The Revival of Monarchy in Northern Europe

4 FRANCE Charles VII ( ) Jacques Coeur and the French state. Louis XI “The Spider” ( ) The two cornerstones of French nation building: 1) The end of the English Empire in France and 2) the defeat of Burgundy Louis XI left an expanded and powerful France, His heirs pursued a debilitating foreign policy: Invasion of Italy and four wars against the HRE and the Habsburgs.

The Holy Roman Empire German princes resisted every attempt at national consolidation and unity. The Golden Bull creates the SEVEN ELECTORS: Archbishops of Mainz, Trier and Cologne; Duke of Saxony; Margrave of Brandenburg; the Count Palatine; King of Bohemia. Reichstag: 15 th century attempt to control internal feuding. Emperor Maximilian I ( ) granted a series of concessions to promote cohesion. German states remain divided= Reformation.

ENGLAND

Wars of the Roses The Plantagenet dynasty had ruled England since Henry II took the throne in Henry’s great-great-great grandson was Edward III ( ), one of England’s ablest mediaeval kings. (He started the Hundred Years War). Edward III had five sons. However, untimely deaths and conflicts between his heirs would make the monarchy unstable for much of the 15 th century. 1) Edward, Prince of Wales, aka “The Black Prince”: 2) Lionel, Duke of Clarence 3) John, Duke of Lancaster 4) Edmund, Duke of York and 5) Thomas, Duke of Gloucester. Richard II was overthrown and murdered by his cousin, Henry IV. Henry V was a powerful king who crushed the French but died young and left an infant son and incompetent heir, Henry VI, who would be challenged for the throne by his ruthless cousin, Richard, Duke of York.

The Kings of the Wars of the Roses L to R: Henry VI ( , ), Edward IV ( , ), Edward V (1483), Richard III ( ) In 1485, Richard III was defeated and killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field by Henry Tudor, the senior Lancastrian heir (through his mother). After 331 years, the Plantagenet dynasty came to an end. Henry Tudor becomes king. Many of Shakespeare’s history plays deal with the monarchs of this period: Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI and Richard III

Henry VII ( ) Although he led the Lancasters, he married Elizabeth of York (Edward IV’s daughter) and “reunited” the two royal branches. Founder of the Tudor Dynasty. Ruthless and greedy, but cunning and highly intelligent. He resolved that the monarchy would never be threatened again. Created the “Star Chamber.” Cleverly manipulated and bullied Parliament into granting forfeitures and monopolies. Royal Assize Courts and the JPs. His son and grand daughter would expand the centralized state he began.