Developing society Norman kings and the House of Plantagenet Performer - Culture & Literature Marina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella, Margaret Layton © 2012

1. Norman kings William I (1066-1087) William II (1087-1100), called ‘Rufus’ because of his red hair Henry I (1100-1135), William Rufus’ brother Stephen (1135-1154), Henry’s nephew and the last Norman king Performer - Culture & Literature

2. The House of Plantagenet Henry II (1154-1189), Henry I’s grandson Richard I (1189-1199), the Lion-Hearted, third son of Henry II John (1199-1216), the Lackland, fifth son of Henry II Henry III (1216-1272), John’s son Edward I (1272-1307), Henry III’s son Edward II (1307-1327), Edward I’s son Edward III (1327-1377), Edward II’s son Richard II (1377-1399), Edward III’s grandson Performer - Culture & Literature

3. Henry II: Control of Barons He destroyed all castles that had been built illegally during Stephen’s reign. He hired mercenaries. Knights could pay a sum of money, the ‘scutage’, instead of giving the king military service. Performer - Culture & Literature

4. Henry II: the reform of justice The king regained control of the justice system by creating travelling judges. The law they administered was called common law The common law was used everywhere and based on local customs comparisons and previous cases. It was different from the law administered in other parts of Europe, linked to the civil law of the Roman Empire and the canon law of the Church. Performer - Culture & Literature

5. Henry II and the Church In medieval times the Church was very important. The clergy wrote documents like receipts (showing you had paid your taxes) or contracts (when you sold your land). The most powerful churchman in England was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Performer - Culture & Literature

5. Henry II and the Church Henry aimed at reducing the power of the Church. He appointed his friend Thomas Becket as his Chancellor. Once Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket became an opponent of the King, who claimed authority in investing the bishops. The conflict between the King and Becket lasted for a long time until Becket was murdered by four knights sent by the King. Performer - Culture & Literature

5. Henry II and the Church Europe was shocked by the murder of Thomas Becket. After his death, Becket was made a saint, and Canterbury Cathedral became a shrine for pilgrims to visit. Performer - Culture & Literature

6. The Magna Carta Events leading to the Magna Carta: King John became unpopular because: he lost French territories; he collected higher taxes to equal less income coming from the loss of a great mass of the French land. In 1215 the barons refused to pay the scutage; conspired to resist the King; occupied London; made King John sign an important document, the Magna Carta. Performer - Culture & Literature

6. The Magna Carta The Magna Carta: promised freedoms to all people; protected the rights of ordinary people; gave England the basis of a legal system; promised to have good and fair laws; prevented any freeman from being punished without a proper trial. Performer - Culture & Literature

7. The birth of Parliament From the earliest times, the kings of England had assembled nobles and other important subjects in the witan, or council, to advise them. During the reign of Henry III assemblies were summoned. They included: bishops; noblemen; knights of the shire; two representatives from the towns. The transition from the king’s council to Parliament was gradual. In 1295 the meeting of the king’s council was known as ‘The Model Parliament’. Performer - Culture & Literature

7. The birth of Parliament By the close of the 14th century Parliament had assumed something of its modern form: it had been split into the House of Lords and the House of Commons; the Commons had acquired a crucial role in taxation and legislation. Performer - Culture & Literature

8. The Black Death, 1347-1350 The Black Death was one of the worst natural disasters in history. It was caused by fleas, blood-sucking parasites, living on rats which infested the ship trading with Europe. Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411) The dead littered the streets everywhere. Cattle and livestock roamed the country unattended. Performer - Culture & Literature

8. The Black Death, 1347-1350 The disease cycle Fleas drank rat blood that carried the bacteria Bacteria multiplied in flea gut. Fleas bit human and regurgitated blood into human wound Human beings were infected Performer - Culture & Literature

8. The Black Death, 1347-1350 Consequences of the Black Death: High mortality rate: one third of England’s population died. Enormous economic and social effects: labour was scarce; wages rose; prices dropped; better living conditions of peasants left alive. Performer - Culture & Literature

9. The War of the Roses, 1450-1500 Decline of the monarchy due to: expenses of the Hundred Years’ War increasing power of the House of Commons civil war fought by the two rival families the House of Lancaster the House of York Performer - Culture & Literature

9. The Wars of the Roses, 1450-1500 Lancaster vs York The House of Lancaster Henry IV, Richard II’s cousin, 1399-1413 Henry V, 1413-1422 Henry VI, 1422-1461 The House of York Edward IV, son of the Duke of York, 1461-1483 Edward V, Edward IV’s son, 1483 Richard III, 1483 - 1485 Performer - Culture & Literature

9. The Wars of the Roses, 1450-1500 Main events of the war Henry VI was weak and Lancastrians became unpopular. In 1461 he was confined to the Tower by the son of the Duke of York, who seized the throne as Edward IV. Edward V was murdered by his uncle Richard, Duke of Glouchester, who crowned himself as Richard III. Richard III was killed by Henry, Earl of Richmond, at the battle of Bosworth in 1485. Henry became Henry VII, the first king of the Tudor dynasty. He married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV. Performer - Culture & Literature