The development of the British Parliamentary Monarchy - Контрольная работа

Introduction Britain’s monarchy has evolved over many centuries. It emerged as the unified Crown of the United Kingdom as the Anglo-Saxon kingdom merged, followed by Wales and Ireland falling under the authority of the English crown, and finally with the union of the English and Scottish crowns under James I (James VI of Scotland). Through civil war, constitutional and religious reforms, and the days of the Empire, one can trace the development of the British Crown. In the Dark Ages, during the fifth and sixth centuries, communities of peoples in Britain inhabited homelands with ill-defined borders. Such communities were organised and led by chieftains or kings, but notwithstanding this, the monarchy wasnt such a strong institution as it was to become later. The rise of such community kingdoms was shaped by the final withdrawal of the Roman legions from the provinces of Britannia around 408 AD. As a result, these small kingdoms were left to preserve their own order, and to deal with invaders and irresistible waves of migrant peoples, such as the Picts from beyond Hadrians Wall, the Scots from Ireland, and various Germanic tribes from the continent. Legendary King Arthur, who seems to be the most well-known king this period, has often been cited as a leader of one or more of these kingdoms at this time. 1. Anglo-Saxon Period Anglo-Saxons settled in Britain in the fate fifth and early sixth centuries, and by 650 AD, the British Isles were a patchwork of many kingdoms founded from native or immigrant communities and led by powerful chieftains or kings. Until the late seventh century a series of warrior-kings in turn established their own personal authority over other kings. This position was usually won by force or through alliances and often cemented by dynastic marriages. They were elected by the Witan and ruled with the advice of the councilors, the great men of the kingdom. From the late 8th century, attacks by Vikings from Scandinavia increased, and in 871 the Danish army attacked Wessex. The Wessex forces under the command of Alfred, defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danes withdrew to an area north of a frontier running from London to Chester are known as Danelaw, while Alfred was master of the South and West of England. This victory did not end the Danish threat, and Alfred reorganised Wessex defences by organising his army on a rota basis, so he could raise a “rapid reaction force” to deal with raiders whilst still enabling his peasants to tend their farms. Second, Alfred started a building programme of well-defended settlements across southern England as a defence in depth against Danish raiders. Alfred also ordered the building of a navy of new fast ships to patrol the coasts and meet invaders before they penetrated inland. The energetic royal authority demonstrated in Alfred’s policies presaged the Wessex kings’ rule all England during the next century. And the Danes Blew In... Alfred the Great saved England from Danish conquest; but in the 10th-11th centuries the Danes managed to expand their possessions in Great Britain and from 1013 to 1042 Danish royal power triumphed in England. Canute (reigned 1016-35) became undisputed King of England, and his rivals fled abroad. During his reign, Canute also became King of Denmark and Norway, his inheritance and formidable personality combined to make him overlord of a huge northern empire. In 1042 Edward “the Confessor” (reigned 1032-66), Ethelreds surviving son, became King. With few rivals, Edward was King; the threat of usurpation by the King of Norway rallied the English and Danes in allegiance to Edward. Brought up in exile in Normandy, Edward lacked military ability or reputation. On Edwards death, the King’s Council confirmed Edward’s brother-in-law Harold, Earl of Wessex, as King. With no royal blood, and fearing rival claims from William Duke of Normandy and the King of Norway, Harold had himself crowned in Westminster Abbey on 6 January 1066, the day after Edward’s death. During his brief reign, Harold showed he was an outstanding commander. Meanwhile, William, Duke of Normandy (who claimed Harold had acknowledged him in 1064 as Edward’s successor) had landed in Sussex. Harold rushed south and, on 14 October 1066, his army of some 7,000 infantry was defeated on the field of Senlac near Hastings. Harold was hit in the eye by an arrow and cut down by Norman swords. The Norman Conquest did have immediate social, political and cultural implications. The reign of the House of Normandy and that Angevin was the period of the Domesday Book (1086) and of the Magna Carta Libertata (1215). Besides, this was a period of civil wars, disagreements between the King and the Church, the King and the nobles, and barons. William I, “the Conqueror”, Duke of Normandy, firmly established the feudal system by giving the lands of defeated Saxon nobles to his followers in return for military service by a certain number of knights, so that the tenant