The increasing and changing power of Medieval Kings
The Story of Power
During the 400s and 500s, a group of Germanic tribes known as the Angles and Saxons, or Anglo-Saxons, conquered most of the Roman colony of Britain. The country became known as England.
In 1066, King Edward of England died without an heir. A council of nobles chose Edward’s brother-in-law Harold to rule. But William, Duke of Normandy, in France, a tough descendant of the Vikings, also claimed the English throne. He was related to King Edward, who, William claimed, had promised him the throne. The answer to the rival claims lay on the battlefield. William raised an army and won the backing of the pope. He then sailed across the English Channel to England. At the Battle of Hastings, William and his Norman knights triumphed over Harold.
William the Conqueror, as he was now called, became king of England on Christmas Day 1066.
Now that William had conquered England, he set out to impose his control over the land. Like other feudal monarchs, he granted land to the Church and to his Norman lords, or barons, but he also kept a large amount of land for himself. He monitored who built castles and where. He required every vassal to swear first allegiance to him rather than to any other feudal lord.
To learn about his kingdom, William had a complete census taken in 1086. The result was the Domesday Book (pronounced “doomsday”), which listed every castle, field, and pigpen in England. As the title suggests, the survey was as thorough and inevitable as doomsday, believed to be God’s final day of judgment that no one could escape. Information in the Domesday Book helped William and later English monarchs build an efficient system of tax collection. William’s successors also created the royal exchequer, or treasury, to collect taxes, fees, fines, and other dues.
In 1066, King Edward of England died without an heir. A council of nobles chose Edward’s brother-in-law Harold to rule. But William, Duke of Normandy, in France, a tough descendant of the Vikings, also claimed the English throne. He was related to King Edward, who, William claimed, had promised him the throne. The answer to the rival claims lay on the battlefield. William raised an army and won the backing of the pope. He then sailed across the English Channel to England. At the Battle of Hastings, William and his Norman knights triumphed over Harold.
William the Conqueror, as he was now called, became king of England on Christmas Day 1066.
Now that William had conquered England, he set out to impose his control over the land. Like other feudal monarchs, he granted land to the Church and to his Norman lords, or barons, but he also kept a large amount of land for himself. He monitored who built castles and where. He required every vassal to swear first allegiance to him rather than to any other feudal lord.
To learn about his kingdom, William had a complete census taken in 1086. The result was the Domesday Book (pronounced “doomsday”), which listed every castle, field, and pigpen in England. As the title suggests, the survey was as thorough and inevitable as doomsday, believed to be God’s final day of judgment that no one could escape. Information in the Domesday Book helped William and later English monarchs build an efficient system of tax collection. William’s successors also created the royal exchequer, or treasury, to collect taxes, fees, fines, and other dues.
Inquiry: In what ways did William the conqueror increase his power over the english?
Driving questions:
Who did he conquer?
What problems did he face?
How did he deal with them?
What factors made William a powerful monarch?
Task: Independent research: Using the information below and any additional research complete the task sheet below.
Who did he conquer?
What problems did he face?
How did he deal with them?
What factors made William a powerful monarch?
Task: Independent research: Using the information below and any additional research complete the task sheet below.
| william_problem_and_solutions_task_sheet.pptx |
Problems
| william_-_problems.pptx |
Solutions
| william_-_powerful_king.pdf |
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Inquiry: What were the qualities of a successful medieval king?
Driving questions:
1. What skills and qualities made Edward III a successful leader?
2. Which of these qualities and skills do you think is the most essential for a Medieval king?
1. What skills and qualities made Edward III a successful leader?
2. Which of these qualities and skills do you think is the most essential for a Medieval king?
| what_makes_a_good_king.pdf |
| a_powerful_medieval_king_should.docx |
Summary: In what ways was the power of medieval monarchs changing?
Tasks:
1. Create a spider diagram showing all of the ways in which Medieval kings were becoming more powerful.
2. Color code your points showing religious (to do with the church and God), economic (to do with money, trade and taxes) and political (to do with how the government worked) factors.
3. Look at source A. Choose two strong kings and explain why they were so strong. Do the same for two weak kings.
4. Look at source B - does it show all of the things that make a Medieval king strong?
1. Create a spider diagram showing all of the ways in which Medieval kings were becoming more powerful.
2. Color code your points showing religious (to do with the church and God), economic (to do with money, trade and taxes) and political (to do with how the government worked) factors.
3. Look at source A. Choose two strong kings and explain why they were so strong. Do the same for two weak kings.
4. Look at source B - does it show all of the things that make a Medieval king strong?
| the_changing_power_of_kings.pdf |