The British Monarchy - Part VI
King Charles (I, II, & III)
Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor, the oldest son of the recently deceased Queen Elizabeth, is now King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He is a constitutional monarch with limited powers.
Monarchs used to have absolute power. The evolution to a constitutional monarch started over 800 years ago with the Magna Carta, which among other clauses, required the King to seek parliamentary approval for new taxes. This series of entries covers the evolution of the British Monarchy.
Shakespeare’s Play – King Richard II – First Acts
Shakespeare’s play tells the story of the last two years of King Richard, known of the ‘tyranny of King Richard.’ Richard had seized absolute power and taken revenge against perceived enemies, including expropriating their lands and giving the properties to his favorites.
Richard’s uncle, John the Gaunt, is dying and tries to advise the King, saying “Will the King come, that I may breathe my last In wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth?”
He is told the King won’t listen, but thinks maybe Richard will listen to his dying words: “Though Richard my life’s counsel would not hear, My death’s sad tale may yet undeaf his ear.”
John the Gaunt then gives his famous speech, starting with praises for England:
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself…
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,
In the 1943 movie, ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon,’ Basil Rathbone gives the same speech after defeating the evil Nazi plot (see nearby Youtube link)
But Richard has mismanaged the country, and John the Gaunt continues:
This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land,
Dear for her reputation through the world,
Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it,
Like to a tenement or pelting farm:
External enemies did not harm England, but internal corruption has ruined the country:
That England, that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life,
How happy then were my ensuing death!
King Richard II’s Reign
Richard was only 10 years old when took the reign in 1377.
Peasants Revolt - 1381
Turmoil hit the kingdom during the Peasants revolt of 1381. Because of the costs for the Hundred Years war with France, England imposed a poll tax. This tax, and other economic problems hit especially hard on the peasants and workers. They rebelled, captured the Tower of London, and executed both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the King’s Treasurer.
John Ball, one of the rebellion’s leaders, appealed for freedom from oppression, stating:
“When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?* From the beginning all men by nature were created alike, and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning, he would have appointed who should be bond, and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed to us by God, in which ye may (if ye will ) cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty…
…For so shall you procure peace and surety to yourselves in time to come; and by despatching out of the way the great men, there shall be an equality in liberty, and no difference in degrees of nobility; but a like dignity and equal authority in all things brought in among you.”
*delved and span were ancient words for working; gentleman in this context reflects an upper class – the overall meaning of this phrase is when Adam and Eve worked, there were no class distinctions
Another leader, Wat Tyler presented these demands to the King: “…the freedom to buy and sell all goods, and a free pardon for all offences committed during the rebellion; …and no man should be compelled to work except by employment under a regularly reviewed contract.” (Click to read In the original olde English)
King Richard, now 14 years old, personally met with the rebels and promised to meet their demands (in general terms, to end serfdom). The rebels disbursed and the King betrayed them. He ordered the execution of many of the leaders. According to one account, John Ball was “drawn, disemboweled, hanged, and beheaded as a traitor." The King declared “villeins ye are, and villeins ye shall remain.” (Villein here is a word for serf)
Wonderful Parliament - 1386
By 1386, the Hundred Years war was still going poorly. Richard, only 19, was concerned about the French invading England helped by their Scottish allies. The King called Parliament into session to approve additional taxes. Known as the ‘wonderful parliament,’ this parliament was angry at the King and his rule. It demanded removal (impeachment) of several of his ministers and the right to approve any future ministers. Parliament also created a group (known as the Lords Appellant) to oversee the King. The King was forced to accept these stipulations to get the necessary funds from Parliament.
Merciless parliament - 1388
The King attempted to defy the Lords Appellant, but the Lords formed an army which defeated the King’s forces. They forced the King to call Parliament into session. Known as the ‘merciless’ parliament, they purged the King’s advisors and administrators, executing many of them.
Tyranny of Richard II – 1397 - 1399
Richard slowly restored his authority over the next eight years, sought peace with France, and lowered the tax burden. He agreed to marry the daughter of the French king. Only problem, she was six years old.
In 1397, Richard sought revenge against the Lords Appellant and their supporters for their role in the merciless parliament. He executed several and levied fines against others. He had Parliament declare the Merciless Parliament’s acts null and void and pronounce him to be an absolute monarch.
Shakespeare’s Play – King Richard II – Later Acts
When John of Gaunt died, the King expropriated his lands instead of allowing his son, Henry to inherit them. Henry, who had previously been exiled to France by Richard, returned and gathered up military support against Richard. The King had little backing and Richard agreed to abdicate in favor of Henry (who became King Henry IV). In the play King Richard says:
I give this heavy weight from off my head
And this unwieldy scepter from my hand,
King Richard Murdered in Shakespeare Play
With mine own hands I give away my crown,
With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,
All pomp and majesty I do forswear.
My manors, rents, revenues I forgo;
Richard was imprisoned and died shortly thereafter. He was either murdered or starved to death.
(Shakespeare’s play shows him murdered - see nearby Youtube link
Limits on the Monarch
During King Richard’s reign, Parliament continued to exert its authority over the Monarch, here establishing that the King’s ministers require parliamentary approval. This is similar to the U.S. provision requiring the Senate to approve the President’s cabinet.
The Royal Scorecard
So far in this series, we have looked at six Kings. Three were deposed. The position certainly lacks job security.
King John, forced to accept the Magna Carta in 1215
King Henry III, King John's son, deposed by Simon De Monfort in 1265
King Edward I (Longshanks / Hammer of the Scots) – He worked with Parliament, remaining in power until his death in 1307
King Edward II – deposed by his wife and other enemies in 1327, died, most likely murdered, shortly thereafter.
Kind Edward III – Accepted Parliament's power; remained King until he died in 1377; started the Hundred Years war.
King Richard II – deposed in 1399 and died, mostly likely murdered
Succession
In our next post, we’ll look at King Henry IV, who had deposed King Richard II.