In thinking about the time periods that we are discussing in this class, I think it's kind of interesting to stop and think about who was on the throne at the time certain texts are being written. The King and what is going on culturally/societally can impact what sort of things are being written - to varying degrees. Like the antisemitism in the readings for today was impacted by the state of Christian religion at this time.
Henry I (1100-1135) - Overall seems to be a pretty decent king. Won/Stole the throne from his older brother, Robert, after their brother William was killed however expanded the government, solidified English laws and formed the Court of the Exchequer to handle England's finances. His son dies and he settles on giving his daughter, Matilda, the throne to at least rule as regent for her son. This is England and of course women cannot have the throne so that leads to...
Stephen (1135-1154) - Henry's nephew steals the throne from Matilda and her son upon her father's death. Completely underestimating Matilda and the power of her and her supporters, this leads to 19 years worth of civil war. The compromise that ended it? Stephen holding title of King until death but Matilda's Henry inheriting the throne that was rightfully his after his death.
Henry II (1154-1189) - Managed to reclaim many rights and powers that belonged to the King that had become lax underneath his predecessor. He also replaced their trial system - which had been trial by ordeal - with a jury of 12 men. He was famous for having a bad temper and that lead his wife to emotionally poisoning them against him.
Richard I (1189-1199) - Son of Henry II, he was an awful king for England. He only spent ten months in the country during his reign but only to raise money for wars.
John (1199-1216) - Son of Henry II, he takes the throne after his brother. He was also not a good king and this lead to the Magna Carta.
Henry III (1216-1272) - Son of John, also a terrible King. He also spent more time abroad and not in England, which made the English feel alienated from him.
Edward I (1272-1307) - Son of Henry, the man who expelled the Jews from England in 1290. Despite our modern opinions on that issue, it cannot be denied that England flourished under him.
(Source: Here and Here)
What is Magna Carta? What made John a bad king? I mean, I know the Robin Hood legend. Prince John taxed the people terribly and was cruel and greedy, and while Richard the Lionheart was away he tried to take the throne with the help of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisbon and Robin Hood saved the day, but I'm not going to take that as fact.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually surprised that the Magna Carta is unknown to you. I swear I had it in about every history class I've had since elementary school. Anyhow, it was a document between John and his Baron's that brought peace by promising protection of Church rights, protection of barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, ect. and it was to be implemented through a council of 25 Barons. Essentially, it tried to establish something like a parliament but ultimately failed.
DeleteAs for John being a bad king, he had essentially declared imperial status and tried to rule through a "divine right" the way his father and brother had. A lot of people had issues with that and saw that as an abuse of his power which loops back into why the Magna Carta was created.
What is Magna Carta? What made John a bad king? I mean, I know the Robin Hood legend. Prince John taxed the people terribly and was cruel and greedy, and while Richard the Lionheart was away he tried to take the throne with the help of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisbon and Robin Hood saved the day, but I'm not going to take that as fact.
ReplyDeleteThe kings of England are notoriously bad kings in their own rights, but I would like to know which one you found the most interesting and why. Personally, I think Stephen is a real winner causing 19 years of war.
ReplyDeleteI actually find Matilda, though she was never crowned Queen and never got to rule England in her own right, to be the most interesting. She was willing to fight against Stephen to restore what rightfully belonged to her and her son and managed to make some daring escapes from Stephen at that. For example, climbing out the side of the window in her nightgown and cloak in the dead of winter during a snow storm to escape Stephen's siege on her castle.
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