Review of what I’ve learnt this week

Europe at the time was brutish and violent, life expectancy was short for all classes of people in 1100 it was around 30 years. Due to this growing violence as an attempt to control it a moral code was introduced by the church embracing personal bravery, honour and the protection of the weak moreover Christianity grew in importance in mediaeval Europe due to this it was an age of intense religious beliefs. Due to the short life expectancy people were concerned about their afterlife and the idea of heaven and hell, churches were decorated with doom paintings illustrating judgement from God and hell and heavens dramatic contrast. However, England was in many ways unique compared to the rest of Europe. England was an affluent, well governed state. Administration of the kingdom as well as the rule of law was well established. England’s stable currency strengthened internal and foreign trade – dissimilar to many of the other countries in Europe.

The King before Henry II was King Stephen who came to the throne in 1135. The monarch should have been Empress Matilda, the previous king’s daughter and only surviving child, who was married to an Angevin. All the barons including Stephen had sworn an oath they would support Matilda’s claim to the throne. Yet after the king’s death the barons supported Stephen. This then caused a major civil war. In 1139 Empress Matilda arrived in England to seek her claim to the throne therefore causing the country to become heavily divided as the west supported Matilda and the east supporting Stephen. Stephen struggled to control England potentially even causing an anarchy. Stephen was captured at the battle of Lincoln and Matilda tried to have herself crowned in London but failed when her half-brother Robert was captured by Stephen’s supporters. In 1148 Matilda decided she could not win and returned to France. However, the fight for the English throne continued with Matilda’s son Henry. Launching 3 campaigns within the years 1148-1153 despite this he was unable to defeat Stephen. In the end they both came to terms at Winchester in 1153 forming a treaty that the civil war would end, and Stephen would name Henry his heir despite having children, so when Stephen died Henry would inherit the throne.

Stephen never had control over the whole country during his reign therefore his government of the whole country was greatly diminished. Stephen de-centralised his government in order to deal with the civil war however as a result of this the policy was open to abuse, barons were able to line their pockets with the taxes within their earldom and were open to bribes in court. Government overall was disorganised. The exchequer system of taxation no longer functioned, and the legal system was weakened as royal judges were not recognised throughout England and it was too dangerous for them to go on Eyres. After Stephen died in 1154 Henry inherited the throne making him Henry II. He introduced financial reforms which stabilised the currency, moreover, increasing royal income. Henry also established common laws and procedures throughout the country for the first time, permanent courts at Westminster and itinerant judges were created. Henry also ruled over a vast collection of states given the name the Angevin Empire. Each state ruled over independently by the King and Queen. Frequently leaving England to visit overseas, delegating to his government ministers and their departments. His reforms meant the country was well governed in his absence. Despite this, the most famous event of Henry’s reign was likely the murder of his archbishop of canterbury, Thomas Becket on 29^th December 1170 in canterbury cathedral.