Power and the People

• Historical periods

  • Medieval period: c.1000 - c.1500
  • Early Modern period: c.1500 - c.1700
  • Industrial period: c.1700 - c.1900
  • Modern period: c.1900 - present
• Power was organised in medieval England around the feudal system
• The feudal system was a social hierarchy introduced by the Normans after their conquest in 1066
• The monarch in medieval England was considered God’s representative on earth and was appointed to rule on their behalf
• Feudal system


  1. Kings granted land to Barons which provided money and knights in return

  2. Barons granted land to Knights which provided protection and military services in return

  3. Knights granted land to Peasants which provided food and services in return
• Barons in medieval politics were expected to consult with and take advice from leading churchmen and nobility of their kingdom
• Barons were tied to the king through land ownership in the Feudal System
• Barons were considered natural leaders of the Kingdom with both a right and obligation to give counsel to the King
• Meetings between Barons and the King were mostly referred to as ‘councils’ or Royal Councils
• Over the course of the 12th century, it became customary that general taxation should not be introduced and collected without the agreement of the barons
• Simon De Montfort was a nobleman from the rank ‘Lord’ in the Feudal System and an advisor to the king
• Simon De Montfort rebelled against his king due to the King’s personality/style of rule, financial problems, and political reasons
• Simon De Montfort rebelled against his king due to


  • King’s personality / style of rule
  • Financial problems
  • Political problems
  • Foreign influence
• King Henry III became king of England in 1216 after the death of his father, King John
• Henry was nine years old when he became king, so the council of barons helped him rule until he was old enough
• Expectations of how to rule (Magna Carta) were reissued when Henry became King and again in 1225 when he became mature enough to rule himself
• Tensions existed between Henry III and his barons right from the start of his reign
• In the early years of Henry's reign, he lost two major wars with France
• Henry depended on a few close individuals for advice and did not always consult his Council of Barons for advice
• Some barons were worried that Henry's half-brothers from France were influencing the English king in favor of French interests
• Royal councils, sometimes called parliaments, were called to help with increased demands for tax
• Counties of England started to send delegates to councils, meaning Henry had to listen to the counsel of more advisors
• In Royal councils, Henry was accused of arbitrary and personal rule by the barons
• Barons accused Henry of failing to follow the rules set in Magna Carta
• Barons eventually led a rebellion against Henry III due to several reasons, including his lavish lifestyle and financial issues
• April 1258


  7 barons, including Simon De Montfort, called a meeting of the Great Council to hold King Henry III to account
• Barons and King Henry III competed for power and authority for a 7-year period starting in 1258
• In the medieval period, English society was organised according to the feudal system, a system of loyalty where each rank in society supported the rank above them and were supported by the ranks below them
• The Barons held power as a result of their ties with the king through land ownership and had an obligatory right to give counsel to the king, which he was required to follow
• Simon De Montfort led the barons who called the Great Council against Henry in 1258
• During the Great Council meeting, the King agreed to the Provisions of Oxford, stating that a council of 15 barons would be in charge of the Great Council, elected by 24 men - 12 by the king and 12 by the barons
• Agreeing to the Provisions of Oxford meant the King also agreed that foreign members of the royal household would be banished and castles would be held by Englishmen
• Stated that from now on council of 15 barons would be in charge of the Great Council
• How the council of 15 barons would be elected

  By 24 men - 12 by king & 12 by barons
• Provisions of Oxford


  • Foreign members of royal household would be banished
  • Castles would be held by Englishmen
  • Each county would have a sheriff and taxes would be decided locally
• Provisions of Oxford


  Gave majority of power to Barons
• Provisions of Oxford

  Had real impact on royal authority
• Not all barons were happy with the provisions of Oxford
• Older barons felt that the reforms were interfering with their local interests
• Younger barons disliked the provisions of Oxford as they hadn’t been elected to council - so lost their influence