The History of England

Being a Peasant was no doubt a pretty hard existance. But they were not without their methods of fighting back, and protecting their rights. This week also we look at the history of towns in the 13th century, as the economy continues to grow.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the 13th century, economic growth continued. For the Peasantry, this gave some opportunities; more chance to sell their produce and get involved in a wider range of money making ventures. It meant that population growth continued, since cottagers and wage earners were able to make enoiugh to get by on small plots of land; and so the density of landholding grew. During the 13th century all of this is fine - but there could be trouble ahead.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1258, the resentments all came together and the pot boiled over. The pope Alexander did his vassal no favours what so ever by pushing so hard that Henry had to ask his great men for more money.Together with some blazing rows between the Lusignans and the English barons, the spark had been applied to the powder keg. The result was the hobbling of the king by the Provisions of Oxford.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seems strange. Henry III was a likeable enough chap, who did his best to keep a harmonious court, and gave England an extended period of peace. And yet it's all going to go up in flames around him. So the question is, why was he so unpopular?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry III brushed off his great officers of state and the priod of 1234 to 1258 is a period of personal rule. Henry finds himself a wife, a new personal favourite in the form of Simon de Montfort, and makes one last attempt to regain Poitou.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From 1227 to 1234 we are sort of in betweeners - the minority has ended, but Henry's government in still dominated by the old guard, people like Hubert de Burgh. But it doesn't go well - money is still tight, Henry's campaigns in France aren't great, and in 1232 Peter des Roches, the old enemy, is back in town.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harmony with Scotland, the career of Llewellyn the Great, the loss of Poitou. During the minority of Henry, English prestige and power was at something of a low point - with the one exception of Gascony, where a supreme effort brought one success. And meanwhile in Souther France, the Cathars burned.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The years between 1219 and 1227 saw the gradual resumption of royal power. It also saw a power struggle between Peter des Roches, the Bishop of Winchester, and Hubert de Burgh the Justiciar. By January 1227 when Henry took control of the royal seal, that struggle at least seemed to be fully resolved in favour of Hubert.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After introducing Series 3, the Plantagents from 1217 to 1399, Henry III to Richard II, we turn to a kingdom im crisis.A man was needed to guide England through a civil war and minority. So who do you think they picked? The answer was of course William the Marshal who was now a very old man by the standards of the time. The Earl of Chester was politely asked, given the size of his holdings, but there was no holding William. In the two and a half years left to him, William was able to throw Louis out of the England and establish Henry as the rightful king. But he left an awful lot more for his successors to do. Series 3, The Plantagents (1217-1399) Starts in Crisi - the Minority of Henry III with a foreign army in England - and ends in Crisi with the usurpation of Henry Bolingbroke.60 - 66Deals with the Monority of Henry III, the Regency of William Marshall and the early faltering reign of the new king67 - 70 Is a pause to look at society in the High Middle Ages for 4 epiosdes and how people lived before launching into...70 - 75 Is the fascinating story of Simon de Montford, the reformers and the beginnings of parliament76 - 86 Sees the end of Henry's reign, and the reign of Edward Longshanks, with the Welsh campaign; and then the Great Cause in Sctoland from episode 81. There's time also for some social stuff about tournaments and Crime in 84 & 8587 - 94Concerns the scandalous reign of Edward II - and the first signs of toruble in the Great Famine of 131595 - 116 Is all about the glittering reign of Edward III, the start of the Hundred Years' War, a glorious life and a bad death117 - 130 Is the reign of Richard II, including the Peasants Revolt in 119 & 120; and Wucliffe & lollardy 122-123131-133 Are three episodes on Europe before moving on to Series 3 and the House of Lancaster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bouvines wasn't the cause of the Baronial revolt, but it probably was John's last chance to avoid it. In 1215 at Runymede Magna Carta was signed. It's extremely unlikely that John ever intended to allow the treaty to survive - and his untimely death at Newark was the biggest single factor in Magna Carta's survival.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.