Henry II’s Challenge

Restoring Stability to England

An Introduction

When Saints Slept...

Stephen’s reign generally seen as anarchyMainly due to overmighty subjectsThey had done their homage and sworn oaths of fealty to

him, but not one of their oaths was kept ... For every great man built him castles and held them against the king ... They filled them with devils and wicked men ... They seized those whom they believed to have any wealth ... And in order to get their gold or silver, they ... Tortured them with unspeakable tortures ... Anglo Saxon Chronicle

Henry II became known as “Castle-Breaker” Within a year Henry II “spectacularly successful” start to his

reign according to David Starkey.He broke the strength of barons such as Welsh Marcher lord

Hugh Mortimor, destroying or taking their castles from them.Besieged his castles, captured them simultaneously and

received his public homage

Henry’s Early RuleHenry II dealt swift, decisive with overmighty subjectsMuch of England in state of disorder

Royal Writ ignored in some parts of the country

Finances paid to Exchequer were irregular in some areas

Sheriffs, royal justices hindered by local disturbances and stranglehold of rival magnates

Henry: two important steps peace and stabilityExpelled Flemish mercenaries – weakened magnates armies

Demolished illegal castles from Stephen’s rule

Henry II used rivalries between barons – divide and ruleAlso undisputed King of England = strength

Overmighty SubjectsEarl of York (William le Gros); Roger, Earl

of Hereford; Hugh Mortimor, Lord of Wigmore

Henry II marched against William within month of coronation – forced surrender castles

Roger of Hereford then surrendered his castles

Hugh held outHenry besieged his castles at Cleobury and

Wigmore; also royal castle at BridgnorthHenry II took all castles simultaneouslyHugh surrendered publicly

Reasserting the King’s Authority – 1

Barons’ local influence was being erodedActivities of royal officials, many not of noble birth

Especially within King’s Household – e.g. Chancery and Exchequer clerks

New legal procedures took focus of law away from baronial courts

Military success against rebels made barons wary

Reasserting the King’s Authority – 2

Development of towns and citiesBased on trade and commerceLeading citizens = merchants, tradesmen, craftsmen –

not noblesKing could confer rights and privilegesHenry II did not let earls have control of towns or cities

Tended to remain loyal to him in Great RebellionGood source of revenue – wealth = strength

PatronageIs the giving of lands, privileges and bestowing of offices (official

posts or jobs) by a king or lord Henry appointed men to office on ability, not birth

Rarest and best was grant of royal land (and title)

Under Stephen there were 24 earldoms

Henry II reduced this: 12 by 1189; he re-took the landsImportant because made him by far most important landlord in

England and thus most powerfulOther earldoms trimmed

e.g. Robert Earl of Leicester not allowed control of that city, nor its castle and lost Herefordshire

E.g. Hugh Bigod, powerful in East Anglia, allowed to buy back castle he had built but was denied possession of Norwich.

Henry’s Men – Richard de Lucy

Henry II had talent for talentPicked able men, even if not of Anglo-

Norman aristocracyRichard de Lucy, justiciarFought with Stephen against Henry II BUTMan of great experience – trusted by StephenSheriff and royal justice in EssexControl of Tower of London; Windsor CastleRisen to power under Henry I; served Stephen

well – showed loyalty

Henry’s Men – Robert BeaumontRichard Beaumont, justiciarGave his support to Henry II in 1153Educated; highly intelligentPrudent and discreetTrustworthy

Henry’s Men – Thomas BecketChancellor of England until 1162English and supported by ChurchExperiencedClerk and accountant to sheriffs of LondonGave Henry II some affinity with LondonersImportant as they had prevented Henry’s

mother Mathilda from becoming QueenDeveloped close relationship with King

Financial Reform

Reconstruction government England VERY costlyHenry II took several key measures:

Revived ancient Danegeld taxSeized lost royal estatesSenior Crown ministers personally held sheriffdoms

so revenues properly and accurately assessedMajor reform coinage from 1158

Successfully revised from 1180Henry II used expertise from before Stephen’s reign

Bishop Nigel of Salisbury out of retirement

Cartae BaronumMade in 1166

Survey of feudal dues owed to Henry II

Tenants-In-Chief to tell King How many under-tenants they hadHow many knights they had given land toAnd how many knights fees they wed the king

New survey important because ...Many barons had given land to more knights than king knewKing could then get oaths of allegiance from these menScutage = tax paid in lieu of military service – so important to

know how many knights each tenant-in-chief had to pay forKing was aware of full extent of feudal rights such as

wardship