Royal Power and Democracy In Canada we value the right to take part in our government and to elect our leaders. Canada is known as a Constitutional Democracy – the people of medieval times did not have this luxury… People of the High Middle Ages believed that monarchy – kings & queens – ruled as part of God’s plan

Balance of Power The Feudal Monarch has almost unlimited power as long as they stayed within the feudal contract It was the powerful Barons that kept the king or queen “honest and in check” Monarch knew to keep them happy as well… If the Monarch did anything to break the contract, the barons would feel justified in making war on their sovereign (this is a fancy word for King/Queen) Barons had large armies and strong castles Plus they has reinforcements! The King would take time to gather the Royal army from all reaches of England to help…

Eleanor of Aquitaine & her plan Eleanor of Aquitaine, a powerful queen who not only ruled France and England, but also participated in the Crusades gave birth to two future kings of England Died when she was 82! King John I & King Richard the Lionhearted were her sons

Equality between the sexes Eleanor believed that there should be equality between the sexes, this disturbed many in the feudal system With her #1 husband, Louis VII of France, Eleanor went on a crusade to Jerusalem She did so, along with her ladies (helpers) dressed in knightly armour Louis did not like this = he divorced her Eleanor then married Louis’ biggest rival, King Henry II of England Henry did not want to share power with his wife, so she – along with their sons – rebelled against her husband Henry placed his wife in jail for many years…

Henry II dies… When Henry died, Eleanor helped rule England while her son, Richard the Lion Hearted was fighting in the crusades After his death, she helped her other son, John I defeat his enemies in England and France… This is where change in power and democracy comes into play…

King John I Known to us as one of the villains in the Robin Hood legend, King John’s questionable behaviour cost him the support of his kingdom: Quarrelled with Pope Innocent III Was excommunicated himself, while the entire country of England was placed under interdict Meaning: no one could be properly married, baptized & buried Stepped out of bounds of feudal contract Destroyed crops so to hunt better Imprisoned barons, their lands, and their family + family lands and confiscated/tortured them Raised illegal taxes Hired foreign soldiers to fight his own people

The Magna Carta 1214, John was so hated by the Barons that they rebelled Townspeople and the Church rose up against him June 15, 1215 the barons forced John to sign the “Magna Carta” Must respect the rights of the English people Recognized as free people, who would not be preyed upon by their own ruler No new taxes taken without consent of parliament Cannot be arrested or thrown into prison without a trial England took a big step towards democracy, a democracy with similar practices tat are still evident in Canada today