Medieval English Parliament
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Questions and Answers

What did William ask his vassals to provide?

  • Auxilium and consilium
  • Consilium only
  • Counsel and faithful aid (correct)
  • Faithful aid only
  • When did the French word 'parlement' start being used to denote a council of king and magnates?

  • In the 13th century
  • In the 1170s (correct)
  • In the 10th century
  • In the 14th century
  • What did the development of counsel as a feudal obligation show?

  • That the ruler did not value counsel
  • That the ruler did not bind himself to his vassals
  • That the ruler did not need counsel
  • That the ruler valued counsel (correct)
  • Why did the king want to hear the assembly's reaction to some important decisions?

    <p>To gain their counsel and consensus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happened to the authority of the council during Richard Lionheart's long absence?

    <p>It increased significantly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did John prefer instead of the counsel of the general assembly of the kingdom?

    <p>The counsel of friends and relatives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was asking the counsel of friends and relatives seen as problematic?

    <p>It was seen as too private</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During whose reign did the earliest form of an English parliament assemble?

    <p>Athelstan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the primary functions of the assemblies known as Witan?

    <p>Displaying the king's charisma and power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these holidays was one of the occasions when the assemblies were held?

    <p>Whitsun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What new practice did William the Conqueror introduce to the King's Counsel meetings?

    <p>Enhanced crown-wearing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant legislative function of the Witan that differed from continental assemblies?

    <p>Drafting legislation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did King Athelstan's assemblies commonly meet?

    <p>In the king's palace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did royal clerks play in the Witan assemblies?

    <p>Writing down charters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key reason for organizing feasts and giving gifts during the Witan assemblies?

    <p>To promote the popularity of the king</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The King's Counsel and Witan

    • The King's Counsel was the first body to evolve into a parliament in England before the Norman conquest.
    • King Athelstan (reigns 924-927) used an assembly, where people from various parts of the kingdom came to meet the king in his palace, on exceptional occasions and on specific days like Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun.

    Functions of the Assembly

    • The assembly had a formal character, with charters written down and royal clerks present.
    • Key functions included:
      • Displaying charisma, where the king showcased his power.
      • Promoting consensus, where the king interacted with important people and gained their approval.
      • Drafting legislation, a unique function of English assemblies.

    The Witan Assembly

    • The Witan assembly was seen as a representative body.
    • After the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror introduced new aspects, including:
      • Making crown-wearing a more prominent element of these meetings.
      • Involving the most important people in the kingdom in reforms and discussing key issues.
      • Grafting feudal concepts of auxilium and consilium to anglo-Saxon assemblies.

    Evolution of the Parlement

    • The use of the French word "parlement" to denote a council of king and magnates dates to the 1170s.
    • Initially, some people resisted being part of the parlement and its obligations, but as it gained political power, attitudes changed.
    • The fact that counsel developed as a feudal obligation shows that it was valued by the ruler.
    • It created a basis for consensus and softened the impact of autocratic elements of Norman (and then Angevin) kingship.

    Later Developments

    • The long absence of Richard Lionheart contributed to increasing the authority of the council.
    • The council could speak for the whole kingdom without implying that it was challenging royal authority.
    • This created a precedent, where the king should summon the council.
    • John's reign saw a preference for "familiar counsel" over the general assembly of the kingdom, leading to accusations of receiving "evil counsel".

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    Learn about the evolution of the English parliament from the King's Counsel and Witan to the modern parliament. Discover the remote precedents and key milestones in this historical journey.

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