Revision notes/guide for British period (england 1216-72) Henry III political crisis/civil war and Simon de Montfort and reconstruction 1263-72.
Political Crisis (1258–1263): causes; nature; extent; effect
- covers causes, tensions, impact of the minority, provisions of oxford/westminster
...
1. Question of royal absolutism (theory advanced by clanchy)
- Des roches brought ideas of royal absolutism to court but dismissed 1234
- 1258 opponents did not level accusation that henry was absolutist
- De ligbus et consuetudinibus angliae, treatise on laws of England produced in 1220s,
circulated in 1247, 1253-57
o Stated king is under no man, one cannot legally resists his acts
o But that doesn’t mean king can break the law
o King is under the law and has a duty to govern in accordance with it
o No per voluntatem
- Most that was claimed in a speech to pope by an envoy of the barons, that the Lusignan
half-brothers whispered to the king that he was above the laws
did henry abuse MC?
- Clause 39 arbitrary disseisns
o Disseisns of 1236 quickly reversed
o Matthew paris describes an incidence when henry unjustly deprived the countess of
Arundel a warship, but quickly reversed his decisions when realising he was wrong
to do so
- Clause 40 refusla of justice
o The manifesto of 1264 accused henry of breaking this clause, but it H did not directly
abuse justice, his magnates did
- Henry sternly reminded sheriffs in 1253 to follow MC, and in 1255 sheriffs ordered to read
MC in their county courts and ensure it was upheld on pain of punishment
o But the sheriffs weak, empty words
o Only one instance between 1250-1258 when henry intervened on behalf of MC:
o 1255, henry instructed justices of the eyre in surrey and other counties to ensure
MC observed by king and by everyone else, but the eyre weak
o It was possible to complain about MC contraventions (e.g. used in gloucstershire
eyre of 1248 against roger de somery) but the reformers of 1258 had to set up an
official institution whose only purpose is to register complaints against king and
magnates
- MC reissued 1215/1216/1217/1225/1237/1253
2. French family and patronage
Osney abbey chronicler: ‘he loved aliens above all the english’
- In 1240s and 1250s, it was constantly demanded H govern with native counsel
- ‘petition of the barons’ demanded that strategic councils only be entrusted to the natives
- Stories of their abuses and privilege became widespread
the court had Savoyard uncles and Lusignan half-brothers – the first wave (peter of savoy) was not
too disruptive, the second waves in 1240s
- 1247: William de Valence married an heiress and gained Pembroke and Irish lands
o 833 fee p/a, hertford castle and permanently at court
, - Geofreey and guy des lusignans granted pensions and wardships
o H wanted to keep a foothold in Poitou by appeasing the L
- Aymer de Lusignan promoted to ecclesiastical livings despite not having the right education
- 70 poitevan knights kept on payroll
Competition over patronage
- Usually the Lusignans were in favour, and enjoyed H lavish patronage
- But H did not have the large store of patronage to freely draw from as John did as MC,
crown land was inalienable so he could only give money and marriages
- H publicly took sides
o E.g. William de valence against SdM and JfG
o Archbishop Boniface over earls of Norfolk and Hereford over dispute over pembroke
attempts at intermarriage
BUT
- Leading officials were British
o Chief councilor Richard earl of Cornwall and Richard de clare of Gloucester
- 3 English magnates were part of the 12 men chosen by henry to draw up the reform plnas
on 1258 (but also 3 Lusignan’s)
- Intermarriages
o Earl of surrey married William de valence’s sister
o Earl of Gloucester and derby married Lusignan nieces of H
o Earl of Lincoln married to Savoyard second cousins
o H wanted a close and harmonious court of French and English
-
3. Structure of government
Access to court
- H had a small circle who had immense power over him
- 1236, William de Valence encouraged H to form a sworn council of 12 ministers who ran
sheriffdoms, concentrated king’s lands to 2 custodians – reforms increased rev by 2500 p/a
o No real purpose, just aggravated everyone
justiciar and chancellorship
- Controlled the royal seal
- Didn’t need to consult the king, could issue ‘writs of grace
- C held by Ralph de Neville 1218-1238, and J held by HdB 1219-32;
o Acknowledged to use the seal with an even hand, fairly
- Their successors Neville and Seagrave were dismissed in 1234 and 1238
o H didn’t replace them
o The seal went to minor officials such as John Mansel, clerk
o He had no power or independence, keeping him under H control but also meant he
was inept and easily bribed etc.
- disappearance of the great offices of the state didn’t affect nobles at court who had direct
access to H
o affected minor magnates/knights/freemen who lost communication to the centre
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