1. What does this tell you about Medieval Europe?

2. What does this tell you about Medieval Europe?

3. What does this tell you about Medieval Europe?

4. What does this tell you about Medieval Europe?

5. Big Three Politics: England, France, and The HRE

6. Thesis: Due to the evolution of different political systems and values in England; France; and The Holy Roman Empire (Germany), coupled with the growing greed and disparity found within a rigid hierarchical system, a series of long catastrophic events helped accelerate and eventually brought down the political, cultural, and religious systems of Medieval Europe.

7. England after William
Henry I beats both of them—Robert at the Battle of Tinchebrai; William is assassinated - unites England & France
Starts to establish central and judicial power used today
Brought French customs and feudal system w/him
Language: English is out, French is in
Establishes dynasty (Norman)
Domesday Book – systematic organization; supposed to last until the end of the world
Gives Normandy to oldest son, England to middle son, and $$ to youngest son, Henry

8. Henry II ( )
After The Anarchy, Henry II, greatgrandson of William the Conqueror, takes the throne
Quintessential high medieval king, marries quintessential high medieval queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine (France)
Begins Plantagenet dynasty

9. Henry II ( )
Started juries, common law, and seeds of what would become Parliament
Strengthened courts by sending royal judges out to collect taxes, punish crimes
Got rid of personal, manorial courts and papal courts so that only royal courts could have trials standardizes justice and separates church and state
Most remembered for fight with Archbishop Thomas Beckett

10. Common Law
THIS IS NOT THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE THE SAME LAWS THROUGHOUT THE LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rather a version of who makes the laws:
Centuries of court decisions in England
When added up, this becomes a body of laws known as common law
Basis of law in United States, Canada, Zimbabwe, India, Australia, etc. other former English colonies (about ¼ of the world)

11. Early Plantagenets–Richard I & John
Plantagenets (begun by Henry II) lasts to1453
longest English dynasty
Henry II succeeded by Richard the Lionhearted who goes on crusade, a lot
He dies heirless, his brother John becomes King:
Starts war with France for no real reason—annoys nobles
Loses most of it by the end—annoys nobles
Tries to oppose a papal appointment
Pope places Interdict on England—annoys nobles
Eventually becomes a vassal of the Pope—annoys nobles
Taxed nobles without their consent—annoys nobles
Tries to conscript and control peasants and serfs—annoys nobles (and peasants)

12. Magna Carta
England was (and still is)most free country Europe—first to curtail King’s power in Magna Carta
Nobles force John to sign a document (Great Charter) – Runnymede 1215
Limited power of the king
Guaranteed many rights—for nobles
No taxation without representation
Right to a jury trial
Protection under the law for all citizens
Four left today: Lincoln, Salisbury, British Library, US National Archives
First basis civil rights in Britain and then US
Start idea of Bill of Rights
Same rights that US founding fathers fought for

13. Edward I (1239-1307) & Parliament
Edward I (Longshanks) conquers Wales, most of Scotland (for a bit), Ireland, and wins back the majority of Western France
To fight these wars he needs money; trying to follow the Magna Carta he calls a group of people asking them to make a law of taxation:
Two knights and two wealthy citizens from every county in England, as well as nobles and bishopsbecomes House of Commons and House of Lords
Met at Westminster in London, 1295
Functions very well—shares power
Only to have his incompetent son and grandson blow it all…

14. France & Holy Roman Empire
In HRE, Charlemagne leads Carolingian Renaissance:
money, miniscule, and Latin comeback. Scholasticism, arts, and piety imp.
With death, empire splits, eventually forming two main categories: The Holy Roman Empire, and France
Both become beacons of the feudal system
Both remain close to Pope and vie for his favor

15. Holy Roman Empire HRE leader “elected” for next 800 years
Loose confederation of states from the Baltic to Italy, but central monarch has limited power
Close to Pope & often fighting
Pope wins: Henry IV and Gregory at Canossa
King wins: Frederick I and taxes
No separation of Church & State – church administrates state
End of Middle Ages: Hapsburg’s appear

16. France
French crown hereditary, Hugh Capet and descendants hold throne until 1792.
Capetian kings strengthen grip
Phillip II ( ) is most notable: wins back most of English lands from John of England; starts rigid admin system
His grandson Phillip IV founded Estates-General (3 Estates: Noble, Clergy, Wealthy Commoners) all members appointed
Strengthen Monarch and Administration
No personal rights, little separation of Church and State

17. Hundred years war background
Like many medieval problems it begins with Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine…
Normans and Anjous (devil spawn) marry, creating Plantagenets and a whole lot of inbreeding
By the end, Philip IV (France) was actually the grandfather of Edward III (England)
Philip dies, no heir
Edward claims French throne, launches war to get it in 1337
War lasted over 100 years – 1337 until 1453 (Ed III and several other English and French kings were dead by then)

19. Green shows land held by French in each phase
Years shown:
TL: 1337
TR: 1360
BL: 1429
BR: 1453

20. Hundred Years War Key changes in warfare
Chivalry practiced, supposedly
Crossbow and Longbow introduced by English
Arrows from longbows were strong enough to pierce armor
Led to serious beat downs by the English
Most of English side of war fought and won under Henry V ( )
Usually considered model late middle ages king—got on with nobles, church also chivalrous and educated
Reckless youth then came of age, cleaned up England made it powerful
Amazing general
Died early (infection from battle)
English slaughtered the French at Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt…

21. Battle of Agincourt
Outnumbered English (6,000) army led by Henry V crushes French (25,000) because of better technology – mainly archers
Victory so inevitable (to the French) they were throwing dice for the spoils the night before
Henry motivates men to victory, and French choose a very crummy spot to fight
200 English die; 7,000 French die
Henry executes French nobles who surrender (not very chivalrous)
One of the most famous battles in English history
Begins Anglo-American “underdog mentality”

22. Joan of Arc
Agincourt continues series of French losses, and at first the war starts to end w/a truce saying Henry V is King of France when the French King dies
But Henry dies first and French renege. This goes badly until…
Peasant girl named Jeanne D’Arc claims to have had visions from God telling her to save France from the English
She becomes their military leader!
Leads the French army at Orleans – age 19
Almost loses, but at the last minute she leads a charge and defeats the English
Charles VII, the true heir to the French throne, goes with her to Reims (Cathedral) and is crowned King of France
BUT….

23. Joan of Arc She gets captured and turned over to the English in 1430
English give her to “church authorities” to stand trial
They condemn her as a witch
Burned at the stake in 1431…
… & French do nothing to stop it

24. Impact of Hundred Years War
Nationalism in England and France
French monarchy becomes stronger and stronger
No longer a feudal lord, but a national leader
Plunges England into civil war: War of the Roses over which royal family would rule
End of the middle ages