Identifications
Henry III- Takes the throne following his father’s death (John I) at the age of nine. He came out of his
majority and took rule when he was 25. He felt that the church had protected him so he awarded them
jobs, land, and money. The barons wanted to reinstate the magna carta b/c of his rule. Awarded crown of
sicily in 1254 and funds a war to get it.
Provisions of Oxford (1258)- A written version of baronial demands. It establishes a baronial council of
15 and places them in power. This council advises the King, makes it so that they decide who is the
Justiciar, treasurer, and Chancellor. It was signed by Henry III (forced). The barons were concerned with
who Henry was appointing and wanted control. This is a transferral of Royal Authority to Barons. They
were given power over local governments.
Simon de Montfort- A powerful Baron who led the writing of the Provisions of Oxford. He fights Prince
Edward and wins in 1264, making him the ruler of England. He rebuilds the Baron Council with nine
because he had no real claim. This is kind of the beginning of parliament. Bids for support of knights
and burgesses (commoners/men of property). Four knights from each county and 2 burgesses form
boroughs. These people were called to discuss government and taxation; this was the first time this has
happened.
Marches- These were castles built by Edward I along the welsh border and they were ran by March Lords.
English villages were built around these castles which imposed the English language and culture on the
welsh peoples. This was the beginning of the anglicization of wales that would not come to an end until
Henry VIII in the sixteenth century
Edward I (1272-1307)- A well-educated and capable king who’s biggest goal was to establish a both
strong and good royal government. During his reign he would fight the scots, welsh and French. He
implements the Statute of Quia Emptores (1290) and Mortain (127).
Statute of Quia Emptores (1290)- This was a Statute put in place by Edward I in 1290 that stopped
subinfeudation amongst lords in the secular sense. This made it so if you sell your feudal lands the person
who buys it is subject to the original lord and not who sold them the land. This was pro-lords and pro-
king
Statute of Mortain (1272)– This was a Statute put in place by Edward I in 1272 that made it so that if
someone was going to give land to the church they needed permission from the church.
Subinfeudation- the sale of feudal property to others that become subject to the seller, taking away money
from both the king and upper lords.
Franchise- This was the ability for lords to act as the judiciary power within their feudal lands when it
came to the conflicts and crimes of their tenants. This made them the judge for their tenants in most
crimes other than serious ones that went to the royal court.
Quo Warrento- this was a writ by Edward I, demanding that one must prove that they have a warrant to
exercise justice in their feudal lands. It required a parchment/document signed by the king to act as judge
in their jurisdictions. This was an attempt of Edward I to bring justice under the rule of the king. It
brought too much to the royal justices and they began to fall behind.
Edward II (1307-1327)- Edward II’s reign was disastrous; he neglected to take care of the administration,
caused economic destruction, and put corrupt and unfit nobles into power. He was very unpopular and
would eventually be killed by his wife Isabella and Roger Mortemer (A Marcher Lord)
Piers Gaveston- Said to be the lover of Edward II. Edward II gives him land and awards him the earldom
of Cornwall. The barons were afraid that he had too much influence on Edward II so they had him
banished to Ireland. The lords declare that they are loyal to the institution of the crown but not the king
himself.
Ordinances of 1311- Similar to the Provisions of Oxford.This was a series of regulations that were placed
on Edward II that restricted his power as the king. 21 lords signed it and these men were known as the
Lords Ordainer. A baronial council was put in place led by Thomas Lancaster. Edward II was forced to
sign this by his barons. It replaced all corrupt councillors put in place by Edward II with acceptable men.
The baron commission would hear complaints against these councillors.
Despensers- A father and son who were favorites of Edward II. They were awarded lands the belonged to
the Marcher Lords. This caused a revolt against the king known as the Despenser War (1321-1322). In
1321, parliament declares the Despensers as corrupt. In 1322, Edward and his loyal followers march
against the revolt led by Marcher Lords. Edward wins at battle of Bouroughbridge and continues to rule
with the Despensers.
Edward III (1327-1377)- Hir rule really began in 1330, when he and the Earl of Lancaster killed Roger
Mortemer. He was not interested in the administration of England as much as war. England had many
problems, but he devoted himself to the Hundred Years War.
Hundred Years War (1337-1553)- This was a war fought between England and France which began after
Philip VI took Aquitaine away from England. The English are extremely successful at first, introducing
the use of archery in combat as well as artillery. It destroyed the economy of both nations due to the
expenses of the war. This war killed chivalry as many fought for money. The French would eventually
win the war after Joan of Arc boosts their morale upon defeat.
Battle of Crecy (1346)- An important victory for England in the Hundred Years War. The use of Archers
in this battle is decisive in taking out the French Calvary. This was also the first battle where artillery was
introduced to warfare (stone cannon balls). The new technology terrifies the french forces, allowing for
the english calvary to destroy them. This is how most of the battles in the war are fought by the English
Battle of Poitiers (1356)- Important victory for the English, they were able to capture the King of France,
Philip VI and ransom him off for a king’s ransom.
Battle of Agincourt (1415)- A battle fought between the English and French during the Hundred Years
War in 1415. This was a huge victory for the English as they defeat a much larger French force by
utilizing Archers and the Longbow. This allows for the English to take back Normandy.
Jeanne d’ Arc– Joan of Arc; A peasant girl that is born in the county Champagne who claimed to hear
voices of Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine. These voices told her that Charles VII
must be crowned King of France and the English must be pushed out of all of France. She is sent to Or
Leone by Charles VII where she tells the troops to remain virtuous so that God will give them victory.
The French win this Battle, and it becomes a huge morale booster for them. She is eventually captured by
the Burgundians and sold to England where she is burned at the stake for witchcraft and heresy. Joan was
looked to as a Martyr and gave the French the confidence to win the war. She stimulated early French
Nationalism.
The Bubonic Plague- The Black Death. This was a plague that burdened England in the year 1348 when it
was brought by two ships coming from the Bristol Channel. It was carried in the stomach of fleas that
came to england through rats (Rattus Rattus) which traveled by ships. There were two strains, Bubonic
and Nuemonic. It was fast acting and killed in 2 to 3 days. In a year and a half it would kill ⅓ of the
English population.
Statute of Laborers (1351)- This was a law created by the English parliament under the rule of Edward III
in response to the labor shortage that can be traced back to the death caused by the bubonic plague. There
was a shortage in supply of labor and therefore the bargaining power of the lower class increased. This
Statute tied the wages of servants to the rate that it would have been during the 13th century, angering
many peasants.
Edmund Mortimer- Earl of March who led opposition to the rule of John of Gaunt. In 1376, the
opposition got control of parliament, including the house of commons. This was the so called “Good
Parliament” which attacked corruption. It called Edward III’s mistress (Alice Perrers) to justice for her
corruption. It also established the first speaker of the house of commons with Peter de la Mare. It
disbanded with the death of the black prince in the same year.
Justices of the Peace- In 1361, Edward III abolished Justiciers and enacted the Justices of the peace.
These were volunteer landowners who would hear judicial cases. They acted as judges for the king,
created draft boards, would hear some criminal cases, kept watch on roads, and were administrative
workers all at the local level. The justices of the county would meet four times a year and by the end of
the century these men had taken over the jobs of sheriffs.
Poll Tax- This was a tex enacted under the rule of Richard II in 1380. It was a head tax that fell on the
head of every household. Everyone paid the same tax, no matter your social class. This was equal but
unfair, as it was easier to pay for some such as the aristocracy.
The Peasants Revolt of 1381- The peasants were angry due to the poll tax and the continuous war with no
demobilization in sight. In 1381, there is a violent uprising from Kent and Essex led by Wat Tyler. They
go to Manor houses and burn records and make their way to London. Once they get there, they ask for
freedom to hunt and fish. It was a blind rebellion fueled by rage with no real end goal in sight. Their
leader, Wat Tyler is killed by a Londoner and John Ball was armed and quartered
Merciless Parliament- This was held in 1388 and was in response to Richard II’s attack on his barons in
1387. It was at this parliament where the members of Richards court were charged with treason for
supporting Richard. They were imprisoned, exiled or executed. The people who led this came to be
known as the Lord’s Appellant. The kingdom would be ruled by them from now, in short term they did
well. Long term, didn’t go so well.
Benevolences- Forced loans put on the property owning class by Richard II without the consent of
Parliament. They were fined if they did not pay the loans.
Henry IV- King from 1399 to 1413. Claimed was that he was the grandson of Edward III. The son of
John of Gaunt. Claims that he is king by conquest and inheritence. That he had “recovered” the throne.
Harry Hotspur- Son of Henry Percy and Earl of Northumberland. He defeats the Scots in 1401 and took a
Scottish aristocrat prisoner. He refused to give the aristocrat to the crown and ransoms him off himself.
This was seen as an extreme betrayal of the throne and braking of tradition causing his death at the Battle
of Shrewsbury in 1403 when Henry IV had to kill him.
Henry V- Wanted military glory during his father’s reign. Primary goal during his reign was to conquer
