more powerful figure due to him being a legate, so had more influence due to polar interference becoming more important.

What is the term given to the land encroached upon by the barons?

royal demesne. Some barons had used the lack of control in outer zones in order to encroach on royal demesne in the outer zones. some had built castles known as adulterine castles. shows how stephen’s legacy was so weak and that he had not much royal authority and so barons took advantage of this and encroached on royal demesne, also shows how henry inherited a weak out of control position in terms of royal authority and had no control of these out of control areas like the outer zones as some earls resisted giving the castles back to henry II initially.

What were castles, built or strengthened without the kings permission, called?

Adulterine. Shows how this became more common due to the lack of royal authority Stephen had over these areas which led to Henry inheriting a weak position.