The power of the english king

CHAPTER 5: THE POWER OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND

Church and State

The Case of St Thomas Becket. Thomas Becket is considered a martyr and he is a very important religious figure in England. You Will read about the "Canterbury Tales" in Literature.

1. Who was Thomas Becket? What important position was he given? What was the problem with Henry II? How did his life end? Who do think was more successful at the end Henry or Thomas?

The beginnings of Parliament:

(This is one of the most important topics of the subject, be sure to have it Clear in mind.) As you know Parliament is nowadays the most important institution in England, like our legislature, but it hasn't always been like that. Here we are going to read about the origin of Parliament.

1. What's the meaning of Parliament?
2. How and why did Simon De Monfort create Parliament?
3. Edward I created the first "real" Parliament. What was the difference with Simon De Monfort's Parliament?
4. What were the main functions of Parliament?
5. Why do we say The House of Commons was a representative institution? What did Edward win from it?

Wales

1. When was Wales united to England? Who and how did it? What happened to the original Welsh prince? Who become prince of Wales?

Ireland

1. At the beginning Ireland was inhabited by celts, then the Normans conquered it. What happened when the English tried to conquer it?

Scotland

1. Edward I was cruel and violent to Scots, this created a Scottish resistance and a national her appeared. who was he?
2. What happened to him?
3. Did Edward win against the Scots?
4. Who was Robert Bruce and what did he do?
5. what was the situation of Scotland after Edward I's death?

Church and State

1. Thomas Becket was the chancellor of England and archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of King Henry II. His career was marked by a long quarrel with Henry.
2. Henry II wanted to have more control, but Becket didn’t agree. One of the main things they disagreed on was who should be in charge when a church person did something wrong. Even if they were not very high up in the church, Becket believed that the church should decide what happens to them, not the king.
3. Thomas Becket was brutally murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, four knights entered the cathedral and kill Becket in front of the high altar, creating an instant martyr.
4. As for who was more successful, it's a matter of perspective. From a religious standpoint, Becket's martyrdom led to his canonization and he became a symbol of the Church's resistance against the monarchy. However, from a political standpoint, Henry II continued his reign and maintained royal authority. It's important to note that these events took place in a historical context where the balance of power between the Church and monarchy was a significant issue.

The beginnings of Parliament.

1. The term “Parliament” comes from the French word “Parlement,” which means a “discussion meeting.” It is a legislative body of government that makes laws, debates political issues, and makes decisions on public policy.
   Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, created the Parliament in 1258 as a revolutionary new council. He did this because he was upset with King Henry III’s heavy spending and reliance on foreign advisers. The Parliament took control of the treasury and forced Henry to get rid of his foreign advisers. The nobles supported this move as they wished to be free of Henry’s heavy taxes

1. Edward I’s Parliament was different from Simon de Montfort’s in that it was the first to create a “representative institution” which could provide the money he needed. This institution became the House of Commons. Unlike the House of Lords, it contained a mixture of “gentry” (knights and other wealthy freemen from the shires) and merchants from the towns. These were the two broad classes of people who produced and controlled England’s wealth.

1. The main functions of Parliament were to make statutes or written laws, make political decisions, and provide the king with money through taxation. This could only be done with the agreement of those wealthy enough to be taxed.

1. The House of Commons represented the people who had to pay these taxes. Edward I won because he could raise the money he needed through taxes. This is why we say “no taxation without representation” - it means that people should not have to pay taxes unless they have a say in how the money is spent.

Wales

1. Wales was united with England in 1284. Edward I was responsible for uniting Wales with England. He extended his control over Wales through a combination of conquest, castle-building, and strategic marriages between Norman lords and Welsh rulers. This process involved slowly extending control up the Welsh river valleys, building castles, and assimilating the Welsh and Norman populations.

The original Welsh prince mentioned is Llewelyn ap Gruffudd, prince of Gwynedd. He tried to become independent from English rule, but he was captured and killed by Edward I's forces in 1282.

The tradition of the heir to the English throne being titled the "Prince of Wales" began with Edward I. At a public ceremony in Caernarfon, he made his own baby son (later Edward II) the Prince of Wales. Since then, the eldest son of the ruling English monarch has typically held the title of Prince of Wales.

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