Introduction to the Medieval World: Class 17
Class 17: The Western Monarchies: England, France, Spain
Assigned Reading:
-
Hollister, 248-71
-
Map: France
in 1032
-
Map: The
Growth of the French Royal Domain, 1182-1350
-
Map: The
Angevin Empire, c. 1174
-
Map: Medieval
England, c. 1399,
-
Map: Medieval
London
-
Map: Spain:
the Reconquista, 1037-1270
-
The
Domesday Book: Instructions and Example
-
Henry
of Huntingdon: Chronicle [c.1080-1160]
-
Henry
II: The Constitutions of Clarendon, 1164
-
Henry
II:The Assize of Clarendon, 1166
-
Magna
Carta [A Magna
Carta in plain text is also available, as is a British Library modern
translation] [SKIM]
-
Summons
of a Bishop, a Baron, and the Commons to Parliament 1295
-
Abbot
Suger: Life of Louis VI
-
St.
Louis: Advice to His Son
-
WWWReading: Charles Julian Bishko, "The
Frontier in Medieval History", AHA 1955 [at UKans]
-
WWW Link: Secrets
of the Norman Invasion
-
WWW Link: Bayeux
Tapestry
-
WWW Link: Regia
Anglorum
I. Introduction - Change in "Feudalism"
A. Feudalism grew up as response to attacks and collapse
of central power.
-from c. 1050, and earlier, the attacks stopped.
-Feudalism was by then an established pattern.
-Like all patterns it under went change.
B. Commerce
-Growth of Commerce - by merchants
-Especially in Northern France and Flanders - heartland
of classical feudalism.
-Money
C. Powerful lordships - change military demands
-Normandy, Flanders, England + Crusades
-40 days service not enough
-Military leaders begin to pay soldiers - and commute
military service to money -= called scutage in England.
D. Chivalry
Code of Feudalism develops as Aristocratic culture
Chivalry + Romance
Also Aristocrats remain a rich class in society.
But their role changes. Increasingly they are a class
within a country, rather than small scale rulers of
counties, duchies etc.
II. England
A. 1066 - The Conquest
1086 - Domesday Book
B. Henry I
-the Exchequer - An efficient way of looking after money.
-Household - still followed kings around
C. Plantagenets
-Henry II 1154-1186
-All of England, Ireland and Half of France
-Law develops in England - Royal Judges apply
feudal law to kings advantage. But are fair
Get right amount of money
-Kings control over vacant fiefs.
-Courts are a source of power. Kings law sticks better.
-Use of Writs - Beginnings of Common Law.
D. John
-Pushes it too far
-Magna Carta - Idea of Due process (for barons.
-Anglicization of Aristocracy.
-The `Men of the Realm'
E. 1265 - Simon de Montfort vs.,. Henry III - Parliament.
III. France
A. Capetians
B. Ile de France
C. Defending rights in the Ile de France - Louis VII
IV. The Next Stage - Philip Augustus
-Normandy & Languedoc
-Laws
V. Christian Kingship and St. Louis
A. St. Louis
Crusades
Justice
Relationship with Church
B. Joinville
1. What is Joinville's account of Louis IX's
relationship to his people?
2. What made Louis so virtuous in the eyes of his
contemporaries?
3. How did Louis deal with the clergy?
4. What was the importance of Justice to Louis's power?
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© Paul Halsall, 1996.
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