Medieval Politics: Medieval Politics: Beginning of Beginning of Nation/StatesNation/States

The Beginning: Medieval The Beginning: Medieval FeudalismFeudalism

• ManorsManors• HierarchyHierarchy

– KingKing– Barons/Earls/DukesBarons/Earls/Dukes– PeasantsPeasants– Artisan and Merchant Classes and Artisan and Merchant Classes and

beginning of citiesbeginning of cities

• PhilosophyPhilosophy• How it workedHow it worked

The PlayersThe Players• Pope (see Church) as secular rulerPope (see Church) as secular ruler• Holy Roman Empire: growth of electors in Holy Roman Empire: growth of electors in

towns, provinces and city/states, church towns, provinces and city/states, church controlled townscontrolled towns– Frederick Barbarossa (Hohenstaufen) after Ottonian Frederick Barbarossa (Hohenstaufen) after Ottonian

(Charlamagne established the HRE)(Charlamagne established the HRE)– Frederick II fourth excommunication weakened Frederick II fourth excommunication weakened

emperor in regards to popeemperor in regards to pope

• FranceFrance• EnglandEngland• Spain and the fight against the MoorsSpain and the fight against the Moors• Russia: Russia:

– Prince Vladimir of Kiev=Greek Orthodox religion; Prince Vladimir of Kiev=Greek Orthodox religion; center of empire=Kievcenter of empire=Kiev

– Mongol/Tatar invasion and dependence of RussiaMongol/Tatar invasion and dependence of Russia– Ivan the Great : Moscow becomes dominant of all N. Ivan the Great : Moscow becomes dominant of all N.

Russia; throws off Mongol ruleRussia; throws off Mongol rule

England/France MessEngland/France Mess

• 1066 William the 1066 William the Conqueror unites Conqueror unites Normandy with EnglandNormandy with England

• His children try to subdue His children try to subdue both Scotland and Walesboth Scotland and Wales

• Henry II and Eleanor of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and the fight of Aquitaine and the fight of children vs father children vs father

• Philip Augustus/Richard the Philip Augustus/Richard the Lionhearted and the Lionhearted and the CrusadesCrusades

100 Years’ War100 Years’ War

• With weak English kings (John, Henry III, With weak English kings (John, Henry III, Edward II), by 1224, all French lands except Edward II), by 1224, all French lands except Aquitaine had been lost to the French; in Aquitaine had been lost to the French; in Aquitaine, the English king was vassal to the Aquitaine, the English king was vassal to the French kingFrench king

• During the late 13During the late 13thth C, Edward I and Philip IV C, Edward I and Philip IV began asserting the power of the king over began asserting the power of the king over nobles in gradually expanding territories.nobles in gradually expanding territories.

• As trade grew, both kingdoms competed for As trade grew, both kingdoms competed for control in Flanders (woolen textile weaving) control in Flanders (woolen textile weaving) and along the French coast with shifting and along the French coast with shifting alliances of German princes and Scotland.alliances of German princes and Scotland.

Pretext for Beginning the Pretext for Beginning the 100 Years’ War100 Years’ War

• Charles IV of France died with no heir . Charles IV of France died with no heir . The throne passed to Philip of Valois, the The throne passed to Philip of Valois, the deceased king’s cousindeceased king’s cousin

• However, King Edward III of England However, King Edward III of England was actually the nephew of Charles IV was actually the nephew of Charles IV (through Edward’s mother) and really a (through Edward’s mother) and really a closer heir to the throne. French closer heir to the throne. French argument: through a woman, not legal argument: through a woman, not legal under under salicsalic law, and , besides, Edward law, and , besides, Edward was already a French vassalwas already a French vassal– Edward’s accession to the throne was also Edward’s accession to the throne was also

different from the normal: his father was different from the normal: his father was deposed to make him king, thanks to his deposed to make him king, thanks to his mother’s lover and a French army he brought mother’s lover and a French army he brought with him.with him.

– Because he was not strong enough to refuse, Because he was not strong enough to refuse, Edward swore limited homage to Philip in Edward swore limited homage to Philip in 13311331

Beginning the WarBeginning the War

• Fighting in England, France, Fighting in England, France, Scotland, the Low Countries and Scotland, the Low Countries and Spain, with troops from many areasSpain, with troops from many areas—really first European war—really first European war

• It began with French attacks on It began with French attacks on English outposts on the continent English outposts on the continent and on the English coast and on the English coast (Southampton, Guernsey island)(Southampton, Guernsey island)

Beginnings: English Beginnings: English victoriesvictories

• English at first English at first prevailedprevailed– more centralized more centralized

controlcontrol– organized armies organized armies – monarchy’s definite monarchy’s definite

commandcommand• Naval victory for the Naval victory for the

English at Sluys English at Sluys • Land victories for the Land victories for the

English armies and English armies and their Low Countries their Low Countries allies in Poitiers and allies in Poitiers and Crecy under Edward Crecy under Edward III and the Black III and the Black PrincePrince

Back and ForthBack and Forth• Weakness with French Weakness with French

kings=English victories; kings=English victories; • weakness in English weakness in English

kings= French victorieskings= French victories• 1348-50 Black Plague1348-50 Black Plague• JacquerieJacquerie

– tailletaille and other taxes and other taxes– Had to repair war damaged Had to repair war damaged

properties without payproperties without pay• Wat Tyler and John BallWat Tyler and John Ball

– Richard II (death of Black Richard II (death of Black Prince) age 11Prince) age 11

– Poll tax to pay for war: = for Poll tax to pay for war: = for ALLALL

– Death of Archbishop of Death of Archbishop of CanterburyCanterbury

– Death of Wat Tyler; Death of Wat Tyler; execution of John Ballexecution of John Ball

Henry V: Warrior KingHenry V: Warrior King• Agincourt and Henry VAgincourt and Henry V

– English 5000 archers and 900 English 5000 archers and 900 men at arms in a single line with men at arms in a single line with no reserve; 8’ stakes in ground no reserve; 8’ stakes in ground around archers vs cavalryaround archers vs cavalry

– French between 20-30,000; 1/3 French between 20-30,000; 1/3 mounted; 3 lines mounted; 3 lines

– 1000 yards apart on ploughed 1000 yards apart on ploughed field; rainfield; rain

– English longbow (10/minute English longbow (10/minute forests of arrows) began with 3 forests of arrows) began with 3 volleys in 40 seconds it took volleys in 40 seconds it took French to charge: destroyed or French to charge: destroyed or took prisoner all of first line; rest took prisoner all of first line; rest ran after other unsuccessful ran after other unsuccessful chargescharges

• Treaty of TroyesTreaty of Troyes– Alliance of England with Alliance of England with

BurgundyBurgundy– Disinherited French prince and Disinherited French prince and

proclaimed Henry V successor of proclaimed Henry V successor of Charles VICharles VI

– BUT both died about the same BUT both died about the same time (Henry of dysentery in time (Henry of dysentery in France), so Charles VII France), so Charles VII proclaimed king, ignoring Treatyproclaimed king, ignoring Treaty

Ending: “Victory” for Ending: “Victory” for FranceFrance

• Joan of Arc and her Joan of Arc and her mission for Charles VIImission for Charles VII– Delivered Orleans Delivered Orleans

besieged by British 6 besieged by British 6 monthsmonths

– Succession of victories Succession of victories credited to Joan (sense of credited to Joan (sense of national identity, national identity, confidence and inspiration)confidence and inspiration)

– Betrayal: captured by Betrayal: captured by Burgundians, Charles Burgundians, Charles could save her, burned by could save her, burned by British for heresyBritish for heresy

– 25 years later declared 25 years later declared innocent; made a saint innocent; made a saint 19201920

• British driven out of British driven out of France except for coastal France except for coastal enclave of Calaisenclave of Calais

Consequences of 100 Consequences of 100 Years’ WarYears’ War

• Devastated FranceDevastated France• Promoted both British and French Promoted both British and French nationalnational

identitiesidentities• Hastened transition from feudal monarchy to Hastened transition from feudal monarchy to

centralized statecentralized state• Both strengthened monarchies (more territory Both strengthened monarchies (more territory

and power vs nobles) and weakened them and power vs nobles) and weakened them (power to people and nobles because of (power to people and nobles because of necessity for taxes to make war)necessity for taxes to make war)

• English developed own clothing industry and English developed own clothing industry and foreign markets (seesawing allegiance of foreign markets (seesawing allegiance of Netherlands and Flanders)Netherlands and Flanders)

• On both sides, peasants bore the costs of the warOn both sides, peasants bore the costs of the war