The Struggle of Power in England and France

Anglo-Saxon and Norman England

Anglo-Saxon England Germanic

Invaders Angles +

Saxons = Anglo-Saxons

Three Kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxons Northumbia - Northern

England (today Southern Scotland)

Mercia - Central England

Wessex - Southern England

Kingdoms were divided into governmental districts called shires.

Alfred the Great Defeats the Danes (Vikings) 886 - Peace Treaty allowed the

Danes to live in parts of Mercia and Northumbria

Danish Rule

900s - Alfred’s successors Won land back Strengthened the country Unified the country Spread Christianity

Danish Rule

1016 - King Canute of Denmark took the throneRuled a combined kingdom with Scandinavia Wise ruler1042 - Danish line of kings died out

Edward the Confessor

Chosen by the Anglo-Saxon nobles Edward was part (Anglo-Saxon) and part

(Norman) His death in 1066 changes the

relationship between France and England

Norman Conquest 1066 - Edward the Confessor dies Duke William of Normandy named his

successor Anglo-Saxons recognize Harold of

Wessex as heir to throne 1066 - Battle of Hastings - William defeats

Harold 1066(Dec) - William I of England

William I Accomplishments

Brought Norman laws and customs

Brought feudalism Reorganized the

economy (Doomsday Book)

Created a centralized government and strong monarchy

Henry I Created the

department of exchequer (treasury)

Created a more efficient central government

Sent traveling judges to try cases

Henry II Created his own

army Created a circuit of

judges Used trial by jury for

civil and criminal courts

John I

Signed and accepted the Magna Carta

Magna Carta made law the supreme power in England

Magna Carta

Protected the liberties of nobles Outlined the rights of ordinary citizens Taxes could only be collect by consent of

Great Council King could not take property without

paying for it King could not refuse, delay or sell justice Allowed trial by jury

Development of Parliament

Formed as a result of a revolt of nobles against King Henry III

Led by Simon de Montfort He wanted the nobles and middle class to

work together in opposition to the king House of Lords = Nobles and Clergy House of Commons = knights and burgesses

Common Law

Common Law = court decisions + customs

Court of Exchequer = tried tax cases and finances

Court of Common Pleas = heard cases between ordinary citizens

Court of the Kings Bench = trials that concerned the king or government

Rise of the Capetian Kings

Hugh Capet

Increase Royal Territory

Marriages to increase land holdings Took over land of the deceased Conquered territory

King Philip II seized Normandy and Maine

Strengthened Central Government

Appointed trained officials to run government

Extended jurisdiction of the royal courts Created the Estates General –

represented the 3 major social classes Increased power over church by taxing

the clergy

Philip II Increased the size of

France by seizing English landholdings

Philip IV Strengthened the

central government Improved the legal

system Increased revenue by

taxing the church Created the Estates

General