The Plantagenets and Magna Carta: Feudalism in England (1087-1215)

1087 – 1215: Feudalism, the Plantagenets, and Magna Carta

After the Norman Conquest

In 1087 AD, William “The Conqueror” died, leaving behind a consolidated English kingdom. He had three sons: Robert (the eldest), William, and Henry. Traditionally, the eldest son inherited the primary patrimony, the second son inherited acquisitions made during the father's life, and the third son received nothing and was often sent to the church. In this case, Robert inherited Normandy, William inherited England, and Henry received nothing. Notably, William's inheritance of England proved more significant than Robert's inheritance of Normandy.

The following years were marked by a power struggle between the two brothers, leading to tension, instability, and a divided nobility.

William II (Rufus)

Due to the feudal system, William was crowned William II, also known as William “Rufus”. He became King of England but faced numerous challenges due to his brother Robert's claim. The conflict momentarily subsided when Robert decided to join the Crusades, pawning Normandy to William for 10,000 pounds. This temporarily unified the lands under one ruler.

However, William II never married and kept bishoprics vacant, earning him disapproval from the Church. He died in 1100 in a suspicious hunting accident, with his brother Henry conveniently nearby, raising suspicions about Henry's involvement. Henry quickly crowned himself King of England and Duke of Normandy. Upon Robert's return, he fought for his position but ultimately died, leaving Henry in control of both England and Normandy.

Henry I and Stability

After Henry I ascended the throne and his brothers died, a period of stability ensued. Henry I proved to be a capable king, responsible for several positive developments, including the consolidation of shires. He divided the land into shires and appointed a royal officer called a reeve to oversee each one. The combination of “shire” and “reeve” gave rise to the word “sheriff”. Reeves were primarily responsible for tax collection, which was meticulously regulated, leading to the creation of the “exchequer” (treasury). The term “exchequer” originates from this era, referring to the minister of finance. Twice a year, reeves presented collected taxes on a large checkered cloth, with each checker representing a shire. A full cloth signified complete tax collection.

Henry I also established a system of itinerant judges, strengthening his control over the country.

The Fight of the Investitures

One of Henry I's most significant challenges involved a conflict with the Church known as the Fight of the Investitures. When a bishopric became vacant, a new bishop had to be chosen and invested with the symbols of office, namely the staff and the ring. This process led to a power struggle between the king and the Church over who had the ultimate authority to appoint bishops.