This document includes summary sheets for chapters 1-4 of the AQA GCSE History Thematic Study 'Power and the People', and covers the following specification points: 'Constraints on Kingship'; 'Origins of Parliament'; 'Medieval Revolt and Royal Authority' and 'Popular Uprisings against the Crown'. S...
Why were the barons angry at King John?
Excommunication King John argued with the Pope regarding the appointment of Stephen Langton as the Archbishop of
of England Canterbury. Pope banned all church services (leading to everyone going to hell).
Possible foreign Poor relations between Church and King would make England weak and therefore open England up to a
invasion possible foreign Catholic invasion (Pope had a lot of power over European countries).
Scutage King John imposed excessive tax on the barons to fund his wars in France.
Land loss King John lost a lot of wars in France (which barons had to pay for) and so therefore he lost a lot of land in
France (which the barons owned).
Incompetence King John managed to lose the crown jewels in The Wash (an area of marshland in Wales).
Why would some say King John was not a bad king?
Legacy of his His father (Henry II) was very popular amongst his people and his brother (Richard I ‘The Lionheart’) led a
father. successful crusade. He would never fill the shoes of his predecessors.
Debt Richard I spent a lot of money on foreign wars (namely in France) and so when John stepped into the position
of king he had a lot of debt to pay off (taxation was the only way).
Wars John won wars against Scotland and used the ‘spoils of war’ to strengthen the country.
Navy John put a lot of money into the navy and, arguably, started off British naval supremacy.
Fair trial John ensured a non-biased judge and jury and often oversaw trials to ensure they were fair.
In June 1215 Robert Fitwalter led an army of barons into London and took the capital. The country was in civil war. To end this
John accompanied the barons to Runnymede in Windsor where he signed the Magna Carta. He agreed that:
The church could make its own appointments (meaning Langton became Archbishop).
All freemen would not have excessive scutage imposed on them.
A baron’s heir could inherit his land on payment of £100 to the king.
No freemen shall be arrested without proper trial.
A group of 25 barons will watch John to make sure he is keeping to Magna Carta.
Merchants will be safe travelling around England.
John claimed that, because he had been forced to sign Magna Carta, he would not stick to it. The Pope came out in support of
John and said it was invalid. What came next was the Barons’ War. It involved the barons getting support of French Prince
, Louis who, when the war was won after John died in October 1216, was going to be crowned king. After John had won the
Siege of Rochester (by burning down the wooden foundations of the castle) the whole country turned on him and supported
the barons. When John had died and Louis had been sent back to France it was up to the barons to ensure John’s 9-year-old
son resigned Magna Carta and stuck to it.
The Significance of Magna Carta
Short-term success Short-term failure Long-term success Long-term failure
Barons had support of John did not stick to it Helped lawyers in 1600’s 3 of 63 terms remain
Church
Barons could buy their own Only those high in feudal Applied to more as feudal Took until 1295 for
land system were helped system ended (c1300) ‘Commons’ to happen
Peasants protected from king Pope and King did not get on Scotland, Wales and US Women not helped
agreed
John lost all power Sparked civil war Britain = democracy Encouraged racism
Freemen had more rights Nobody knew about it Stopped king doing what Little impact on human rights
they wanted
Simon de Montfort Summary Sheet
Why were barons angry at Henry III?
Henry was a pious king Henry was often seen as subservient to the Pope. He paid a lot to the Pope to fund wars in
Sicily. This impact the whole country.
Threat of Henry failed to pay promised money and so Pope threatened to excommunicate England.
excommunication
Holy Roman Emperor Henry’s brother was put as Holy Roman Emperor (requiring Henry to pay the Pope even
more).
Important jobs Henry gave important religious jobs to the Italian clergy. He also gave important jobs in
Parliament to French people.
Sympathy towards French Henry’s tutors and advisers were French. He married into the House of Lusignan.
Gascon Campaigns Taxes must be raised.
Simon de Montfort Provisions of Oxford (1258)
- Married Henry’s sister. King needed to pay the Pope but barons refused to pay taxes. Simon de
- Became Henry’s favourite. Montfort set up the Great Council and met up with the king to give him these
- Received role of Steward. demands.
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