Royal Power Grows
Chapter 8, Section 1
Monarchs vs. Churchmen & Nobles
• Monarchs struggled to exert authority over
the church…why?
Monarchs
• @ the head of society, but limited power
KINGS
NOBLES &
CHURCH
Monarchs
• @ the head of society, but limited power
*Sometimes,
the church
was more
powerful
KINGS
NOBLES &
CHURCH
Monarchs vs. the Church
• Both have their own taxes, courts, & armies
• But in the “High Middle Ages” = 1000-1300 AD
the balance of power started to shift
“Royal Domain”
• Monarchs expanded their power =
1.
2.
3.
4.
Set up stronger courts
Organized gov’t programs
Appointed sheriffs developed tax system
Strengthened ties w/ the middle class—who
then supported the King
1066
• King Edward dies
• Son (Herald) –not that good of a relationship
• Relation (William, Duke of Normandy) -supposedly was
promised the throne
1066
• Raised an army & won
backing of the pope
• “Battle of Hastings” = wins
over Harold
1066
• Becomes “William the Conqueror”
• King of England
• Crowned Christmas day, 1066
King William I
• Wanted power…
King William I
• Wanted power…
so he gave fiefs to the church & nobles
(required allegiance [homage] to him as King
over any other lord)
Domesday Book
• Census for tax purposes
Henry II
• 1154 inherited the throne
• Increased royal justice by expanding accepted
customs into law
• Sent out traveling justices to enforce these
laws
Henry II
• The decisions of the royal courts = common
law
• Applied to all of England
• In time, people brought their disputes to royal
courts rather than the church or nobles
• Juries = 12 neighbors
Conflict with the Church
• King Henry II’s extension of power upsets the
church
• He claimed the right to try clergy in royal
courts
Chess: How does the strategy and/or moves of
chess game pieces relate to medieval societal roles?
Chess
• Pawn
•
The pawn is the most populous of all the pieces, just as the peasant was the
highest in number. The pawn, with its limited movement (one square at a time), is
considered the least powerful chess piece. Although they can be used to protect or
distract opponents to save the more powerful pieces, losing too many pawns is not
a good winning strategy. This is also similar to medieval society, where peasants
could—and were—used to protect those of nobility, but peasants were necessary
for the betterment of society as a whole and were needed in other ways. They had
the least amount of political power, but were important overall as a member of
the group.
Chess
• Rook
• With its tower-shape, the rook is meant to signify the importance of the
castle as a fortification element in power. Castles, as beautiful as we
consider them today, were as much a part of one’s arsenal as were
soldiers and weapons since every single aspect of a castle was designed
specifically for protection during warfare. For example, the moat, walls,
counterclockwise stairs, bridges, narrow windows, spires, etc. were all
designed for the protection of its defenders. The rook moves both
vertically and horizontally and is worth even more than the knight—since
in warfare a knight is certainly more dispensable than the castle itself.
Chess
• Knight
• The knight is a tricky game piece in that it is the only one that can attack in
an “L” shape and is allowed to jump other pieces to get to their
destination. Knights during the medieval period were indispensable for
attaining, keeping, and holding land. Knights were the backbone of
warfare and swore homage to their king and/or lord. Knights are very
important pieces in keeping the king safe and so are worth more points
than either the bishop or the pawn.
Chess
• Bishop
• The bishop is a stronger piece than the pawn in that it moves diagonally
and multiple spaces at once. There are fewer pieces (only two), making
them more lucrative than the pawn. The bishop holds power for the
player, especially as the game progresses, due to his movements and
freedom on the board. It can be deadly to the opponent, and thus, it is
often the strategy of players to get rid of another player’s bishops early.
Bishops, during medieval society, were important political players as the
church owned land and was central to beliefs of “heavenly” rewards.
Bishops were not poor, but were nobles by birth and held a strong place in
society among other nobles. Their importance in the game of chess does
not go unnoticed.
Chess
• Queen
• Ironically, the queen is the most powerful chess game piece. Those
unfamiliar with chess may assume that it would be king, but he does not
have the abilities she does on the board. The queen has the highest point
value and is the most central piece to winning the game (other than the
king, of course). The queen is capable of moving diagonally, horizontally,
as well as vertically. But, similar to society, the queen is not typically very
effective when utilized alone, and is best when paired with others in order
to attack the opponent’s pieces strategically. In the Dark Ages, the queen
held the highest position second only to the king himself. She often made
decisions and was a great influence on her husband. It is the queen that
chess players will say is the most important piece.
Chess
• King
• The king, interestingly enough, has no point value but is the most central
to winning or losing the game since one he is lost, the game itself is over.
Although the king is only able to move one square at a time in any
direction (which is barely better than the pawn), he is the piece that must
be protected at all costs. The importance of the king’s role in the game of
chess as it relates to medieval society is that a king, as important as he
may seem, is only as powerful as those around him are willing to protect
him. A king is one man versus the role of many and thus gets his power
from those around him bending to his will. But, if the king is lost, so is the
kingdom as it is known.
King John
• (son of Henry II)
• Angered his own nobles w/ oppressive taxes &
abuses of power
Magna Carta
• “Great Charter”
• Forced to sign
1. Gave nobles certain rights
2. Made the King obey the law (limited king’s
power)
Magna Carta
1. Due process of law
2. Habeas Corpus
Create This Chart
How does royal power increase and/or decrease?
(also available in “assignments” section of module)
Royal Power
Changes
William I
Henry II
John