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Year 7 History Project

Middle Ages - Power and Protest Session 1: King Edward I

• In the following slides you will find information relating to: • Edward and • Edward and • Edward and the War of Independence Edward I

• Edward facts • Edward was born in 1239 • In 1264 Edward was held prisoner when English rebelled against his father III. • In 1271 Edward joined a Christian to try and free from Muslim control • Edward took the throne in 1272. • Edward fought a long campaign to conquer Wales • Edward built lots of in Wales such as , and castles • Edward had two nicknames - 'Longshanks' because he was so tall and the 'Hammer of the Scots' for obvious reasons • Edward’s war with eventually brought about his death when he died from sickness in 1307 when marching towards the Scottish Border.

• In 1275 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd of Wales refused to pay (respect) to King Edward I of as he believed himself ruler of Wales after fighting his own uncles for the right. • This sparked a war that would result in the end of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (the last) who was killed fighting the English in 1282 after several years of on off warfare. • Edward I destroyed the armies of Llywelyn when they revolted against England trying to take complete control of Wales. • As a result Llywelyn is known as the last native ruler of Wales. • After his death Edward I took his head from his body and placed it on a spike in to deter future revolts. He built lots of castles to assert his power such as Caernarfon. Edward humiliated the Welsh by giving them a Prince who did not speak the language, his new born son. Edward I vs Llewelyn Ap Gruffudd

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpy7N90BtIQ History of Parliament Parliament background:

• The Norman kings called a Great Council of barons and bishops three times a year – at Christmas, Easter and Whitsun, which is the Sunday 50 days after Easter. These meetings came to be called ''. The word 'parliament' comes from the French word 'parler', meaning 'to speak’. • The : In 1275 Edward I called two knights from each county and two burgesses (freemen who were elected) from each town to the Model Parliament. It was called 'model' because this became normal. After 1327 they became a permanent part of Parliament, and after 1332 they sat in one chamber and became known as the House of Commons. • They were called on primarily to listen to and approve the King's plan for a new . Over the following years it became an accepted rule that the representatives of those who were going to be most affected by taxation had to give their consent to it in Parliament. Model Parliament

• However, the practice of summoning these representatives did not become standard for many years. The next time the burgesses were summoned along with the knights of the shire was in 1295. • From 1278 official records were kept of its proceedings and decisions, written up and sewn together in long scrolls, the Rolls of Parliament. Edward revolutionised parliament over the course of his reign of 35 years (1272-1307) as he summoned it on 46 occasions making it a frequent and increasingly powerful system. For the first 20 years of his reign it met ‘regularly’ - almost twice a year. • Parliament increased power under Edward because he was constantly fighting wars. This needed more money than they had from their own wealth and they had to demand "extraordinary" from the people, with Parliament’s permission, to raise the funds. • But each time the King requested assent to a tax from Parliament, it could ask a favour back again and often used the King's desperation for money to get what it wanted. As a result after Edward’s death, the Parliament was stronger than it ever had been and future King’s and Queens would forever be wary of its influence and power. • Eventually the would form in 1688 – The Ruling King/Queen still remained as a customary role but decision making powers lay with the House of Commons/Lords. Wars of Independence - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z8g86sg/articles/z77dbdm

• Why did Edward I invade Scotland? • In 1292, Alexander III , the King of Scotland, died. • Scotland's nobles turned to the Edward I to help them choose a new king. • Edward was seen as being friendly to Scotland. What could possibly go wrong? • When became King of Scots, Edward demanded that Balliol recognise him as his superior! He expected John and Scotland to support him in a war against France. • The Scottish lords wanted John to stand up to Edward. So in 1295 John signed a treaty with France, the . This greatly angered Edward who did not like the French! • In 1296 Edward raised a large army and invaded Scotland. Wars of independence

• What happened next? • In 1306 Edward defeated the Scots at the but he faced more trouble when and then started to fight back. • Edward punished Robert by imprisoning his sister Mary for 4 years. • Edward marched to Scotland with a large army to fight the new Scottish king, Robert the Bruce. As a powerful King he wanted to rule over as any people as possible and control all hostile territories. • He got as far as the border of Scotland but then he got sick and died. • According to one story, his last wish was that his body should not be buried until Scotland had been conquered. That didn't happen, though, and Edward was buried in Abbey. • Scotland did not join England until the Act of Union in 1707 which formally created the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Although England and Scotland had shared a Monarch since 1603 when James VI of Scotland became James I of England. William Wallace - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z8g86sg/articles/z6q8382

• Wallace was born around 1270. He might have been born at Elderslie near Paisley or Ellerslie in Ayrshire • In 1296 after John Balliol surrendered to and was removed as King of Scots, Edward took control of Scotland and forced 2000 Scottish nobles to swear they would be loyal to him. Some Scots refused to see Edward as their king and fought back. • One of those people was a man called William Wallace . • In 1297, he is reported to have killed William de Heselrig, the English High Sheriff occupying the Scottish town of Lanark. • Instead of going into hiding, Wallace continued his rebellion. He attacked other Scottish places controlled by Edward. William Wallace

• Wallace is famous for two battles. In the first, Wallace and his co-commander, , defeated a large English army at the Battle of Stirling in 1297. • After this, Wallace was made a Guardian of Scotland - a man who would defend the nation. • The next battle didn't go so well. At the Battle of in 1298, Wallace was defeated when Edward I took personal control of the battle. • After the , Wallace resigned as Guardian on Scotland and went on the run. • Seven years later, Wallace was captured near Glasgow. He was sent to London where he was tried for treason (disobeying the English King). He was executed in London in 1305 by being hung, drawn (cut open) and quartered (his body was cut into four parts) • After his death, his head was dipped in tar and put on a spike on ! • The four parts of his body were sent to Berwick, Newcastle, Stirling and Perth • Wallace is still remembered to this day for standing up for what he believed in. Session 2 – Medieval Kings

In this session you will find: Information on Medieval Kings and rebellions

Session 3 – Peasants Revolt 1381.

In this session: • Information on the Peasants Revolt • Slides with decision making game 1381: The decisions of a Kentish villager A Man of Importance

• You are an important man in your village, trusted by the other villagers. This year they’ve chosen you as the , to protect the village from crime. Of course this is on top of your work, farming your land. • You own enough land and animals to feed your family. You also work 2 days a week on your lord’s land but he pays low wages, the same as in your grand-dad’s time. The law says you have to work for the same wages as 30 years ago. • Some villagers are even worse off. They’re villeins – they’re not free. They have to work for the lord on 2 days a week – for no pay. The law says that the lord can’t free them.

18 The King’s Law No hope for the villagers • Why is the law so harsh? Remember the Death 30 years ago? After all those deaths the lords didn’t have enough people to farm the fields. People hoped this would lead to higher wages or getting their freedom. • But the lords were frightened. They didn’t want to pay people higher wages – or set them free. • So the King made a law saying • Villeins could not be freed • Freemen had to work for the same wages as before the Black Death • People’s hopes of a better life disappeared.

19 More problems – Wars and Taxes And now things are even worse! And the government has collected 5 taxes in 4 years. The French are attacking We used to pay tax once towns only 20 from every 3 or 4 years where we live.

The latest tax is another POLL TAX. Everyone pays the same – lords and villagers. And it’s 3 times higher Our taxes are being than the last one. wasted or we’d be beating the French

20 Who’s to blame for the problems? This is not the Down with fault of our King, Simon of Sudbury Richard II. He’s You’re who made the law! only 14... it’s the right! (He’s and Archbishop of ) fault of those evil swine who advise him! Shame on that foul pig who persuaded the king to agree

A curse on Robert of Hales who looks after England’s treasure – our money!

21 Decision 1: Will you pay the Poll Tax? • Tax collectors are visiting every village. • There’s lots of talk of people not paying the Poll Tax.

• Will you: a. pay the tax – that’s 12 pence for you and 12 pence for our wife b. hide – the tax collectors will never find people in the woodland near the village c. rebel – attack the tax collectors to show the King’s advisers how angry everyone is.

22 What did you decide?

• a) pay the tax – lose 1 point. You’ve not done anything to improve your life and it’s cost you a lot of money. • b) hide – gain 1 point. You’ve saved a lot of money. Lots of people hid – as many as one in three in many areas. • c) rebel – lose 2 points. Dangerous! You don’t know if anyone else will rebel. Rebels are executed – very, very painfully! If only more people would protest!

23 Decision 2: Will you rebel this time? • The government is angry at how many people avoided paying tax by hiding. They’re sending more tax collectors to punish them – and collect the missing tax. • More news! Men in have drowned a tax collector in the village pond. Rumours say a massive protest has started in Essex and in your county (). • There’s a meeting in the village. People will listen to you.

• Will you tell them to: a. pay the tax and accept the punishment. It may be best in the long run. If this protest doesn’t work you’ll all be punished. b. hide again – though the tax collectors are bringing soldiers with them. c. join the protest. It will be an adventure. You’ve never been to London. If this protest works, you’ll earn more and the villeins will be freed.

24 What did you decide?

• a) pay the tax – lose 1 point. You’ve not done anything to improve your life and it’s cost you a lot of money. • b) hide – lose 3 points. There’s not much chance of hiding this time and besides, you look a coward. Most of the villagers made choice c. • c) join the protest – gain 1 point. You’ve not paid the tax and you’ve stood up for what you believe in – but there’s a long way to go to be successful.

25 Decision 3: What about the French? • Someone in the village asks – should we leave men to defend Kent against a French attack?

• Will you: a. Remember your responsibilities. You’ve been trained to lead the men of the village if the enemy land. So you select men to stay behind to guard against French attack. b. Ignore the French. Take everyone to London. It’s more important to attack the King’s advisers.

26 What did you decide?

• a) Select men to stay behind – good choice. Gain 1 point. You aren’t a rabble. You’re intelligent men and women. • b) Take everyone to London – bad choice. Lose 1 point. This makes you look like a selfish rabble.

• What did happen? • In 1381 the men of Kent made choice (a). They used the system of ringing church bells to call out the local trained men to summon people to join the protest. They were well-organized and well-led – by people like you.

27 Decision 4: What will be your slogan? • The protest is growing. • The leader is . He’s trying to make sure people know why they’re protesting.

• Which of these slogans is best? a. “Down with the king and all lords” b. “For King Richard and the true loyal common people”

28 What did you decide?

• a) “Down with the king and all lords” – lose 4 points. This sounds like rebellion. Remember what happens to rebels – they’re hanged, taken down, their stomachs cut open and their heads cut off. You are NOT rebelling against the King. You’re protesting against his advisers. • b) “For King Richard and the true loyal common people” – good choice. Gain 1 point.

• What did happen? • Slogan (b) was one of the slogans used in 1381.

29 Decision 5: Arrival in London • London! There’s thousands of you arriving from Kent, Essex and other counties but even so you original protesters are outnumbered. There’s all kinds of people joining in – criminals let out of prison, troublemakers, the London poor. It’s getting chaotic.

• Will you: a. go home. It’s dangerous to stay. Everything could go wrong. b. stay and make sure the protest reaches the young King. It’s too important to give up now.

30 What did you decide?

• a) go home. Lose 1 point. After all the effort? You’ll still have to pay taxes! • b) stay and make sure the protest works. Gain 1 point. This protest is important. If you and your friends go then the troublemakers really will take over.

31 Decision 6: What about the looting? • You see the luxurious of John of Gaunt – the King’s uncle and the most hated man in England. Gaunt’s away in the north but his palace is being looted. One man is stealing silver. Someone else is setting fire to the palace.

• Will you: a. join in and grab what you can for yourself b. make sure Wat Tyler knows what’s going on so he stops the looting. c. go home – it’s all going too far. You never wanted looting and crime – you’re a constable!

32 What did you decide?

• a) join in. Not a good choice. Wat Tyler threw the looter into the flames! He says you are here for justice, not theft. Lose ALL your points! • b) make sure Wat Tyler knows what’s going on. Gain 2 points. The protest will only work if you stay organized. • c) go home. 0 points. The protest is still important but maybe you’re right by this time – things are getting out of hand.

33 Decision 7: Do you believe the king? • This is what you’ve been dreaming of. Wat Tyler meets King Richard – and he agrees to your demands. • He will set us free from our lords, allow us to earn as much as we wish and he will think again about the Poll Tax. Wat is no fool and wants a signed promise. The King says he will bring one tomorrow.

• Will you: a. go along to watch and cheer b. insist that Wat increases your demands – to get rid of all lords for ever so that everyone is equal?

34 What did you decide?

• a) go along to watch and cheer – gain 1 point. You’ll be able to tell your grandchildren about the moment the protest succeeded. • b) insist on getting rid of all lords so that everyone is equal? – lose 3 points. A priest called has been telling people that there were no lords in the days of Adam and Eve. Some rebels agree but this wasn’t what you were protesting about. This would be rebellion. This will get everyone’s heads cut off.

35 Decision 8: Will you attack the ? • You hear that the King’s hated advisers have fled to the Tower of London. They have few guards. You have thousands of men. • People in Kent particularly hate , the because he’s been a very harsh landowner.

• Will you: a. Join the mob attacking the Tower, take the King’s advisers prisoner and put them on trial in a court? b. Stay away from the Tower. This violence is frightening all the lords. They say you’re rebels and deserve death. c. Attack the Tower and murder the King’s advisers

36 What did you decide?

• a) put the King’s advisers on trial in a court. Gain 1 point. This shows you’re not a wild mob – but it wasn’t what happened! • b) Stay away from the Tower. 0 points. Probably a good idea for you but it won’t affect what happens in the future. • c) murder the King’s advisers. Lose 3 points. This will make sure the lords turn against you.

• What did happen?

The mob attacked the Tower. Robert of Hales and Simon of Sudbury were beheaded and their heads were put on spikes on London Bridge.

37 Decision 9: The biggest decision of all! • Next day young King Richard II at the head of 60 knights and nobles meets Wat Tyler but a quarrel breaks out. You hear the Mayor of London call Wat Tyler a ‘base knave’ and strike him with his sword. Then a knight stabs Tyler. It seems as if Wat is dead. • The boy king rides forward and says: ‘Sirs, what is the matter? You shall have no other leader except me. I am your King. Be peaceful.’ • He promises you will be granted all your demands if you go home peacefully.

• Do you: a. shout ‘charge’ and attack the King and his men. You will kill them easily because they’re outnumbered. That’s the only way to get what you want. b. trust the king and go home? Surely the King won’t lie? This means all your efforts have been successful and you can go home to your children.

38 What did you decide?

• a) Shout ‘charge’ and attack the King. Lose ALL your points. You have attacked God’s chosen one. The King’s nobles will now do anything for revenge and will try to destroy you all. • b) trust the king? Lose 8 points. The King had lied.

• What did happen? • None of your demands were granted. Once the protesters had gone home the King and new advisers organised a strong army. The ringleaders were hunted down and hanged by the roadsides.

39 What would you call the events of 1381? • The monks who described the events of 1381 called it: • The Peasants’ Revolt

• What impression does the word ‘peasant’ give? Does it seem a fair word to use? • Was this event a ‘revolt’? Or a ‘protest’? Or a ‘revolution’? Or a ‘demonstration’? • What about calling it ‘The Great Revolt’?

40 What should we remember 1381 for?

This plaque was put up in 2011.

Why do YOU think the events of 1381 should still be remembered?

41 1411: It’s 30 years later Now put yourself into the comfortable fur-lined boots of a landowner. The people in your village are angry – just as they were 30 years ago in 1381 when they marched to London. They want their freedoms – to be able to earn as much as they can, to be able to move freely to another village or town to get work.

• Will you a. Agree – you don’t want to go through all those protests again – and all over the country other landowners are agreeing to demands like this. b. say ‘No’ – it didn’t work last time and you won’t give in this time.

42 It’s 30 years later

• What did the landowners choose? • In the early 1400s the landowners made choice (a). They agreed to give people their freedom. They didn’t want another Great Revolt. • Gradually the rest of the villeins were freed so by the mid-1400s the days of villeins were over. Everyone was free – maybe the Great Revolt of 1381 had worked after all?

43 • Thomas of ’s History of the Peasants’ Revolt

• 1. At this time England suffered a dreadful calamity. If God had not put an end to it, the whole kingdom would have been destroyed. The villeins and other peasants in Essex, in their stupidity, decided to use force to better themselves and take control of all things. Crowds of them demanded their freedom, planning to take control of all things and be the equal of their lords. Men from the two villages where this started sent messengers to all other villages telling everyone to join them. Anyone who refused would have their homes burned and their heads cut from their necks. In a short time 5000 of the poorest peasants assembled. The wanted to conquer the kingdom but some had only sticks, some swords covered in rust, some only axes and some had arrows with only one feather. Only one in a thousand of the rascals was properly armed.

• 2. Then they sent messages to the people of Kent, inviting them to join in. Soon the whole of Kent and other areas were in the same chaos. The rebels had so many reinforcements that they feared no-one. They began to execute all the lawyers they could capture and burned all the court records so that they wiped out all the evidence about who had been villeins. Then the rebel army of 100,000 arrived at Blackheath near London. The King sent knights to find out what they wanted but the rogues said that they would only talk to King Richard himself.

• 3. When King Richard asked for advice, Simon of Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said that the King should not talk to such a pack of ruffians. The peasants were furious when they heard about this and swore they would cut off the heads of Sudbury and other traitors to the King. They immediately set off for London.

• 4. The Mayor of London ordered the city gates to be closed but the common people of the city supported the peasants and threatened to kill the Mayor if the gates were closed. And so the rogues got into the city. They said they only wanted to punish the traitors to the King, especially the , and there would be no robberies. They would buy food at a fair price.

• 5. But later that day, when the sun was hot and the rebels had been drinking heavily they burned down the Savoy, the Duke of Lancaster’s house. Then they burned more houses and attacked the Tower of London where the King and his advisers were staying. In their madness, they demanded the King hand over Archbishop Sudbury and others who they called traitors. The King agreed, knowing he would be killed if he did not agree. There were 600 soldiers in the Tower but they did nothing to stop the rebels. • 6. When the ruffians got into the Tower they arrogantly sat joking on the King’s bed and several asked the King’s mother for a kiss. They were the lowest kinds of peasant but they behaved like lords. Swineherds thought themselves better than knights. Then these devils found the archbishop, dragged him outside the Tower and hacked off his head, leaving his body on the ground for two days. They executed many others as if it was a game.

• 7. Then the King and his remaining councillors offered Walter Tyler, the rebels’ leader a pardon if they stopped the killing, burning and robberies. The rebels’ chief leader was called Walter Tyler. Tyler said he would accept the pardon provided that the King agreed to all his demands. Above all he wanted to execute all lawyers and have no laws because then the common people would decide everything.

• 8. Tyler met the King at a place called Smithfield. The meeting began with a quarrel when Sir John Newton, one of the King’s knights, rode to meet Tyler. Tyler was so arrogant that he thought Newton should be on . The two men threatened each other with knives until the King ordered Newton to put down his knife and climb down from his horse. The King wanted to calm the rascal Tyler but the scoundrel attacked Newton in front of the King. Then , the Mayor of London, and other knights loyally raced forward to help Newton. The King ordered them to arrest Tyler. The Mayor, a man of great bravery, struck Tyler on the head and others attacked him with their swords. Tyler fell from his horse, dead.

• 9. Immediately the rebels shouted ‘Our captain is dead. He has been treacherously killed’ and they drew their bows ready to fire on the King and his men. But the King, with great courage for so young a man, spurred his horse towards the commons people and said and rode round them saying ‘What are you doing? ‘Surely you do not want to fire upon me, your King? I will be your king, captain and leader. Follow me and you can have all that you have asked for.’

• 10. Meanwhile the Mayor of London rode into the city and gathered a small army of loyal men and they rode to help the King. They immediately surrounded the peasants. Throwing down their axes, bows and spears, the rebels humbly sank to their knees and asked for mercy. To stop trouble the King ordered that they be given the charter they had asked for to stop trouble beginning again. The charter said that the King gave everyone their freedom from being villeins. They were also pardoned for taking part in the rebellion. Once they had the charter they all returned home. Once the kingdom was peaceful, John Straw and the other leaders who had been arrested were executed and later the charter of freedom and pardon was revoked.

• More about Thomas of Walsingham

• At the same time as the Great Rebellion there was another rebellion in St. Albans, where Thomas was a monk. The rebels in St. Albans wanted more freedom from the monastery which owned a lot of the local land. Walsingham believed that God decided which men were free and unfree and so he thought the rebels were challenging God. He was pleased when the rebels were severely punished Session 4:

• Self Assessment Quiz & Answers Quiz Answers

1. Name 3 things the King could decide to do during the 12th Century. (1 mark) Decide to go to War, Set Taxes, Punish Crimes, Decide on Parliament starting/ending, hold expensive ceremony’s, sort Law and Order. 2. What should a King do to look strong and powerful? Give 2 examples. (1 mark) Look Good, have an heir, worship God, hold feasts, win wars. 3. Name 2 groups who could influence the King. (1 mark) Explain who had the most power for 1 Bonus Point. Church/Barons – Explanation would consist of ’s holding King in check as he relied on them for his armies. The Church could excommunicate (Ban) the King and the country from the church which would be a huge problem for people of the as they could not get married, or have funerals officially. People may also turn on the King in support of their Pope. 4. Who famously said ‘Who will rid me of this troublesome Priest’ and would later be the only King to be whipped as punishment? (1 mark) Henry II 5. In what year was Thomas Becket murdered? (1 mark) 1170. 6. Name two reasons why the Baron’s rebelled against King John? (1 mark) Increased Taxes, refusal to listen to their advice, waging expensive wars. 7. What was one of King John’s nicknames? (1 mark) Soft sword or Lackland 8. In what year was the signed? (1 mark) 1210 9. What did John do that ultimately led to his death? (1 mark) Went against the Magna Carta and took on the Barons – he lost, fled and died of . 10. What was the name of the Parliament created by Edward I? (1 mark) Why was it significant for one Bonus Point? Model Parliament. Paved the way for House of Commons and gave people of less noble birth a small voice for the first time. Quiz Answers

11. Name 2 ways that Edward I asserted his power over Wales? (1 mark) Named son (who spoke no Welsh) . Built castles across the country such as Caernarfon . 12. Who did Edward I fight for control of Wales? (1 mark) Llewelyn Ap Gruffudd 13. Describe 2 reasons why Edward I invaded Scotland? (1 mark) To gain control of a country who had recently lost their King. Because Scotland recently sided with France. To gain more power/territory/control. 14. In 30 words or less, explain the story of William Wallace. 1 Correct event = 1 mark (Max 2) Correct events to include – Birth in 1270, refusal to swear loyalty to Edward I. Murder of Sheriff in Lanark. Battle of Falkirk. Battle of Stirling Bridge. Execution. Guardian of Scotland 15. What happened to Robert the Bruce's sister? (1 mark) Mary was imprisoned by Edward I for 4 years as punishment for Robert the Bruce rebelling against Edward. 16. When did Scotland eventually join England? (1 mark) 1707 with the Act of Union or 1603 crowning of James I. 17. Explain 2 reasons for the Peasant’s revolt? (1 mark) BP - In what year was it? Heavy Taxes. Invading French army in South West England. 1381. 18. How did Richard II show his power to the Peasant’s? (1 mark) Killed the leader Wat Tyler. Showed mercy and granted peasants some of their requests. P.N – The list is not extensive. Quiz Answers

19. The Kings had unrivalled power during the Middle Ages. Write 1 PEEL paragraph agreeing with this statement. (4 marks) Model answer – Point – Castle building/wars/wealth/law and order. Evidence – 1 piece of evidence to support point i.e building of . 1 point for one piece of explanation – One developed explanation as to why that evidence supports the point i.e Because it allowed Edward I to control and intimidate the Welsh with a symbol of strength that was both useful and symbolic. 1 point for link back to the question - Therefore Kings had unrivalled power during the middle ages. 20. Explain how Protests managed to in check the power of the Monarchy throughout the Middle ages. Write 1 PEEL paragraph. (4 marks) Exactly the same structure and points awarded. Points you could include – Barons Rebellion, Scotland/Wales rebellions, peasants revolt, Religious protests.