Key Terms

William the Conqueror

Henry I

Common law

Magna Carta

Parliament

Hugh Capet

Phillip II

Estates-General

England Absorbs Waves of Invaders

• 800’s Britain was attacked and invaded by the Vikings

• Special prayer was created for protection“God, deliver us from the fury of the Northmen”

• Alfred the Great turns the Vikings back• He unites England

under one rule

• Calls England the land of Angels

England Absorbs Wave of Invaders

• 1016 Danish King Canute conquered England

• He Molded Anglo Saxons into Viking people

• 1042 King Edward the Confessor took the throne

• 1066 died without an heir, causing a struggle for the Thrown

Norman Conquest

William Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror)

Norman- descendant of Vikings spoke French

Invaded England and claimed the crown

Fought and won the Battle of Hastings

Norman Conquest

• Harold Godwinson was rival to William

• Battled each other in The Battle of Hastings 1066

• Harold was shot in eye by an arrow

• William claimed England and kept1/5 of England for himself

• Lords who supported him received land grants

• Unified the country, and laid foundation for centralized Government in England

England’s Evolving Government

• English wanted two goals– Hold and add to French

lands– Strengthen own power

over church and nobles

• William’s ancestors owned land in France and England

• Henry II added to land by marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine (French)

England’s Evolving Government

The marriage gave Henry a large territory in France

He Inherited William the Conquerors land

Also a vassal to a French King

Juries and Common Law

Henry strengthened royal court by sending Royal judges to all of England at least once a year

The Royal Judges Collected taxes, settled lawsuits, punished crimes

He also introduced the Jury to English Courts

Jury-usually 12 neighbors of the accused

Juries and Common Law

Juries would answer questions about the case

Trial- popular means to settle a dispute

Only king’s court could conduct them

Common law-case by case rulings formed unified body of law

Magna Carta

Henry dies Richard the

Lionhearted takes over, but dies in the Crusades

John (Richards younger brother) became king Not a good military

leader Lost lands in France Cruel to his subjects Highest taxes Threatened to revoke

charters

Magna Carta

Nobles revolt in 1215

John forced to sign Magna Carta (Great Charter)

Drawn up by nobles

Certain political rights

Safeguarded feudal rights

Limit the king’s power

Magna Carta

Citizens argued it applied to all classes

No taxation without representation

Jury trial

Protection of the law

Basic legal rights now in England and the United States

Model Parliament

Edward I needed to raise taxes for a war with France

Two burgesses from every borough, two knights from every county, to serve on Parliament Similar to Senate

and House of Representatives today

Parliament: Legislative body of lords and commoners

The Model Parliament

1300-1400 Parliament when King wanted a new tax

Two groups formed House of Commons House of Lords

Parliament helped to weaken the great lords

In time Parliament became strong and provided a check on Royal Power

Capetian Dynasty Rules France

After Charlemagne’s empire broke up, Counts and dukes ruled land independently

France had 47 feudal territories

Hugh Capet-began the Capetian Dynasty that ruled from 987-1328

France Becomes a Separate Kingdom

Power of King spread from Paris

Royal power would unite France

Philip II Expands Power

One of the most powerful Capetians was Philip II

Philip II

Watched father lose land to Henry II

Became king at 15

Phillip had little success against Henry II or Richard the Lionhearted

John becomes king

Philip II Expands His Power

Phillip gets the name Augustus

Greatly increase France’s territory (3 X larger)

Seized Normandy from King John in 1204

Phillip had tripled his lands

Phillip II Expands His Power

French King more powerful than any other vassal

Wanted more land and wanted stronger central government

Bailiffs- royal officials who presided over the king’s court and collected taxes

Phillip II’s Heirs

Louis IX Phillip’s grandson During Reign, central

government became stronger

Known as ideal king Became a Saint in

Catholic Church Created French

Appeals Court which Could overturn local courts (Federal Court System)

Phillip II’s Heirs

Phillip IV ruled from 1285-1314

Had quarrels with the pope

Philip Wanted priests to pay taxes in the Kingdom

Disputed right of pope to control church affairs in his kingdom

Phillip II’s Heirs

Usually called lords and bishops for support when he wanted something to be passed in his Kingdom

To win support against the pope called a meeting included commoners

Estates General

Church leaders were know as the First Estate

Great lords- Second Estate

Commoners, wealthy landholders, merchants became the Third Estate

The whole meeting was called the Estates General

Estates General

Estates General Increased royal power against nobility

Estates General never became independent

Third Estate would play a key role in the French Revolution

Beginnings of Democracy

England and France both started the Democratic Process

Central government Govern widespread

lands Creation of common law

courts was the first step Including commoners in

decision making was essential for Democracy

Start of democratic rule