Kingship: Legitimacy, Rights, Traditions and Law.
By late medieval England Kings were bound by a series of responsibilities, traditions, and laws. These were based upon legitimate rule, and in time, acceptance of that Right to be King from the Three Estates. In theory, later medieval Kings could not simply dictate, as they were by the 14th century bound by a series of laws, agreements, and traditions. These set out not only the rights of Kings but also the responsibilities that they had, along with the limits to their power.
Over the Post-Conquest Medieval period politics systems changed a lot. Under early Norman Kings, power, land and wealth were derived almost entirely from the Crown (or church). England by the end of the 15th century had transformed into a nation where the Crown, to some extent, was held to account by Parliament.
The changes to the rights and responsibilities of a monarch came about for a number of reasons. In the main, these were the result of Barons or the Church feeling that the King of the day had overstepped the mark, was not fulfilling his role effectively, or fairly, and that for the good of themselves [the Peers] and the country, there needed to be structures, rules, and accountability in place.
The following outlines some of the key moments in the history of the Power of the Crown and of issues pertaining to the legitimacy of monarchs.
Timeline: Kingship: Rights, Responsibilities, Traditions and Law.
1066 – The Norman Invasion and Conquest of England.
Structures within English political systems changed as a result of William the Conqueror’s successful invasion of England. Anglo-Saxon systems based on Shires and a Council, the Witan, were adapted into a Norman system. Power became more centralised and was vested largely in the King himself. This saw the establishment of the Feudal System within England. Land was granted by the King in return for service and loyalty. Lords then further distributed lands, Manors, on a similar basis.
A top down system emerged that was focussed on the power of the Monarch. The King could grant lands and powers, or remove them, resulting in a system in which governance was based upon loyalty or service to the Crown. Feudalism changed over the Medieval Era, with additions and removals of Rights at each level of power. External Link: These are outlined on this page from the Mapping the Countryside Project.
1127 – Oath by Barons confirming the Empress Matilda as heir to the throne of England.
Matilda was named by Henry I as his heir, with Barons including Stephen of Blois swearing Oaths that they would honour this. External Link: The Lady of the English: Matilda’s Battle for Her Right
1135 – Death of King Henry I.
Throne seized by Stephen of Blois, a nephew of Henry I. This overlooked the Oaths of 1127 and the claim of Stephen’s elder brother, Theobald.
1135-1154 – The Anarchy
Civil War between King Stephen and the designated heir to Henry I, the Empress Matilda. External Link: The Anarchy.
1154 – Treaty of Wallingford
Treaty designed to bring about an end to The Anarchy. It allowed Stephen to remain King for his lifetime but named his heir as Henry, son of the Empress Matilda. External Link: Enter the Plantagenets ~ The Treaty of Wallingford, 1153
1215 – Magna Carta
Reissued numerous times, with revisions being made on occasion. Notable reissues of Magna Carta took place in 1216, 1217 and a revised version in 1225 which was then the basis for future reissues of the document. External Links: Magna Carta – Magna Carta at the National Archives.
1258 – Provisions of Oxford
The Provisions of Oxford were imposed on King Henry III by disgruntled Barons led by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. The Provisions placed the King under the authority of a Council of 15 men. These fifteeen Councillors were chosen by 12 men nominated by the King and 12 nominated by the reforming Barons. Key positions were to be appointed by and accountable to the Council of Fifteen. Parliament was to be held to account three times a year. External Link: The Provisions of Oxford from the UK Parliament website.
1265 – Simon de Montfort’s Parliament
Following the Battle of Lewes King Henry III was held by the rebel Earl, Simon de Montfort. Whilst de Montfort was effectively in charge of the country, he summoned two Parliaments. The second of these, running from January to March of 1265, is considered to be groundbreaking. This is because the Earl summoned commoners to attend Parliament in the form of representatives of the cities and boroughs. They sat alongside knights, bishops, and magnates [with the Cinque Ports also being represented] in what is considered to be the first respresentative Parliament held in England. External Links: Simon de Montfort’s Parliament on UK Parliament – list of those summoned via The National Archives.
1295 – Model Parliament
Called by King Edward I this Parliament became the model upon which future Parliaments were called – hence it being called the Model Parliament. It was similar in composition to the Parliament of 1265. Each county returned two knights, each borough two burgesses, and each city two citizens. Also summoned were members of the peerage and clergy. External Link: The History of Parliament Project Blog.
1311 Ordinances
Series of rules [Ordinances] regulating King Edward II‘s household and power. These set out limits to the monarchs powers and established limits to the way in which he could acquire and spend funds. The list of Ordinances from 1311 with a brief comparison to events of the 15th century can be read here. External Link: Britannica describes the Ordainer’s and their role.
1322 – Statute of York
Reassertion of Royal Authority by King Edward II. External Link: Columbia.edu explores the Ordinances and the 1322 Statute of York.
1327 – King Edward II deposed and presumed murdered.
King Edward II was deposed in 1327 by his wife, Queen Isabella, and Roger Mortimer Earl of March. They led a revolt against Edward II that culminated in him being left with little option but to abdicate in favour of his son, Edward III, who was a minor at the time. Edward III’s rule was then justified by senior officials of state, providing a precedent for the potential future removal of Kings who were deemed to be unfit for the Crown. Justification for the overthrowing of King Edward II and the premature accession of King Edward III.
The events are also described on one of our sister sites: Deposition / Abdication of King Edward II and Edward III becomes King of England.
1399 – Richard II deposed and presumed murdered.
Richard II was overthrown by his cousin, Henry IV [Bolingbroke] in 1399. This was justified by Henry in a number of ways, outlined in Richard II overthrown by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke. External Link: Nigel Saul on the deposition of Richard II.
1460 – Act of Accord states Yorkist succession to the throne.
The Act of Accord resulted from Richard 3rd Duke of York stating that he was King by Right. The Act stated that Henry VI would rule for life, then be succeeded by the duke of York, or his heirs. It disinherited Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales in favour of the Yorkist line.
1461 – Edward IV proclaimed King. Henry VI takes flight.
On 4 March 1461 Edward was proclaimed King of England in London. This was before King Henry VI had been defeated on the field of battle and whilst Henry was not in Yorkist hands. This makes the declaration of Edward as King unusual, in that there were, for a short time, two ‘free’ declared Kings of England. Henry went into flight after the defeat of the Lancastrians in the Battle of Towton, with his supporters holding onto an enclave in the north east until 1464. External Link:A New Dawn? The accession of Edward IV on 4 March 1461 from the History of Parliament Blog.
1461 – Edward IV’s use of Genealogical Rolls as a Propaganda tool to promote his claim of legitimacy.
Edward IV had a Coronation Roll produced that demonstrated his right to be King via lineage. See this page about the Roll or an educational resource based on the Edward Roll here. He also had a Genealogical Roll, known as the Edward Poster, produced that demonstrated the illegality of the Lancastrian Kings reigns, again through use of a visualisation of a Family Tree. The Edward Poster: Typological life and genealogy of Edward IV
1465 – King Henry VI captured by Yorkist forces. Imprisoned in the Tower of London.
King Henry VI went into hiding after the defeat of Lancastrian forces at the Battle of Hexham. He was betrayed and then captured in July 1465. Henry was taken to the Tower of London where he was held until his readeption in 1470. He was further held in the Tower of London following the Battle of Barnet, until his death, presumed murdered, Henry VI captured by the Yorkists, July 1465.
1470 – Angers Agreement.
Following the Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence’s rebellion the pair fled to the continent. It led to an extraordinary alliance being made with the exiled Queen Margaret. The erstwhile enemies concluded the ‘The Manner and Guiding of the Earl of Warwick at Angers‘ better known as the Angers Agreement.
The Agreement set out what would happen in the event of a successful restoration of King Henry VI. It saw Anne Neville marry Edward of Westminster, the Lancastrian heir. George duke of Clarence was stated as being net in line to the Crown. The Earl of Warwick would have extensive powers under the proposals. The Agreement was at least partially enacted following the Readeption of Henry VI, until Edward IV’s victories at Barnet and Tewkesbury.
1470 – Readeption of Henry VI. Edward IV flees to the Low Countries.
The return to England of the Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence in August 1470 led to King Edward IV and his closest associates fleeing to Flanders. With Edward IV in exile, King Henry VI was restored in the Readeption. Government was in his name but managed by senior peers such as the Earl of Warwick, Duke of Clarence, and some of the senior Lancastrian lords who returned to England once Henry was reinstated. Links: Warwick and Clarence’s ‘invasion’ of August 1470 – Edward IV’s flight to Flanders – Turning back the clock: the Readeption Parliament of Henry VI, 1470-71 (History of Parliament Project).
1471 – Restoration of King Edward IV
Edward IV landed at Ravenspur on the Yorkshire coast in March 1471. He marched south, via York, and entered London on 11 April. Edward and Henry met and the latter was taken by the Yorkists to Barnet, where they were victorious against an army led by the Earl of Warwick. Edward IV was now effectively King again, with Henry VI once more his captive, held again in the Tower of London.
1471 – Abingdon Proclamation.
Edward IV stated his claim to by King prior to the Battle of Tewkesbury in a proclamation made at Abingdon. The statement is of note as it asserts Edward’s justification for his Right to the Crown.
1471 – Yorkist victory at Tewkesbury. Siege of London. Henry VI presumed murdered.
Following the Yorkist victory at Tewkesbury the captured Lancastrian male Peers were executed. As those events were taking place in the west of England, London was assaulted by forces under Thomas Neville the Bastard of Fauconberg. Shortly after the end of the Lancastrian / Neville attacks on London, on 21 May 1471, it was announced that King Henry VI had died. Officially the former King had died of melancholy. It is more widely believed that he had been killed by the Yorkists, though the exact cause and details are subject to debate. External Link: ‘From Hevyn to Helle’: The Mysterious Death of Henry VI
1483 – Edward V declared illegitimate.
King Edward IV died on 9 April 1483. His eldest son was proclaimed King of England as King Edward V in London on 11 April. There followed a period in which Richard duke of Gloucester acted as Protector of the Realm. Through April, May, and into June of 1483 plans were made and remade for the Coronation of King Edward V. Alongside this, was a series of arrests of men said to threaten either the young King, or Richard duke of Gloucester.
On 22 June 1483 a sermon was preached by Dr Ralph Shaa stating that the marriage of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth [Woodville] was invalid. In a matter of days this sermon changed the political outlook. Edward V was said to be illegitimate and therefore unable to inherit the Crown. By 25 June, Richard duke of Gloucester was being considered as the Rightful King of England.
On 26 June, Richard accepted an invitation to take the Crown as rightful heir. A Coronation for Richard and his wife, Anne Neville, was held on 6 July 1483. This period of political change and uncertainty is incredibly complex, with many conflicting theories as to when decisions were made, how truthful some statements were, and how justified many outcomes were. The events are outlined in more detail on this page: How did Richard duke of Gloucester become King Richard III?
1484 – Titulus Regis.
Act confirming the illegitimacy of Edward V and right of Richard III to become King of England. Titulus Regis is the name given to the Parliamentary confirmation of Richard’s right to the Crown and the illegitimacy of all of the children produced by the union of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. External Link: Richard III and the Parliament of 1484 [History of Parliament Project].
Featured Image
A panel from Harley MS 7353 depicting the battle of Towton 1461 and Edward IV’s right to the English throne.