Birth of Kingdoms

Objectives

• Describe how William the Conqueror and Henry II strengthened English royal power.

• Analyze the traditions of government that developed under King John and later English monarchs.

• Explain how strong monarchs unified France.

Power Struggle

• Form the framework for Nation-States– Modern day

countries– Power shifts

from about 1000-1300

History of England• Angles and Saxons• Alfred the Great united

tribes(1st King)• King Edward dies, with no

heir, competing claims between Harold and William

• William the Conqueror and Battle of Hastings (1066).

• New Norman rulers and diffusion that took place.

Expanding Royal Power

• William had a complete census taken. Why?

• “Domesday Book”– Listed every castle,

field, and pigpen in England

Developing a Unified Legal System

• 1154 – Henry II– Creates English

common law• Legal system based on

custom and court rulings

• Applied to all of England

– Creates jury system• Group of men sworn to

speak the truth

Henry II• Clashed with the

church (right to try clergy)

• Archbishop of Canterbury – Thomas Becket

• “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?”

Richard I (1189-1199)

“Couer De Lion”Spoke little EnglishOnly 7 months in

EnglandEmptied the treasury

with many wars, ransom

Died in France leaving his brother, John, as King

Fight for Control • King John I

constantly at war – 1215 signs Magna

Carta. Lords look to limit Kings’ power.

– Limited the power of the monarch

The Magna Carta

•Rule of law •Powers and privileges of the king are clearly defined and limited •Charter provides for enforcement of restrictions placed on the king •Fairness of the laws and their execution •Equal justice under the law •Recognition of customs, traditions, and established rights •Punishment in proportion to the crime •Commitment to "due process of law" •No trial without evidence/testimony to support accusations •Reliance on local courts and magistrates •Trials held in a timely manner •Trials open to the public •Trial by a jury of one's peers •Right to property

•What do these rights of Englishmen remind you of?

FranceThe Capetian dynasty: Hugh

Capet 1st Capetian King in 987They controlled very little land

Most of the country dominated by powerful feudal princes

Slowly established a solid power base and eventually imposed their will on French Nobles

The Kingdom of France at the time of Hugh Capet. French royal domain in blue.

Phillip II Augustus

Phillip II Augustus King at 25 Goal: To weaken power of English Kings in

FranceTook Normandy back from John in 1204

New administration for FranceUsed middle class “bailiffs” instead of nobles

to collect taxes and administer the kings law Absolute Monarchy is the result

Estates General eventually created but is too weak to cut into kings power (no power of the purse)

Louis IX

• Beloved King• Persecuted heretics

– Those who held beliefs contrary to church teachings, Jewish population

– Led French knights in two crusades against the Muslims

Church Power• Pope Innocent III – claimed

supremacy over all rulers.• “[The Pope] stands between

God and man, lower than God but higher than men, who judges and is judged by no one”

• Showed power over King John of England and Philip II of France.

• Extended Papal States

Beginnings of Democratic Ideas

• INFORMALLY began after Magna Carta:

• King Edward calls “model parliament” 1295 for first time – Two houses, commons and lords. – Today’s impact. United States?– French Estates General set in 1302 after

struggle with the Church. • 3 “Estates” to balance power of church