1. Struggle for Power in England
Chapter 13 Section 4
Struggle for Power in England

2. Struggle for Power in England
Section 4
Struggle for Power in England
Anglo-Saxon and Norman England
Before the1000’s – Kings and lords struggled for power
Anglo-Saxon England
By 450 Roman rule in Britain ended
Germanic tribes moved in
First as raiders, then as settlers
Culture that emerged from Germanic settlement called “Anglo-Saxon”
In reference to the two tribes
Over time they formed several independent kingdoms
Northumbria – Northern England
Mercia – Central England
Wessex – Southern England
These kingdoms were divided into districts called Shires
Governed by shire-reeve which becomes the word Sheriff

3. Alfred the Great
By the 800’s the Kings of Wessex controlled almost all of England
Vikings (Danes) challenged the rule of Wessex kings
Over ran much of England
Alfred the Great CE
Came to throne of Wessex
Tried to drive the Danes from the island
Made a temporary peace after being defeated by them
Spent 5 years building a powerful army and navy
876 - Attacked the Danes
886 - Danes surrendered
Treaty allowed Danes to live and govern themselves in Mercia and Northumbria

4. Danish Rule
Alfred’s successors were able to win more lands from the Danes
During the 900’s
Unified the country
Strengthened the government
Spread Christianity
Danes began to attack again
By 1013 Danes again controlled the entire country
1016
King Canute of Denmark took the throne of England
Also most of Scandinavia in a combined kingdom
Canute was a wise ruler – but sons were weak rulers
By 1042 Danish line had died out
Anglo Saxon nobles chose Edward the Confessor as new king

5. The Norman Conquest Edward died without leaving an heir in 1066
Duke William of Normandy
From France
A distant relative - claimed the throne
Anglo-Saxons refused to recognize his claim
Selected Harold of Wessex to be king
Edwards brother-in-law
William was determined to win the throne
Crossed the English Channel with group of knights
Defeated Harold’s army
Crowned William I King of England
Known as William the Conqueror

6. The Conqueror and his Successors
William the Conqueror ruled from 1066–1087
Brought feudalism from France to England
Modified feudal system so the king not nobles held supreme authority
Each feudal lord had to swear personal loyalty to king
So all English lords were Vassals of the king
Stopped the lords from uniting against him
Scattered their fiefs throughout England
Laid strong foundation for centralized government and a strong monarchy

7. The Conqueror and his Successors
Sent royal commissioners to every English shire
Count each shire’s people
Assess landholdings
Measure type and value of property
Results used to created a central tax system
Records that were gathered became known as the Doomsday Book

9. Reforms under William’s Successors
Henry I – Ruled from
Williams son, Able ruler
Set up the new department of the Exchequer
To handle kings finances
Made central government more efficient
Sent traveling judges throughout the country to try cases
Weakened feudal lords
Kings royal court, not the lords feudal courts dispensed justice

10. Henry II Henry II ruled from 1154 – 1189
Continues to increase royal authority
Vassals could pay the king a fee instead of performing military service
Used the money to hire mercenaries or soldiers
Military loyal to him not the nobles
England’s legal system grew
Traveling judges established routes or circuits
Used a 12 member jury system
Replaced trial by ordeal or combat
Decided civil as well as criminal cases

11. Henry II
Sought to try members of the clergy who had already been judged in church courts
To decrease the influence of church courts
Thomas Becket - Archbishop of Canterbury
Refused to allow his clergy to be tried
Becket and Henry became bitter enemies
4 of the king’s knights murdered the archbishop in his cathedral, to help the king
Henry denied any part of the murder, but did penance to appease the church
Henry decides to leave the church alone

12. Henry II The Last years of his reign were trouble
Sons plotted against him
Marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine was stormy
She brought into their marriage a lot of French lands which ended up causing conflicts with the French
Overall Henry strengthened the English monarchy, reduced influence of the nobility.

13. King John and Magna Carta
Henry II’s son
Demanded nobles pay more taxes
To support wars with France
His actions led nobles to revolt
In 1215 group of nobles joined together against the king
Threatened armed revolt against him
Forced John to accept a document known as the Magna Carta

14. Magna Carta and beyond Magna Carta
Protected the liberties of the nobles
Provided a limited outline of rights for England’s ordinary people
King John agreed no new or special taxes without consent of the Great Council
A body of nobles and church leaders who advised the king
Promised not to take property with out paying for it
Promised not to interfere with justice of the courts
Agreed to trials by jury of peers
Importance: King is not above the law
Two other major changes took place following the Magna Carta
Growth of Parliament – Beginning of Representative government
Growth of Common Law – laws based on customs and judges decisions rather than law written law codes

15. Parliament 1260’s - Nobles revolt against King Henry III
Threatened the Monarchy
Revolt was led by Simon de Montfort (Lord)
Tried to build middle class support for the nobles
To unite against the king
The Great Council – Nobles and Clergy
Middle class representatives
As this practiced continues - becomes the English Parliament
Parliament was divided into 2 parts called “houses”
Nobles and clergy - House of Lords
Knights and burgesses - House of Commons
Advised the king
But could refuse taxes (important)

16. Common Law Edward I - ruled from 1272 – 1307
One of England’s greatest monarchs
Divided the king’s court into 3 branches
Court of Exchequer
Keep track of the kingdom’s financial accounts
Tried tax cases
Court of Common Pleas
Heard cases between ordinary citizens
Court of the King’s Bench
Conducted trials that concerned the king or government
Decisions made by royal courts were collected and used as the basis from future court verdicts
Known as Common Law
Applied equally to all citizens
Living Law, not based on code, but on times.