English Central Government

1176 Words5 Pages
The possession of continental lands significantly weakened English central government in the period 1066 to 1216. Assess The possession of continental lands did not significantly weaken English central government in the period 1066 to 1216. Although the absence of the king occasionally created a need to raise a high geld or draw money out of the country’s economy, such absence also paved the way for great developments to the office of chief minister and the role of the exchequer. The development of the central role of ‘chief minister’ (later ‘chief justiciar’) is a clear example of the way in which continental possessions strengthened central government in the period. William Rufus’ appointment of Ranulf Flambard as an administrator of…show more content…
Indeed, that William II granted Flambard the power to initiate laws-notably reintroducing the murdrum fine- highlights a very strong development to central government as it shows a shift away from the singular autocracy of previous kings, such as Cnut. The differing use of a chief minister between William I and II was, therefore, purely down to necessity, as William I had his wife, Mathilda, available for rule in his absence- with Rufus lacking such a figure. Similarly the office flourished under the reign of Richard I, where Hubert Walter’s role as ‘chief justiciar’ involved successful domestic fundraising- involving, amongst other measures, a fairly heavy tax upon fraudulent Jewish moneylenders and the use of scutages-evidence for the increased responsibility and necessity of the role. Richard required significant funding to continue his long-term continental campaign, indeed leaving the country in 1191 and failing to return until the end of his reign in 1199. Moreover the office was concieved and utilised purely due to continental possessions. However, certain anomalies, such as the reigns of John and Stephen, do exist. John lacked any…show more content…
William was the sole proprietor of Normandy, having been duke before the battle of Hastings in 1066. In his rule of two nations, William spent the large majority of his time in Normandy, indeed leaving England altogether from 1072-1087. Compared to the other advances, the developments to central government in this time period were thin. William developed the writ somewhat, that it might be deployed to control the country whilst the monarch was overseas and he was the primary King to utilise vice regents, however in terms of sheer scale, nothing William developed came close to that of his subsequent continental land-owning monarchs. William had little challenge on the land, having to raise a high geld in defence of Normandy only a single time in his reign. A stark contrast to the reign of Richard, whom used scutages in excess of five times to extend his campaign. Moreover, the developments to central government, as seen in the role of the chief justiciar and to the exchequer, came when there was either threat to continental lands or the king staged a campaign to extend his
Open Document