Question civilisation UK : Why does Henry II died thinking his life was a failure ? What were the consequences of the black death ? Was Henry VIIIth a successful king ? What was the elizabethean religious settlement ?

« CIVI UK : Why does Henry II died thinking his life was a failure ? Henry II : succeeded King William in 1154, territory : England, Normandy + parts of France.

He wanted more and declared war to Ireland → declared himself king of Ireland. Industry of france interesting : wool, textile and wine. • Marriage a disaster ans sons rebellion: → married to Eleanor d'aquitaine, she played an active role in parliament for almost two decades.

But they broke down, and Eleanor returned to Aquitaine in 1168. → he had 8 children with her, composed of 5 sons.

3 of them rebelled and plotted against him.

During 16 years, Henry fought them to keep his kingdom. 1st son killed, 2nd son killed, 3rd son eventually survived and killed Henry : Richard I (=Richard Coeur de Lion) → he even had to arrest Elianor, whom motivations to follow the plot were unsure, but Henry kept her imprisoned during 16 years in different locations. • felt responsible for his bestfriend’s death : • he was great friend with Thomas Beckett.

When becoming king, he promised Thomas that when the archbishop of Cantebury died, he will succeed him.

He did, but thomas kept criticising him : a murder had occur, but at this time the church was the one judging crimes.

The murderer wasn't executed because the church didn't have the right, was out in prison and released not long after.

Henry then decided that the State should be the one judging criminals by now. Also rumors of children raped and beaten by the church, so henry decided that the church should be judge by the state too (state > chrch) • January 1164 : The constitution of Clarandon : the pope agreed and thomas signed it but kept criticizing him in chruch. Henry decided to destroy thomas financillay : he took back his land and money.

Thomas came to france and travelled for 6 years because he was scared.

There was no archbishop in england for 6 years. • Henry and thomas met in europe and henry asked him to return, he did in 1170.

thomas immidiately criticised the king again : henry was in normandy having a banquet and said « someone chould do something about him ».

four of his men took the decision of killing hiom, they went to england in a boat on the 29th december 1170 and went into the Canterbury cathedral.

They didnt take off their sword and thomas told to his monks to go.

They talked and things got tense. One took off his sword and cut thomas's « crown » (around his head) and then they stabbed him.

Henry didn't know and when he came on his tomb, he allowed the monks to beat him because he never forgave himself for it. • BUT his life was NOT a failure : • new type of military system Barons and knights could pay Henry II to not enter the traditonal military service.

It was safer for the Barons and for the important men who didn't want to go to war, and it allowed Henry II to pay mercenaries with the money to replace the men and still have soldier at war. • The feudal system he developped the idea of « country gentleman farmer ».

it triggered the agricultural revolution thought he never intend to reform society. • A new system of justice After his came to the throne, crimes and judments were made by local sheriffs. He created prisons and courts by hiring 12 Genereal Eyes who travelled around the country to judge cases. • He reduced power of the Church With the Constitution of Clarendon, Henry II put above the Chruch the State. When memebers of the clergy did crime they were judged byt the state court. Members of the church didn't have priviledges anymore, and there was no conflict of interest anymore. What were the consequences of the black death ? (social, economic, political) Two type of plague : • Scepticimia : blood poisoning, when bitten by fleas that came from china.

Woke up with res postules on the armpits and between their legs → painful and deadly. • Pneumonic plague : sneezing and coughing, took 5 days to die.

People thought it was a transmission by bad smells so they created the mask.

It killed 30 million people in europe (1/3 of the population). Consequences : • economic • break down in markets and economic activity : crops unharvested, building projects stopped. • Lower real wages for both unskilled and skilled workers by 20%. • → Statute of Laborers, 1349, imposed strict limitations on nominal wages : similar restrictions in france where wages, prices of goods, were regulated • prices increased by 27% between 1348 and 1350 • not enough labor for the land that needed workers because people were dying : so the demand was high so greater wages and working conditions for peasants → shift of the power toward the poorest. • some cities did not recovered : London recovered from the loss within years, however in Winchester the pre-plague population was about 5000-8000 and fell to 3000 after and did not recovered. • social.... »