England under Richard (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
England under Richard I (1189-1199)
Richard's absence and the justiciar system
King Richard I earned his nickname "the Lionheart" through his military prowess, but this same quality meant he spent very little time actually ruling England. During his decade-long reign from 1189 to 1199, Richard was physically present in England for only about six months in total. The rest of the time, he was either fighting in the Third Crusade in the Holy Land or dealing with conflicts in his French territories.
This created a unique situation where England needed to be governed effectively without its king. Richard solved this problem by appointing powerful officials called justiciars to rule in his name. These justiciars had the king's full authority - they could hear legal cases, collect taxes, command armies, and make important decisions just as if they were the king himself.
The justiciar system was crucial to mediaeval government - these officials possessed the complete authority of the king when he was absent, making them some of the most powerful people in the realm. This system shows how mediaeval government could adapt to unusual circumstances, though it also created opportunities for conflict and rebellion.
Timeline of key events
The period can be understood through several crucial turning points:
1189: Richard became king in July following his father Henry II's death, but by December he had already left England to go on crusade, showing where his priorities lay.
1190: Richard appointed William Longchamp as his chief justiciar and departed for the Holy Land, beginning nearly four years of absentee rule.
1191: Prince John, Richard's younger brother, arrived in England and began stirring up trouble, eventually leading a rebellion against Longchamp's authority.
1192: Richard was captured and held prisoner by the Holy Roman Emperor while returning from crusade, creating a crisis of leadership.
1193: John attempted to seize the throne, claiming Richard was dead, but the barons remained loyal. Hubert Walter was appointed as the new justiciar.
1194: Richard was finally released after payment of a massive ransom and briefly returned to England to restore order before leaving again for France.
1198: Geoffrey Fitz Peter became justiciar when Walter stepped down.
1199: Richard died fighting in France, ending this remarkable period of absentee kingship.
William Longchamp's troubled rule (1190-1191)
Richard's first choice as justiciar was William Longchamp, a Norman cleric who had served the king faithfully. However, Longchamp's rule quickly became controversial for several important reasons.
The English barons distrusted Longchamp partly because of his foreign background - as a Norman, they felt he didn't understand English customs and interests as well as a native administrator would. More seriously, they accused him of arrogance and of making major decisions without consulting them properly. In mediaeval politics, successful rulers needed to maintain the support and cooperation of their powerful nobles, and Longchamp seemed to ignore this basic principle.
Longchamp also made the strategic error of replacing many sheriffs (local royal officials) with his own supporters, which alienated established local power networks. When he tried to make himself chancellor as well as justiciar, concentrating even more power in his hands, opposition began to build among the baronial class.
Prince John's rebellions and troublemaking
The situation became much worse when Prince John returned to England in 1191. As Richard's younger brother, John had his own ambitions for power, and he skillfully exploited the barons' dissatisfaction with Longchamp's rule.
John established his own rival court and began recruiting supporters among discontented nobles. He used his royal status to challenge Longchamp's authority directly, creating a dangerous division in the government. The crisis deepened dramatically in 1192 when news arrived that Richard had been captured while returning from crusade.
Historical Example: John's Attempted Coup (1192-1193)
When Richard was captured, John saw his opportunity and:
- Spread rumours that Richard was dead
- Began actively trying to seize the throne
- Negotiated with King Philip II of France, Richard's enemy
- Offered to surrender English territories in exchange for French support
However, John's coup ultimately failed because most barons remained loyal to Richard, determined to secure their king's release through paying ransom rather than accepting John as ruler.
Hubert Walter's successful administration (1193-1198)
After Longchamp's removal, Richard appointed Hubert Walter as justiciar, and this proved to be a much more successful choice. Walter had served both Henry II and Richard with distinction and was respected by the English baronial class.
Walter understood the importance of working cooperatively with the barons rather than trying to impose royal will through force alone. He regularly consulted with them on important matters and managed to maintain their support even while implementing the heavy taxation needed to pay Richard's ransom and fund his military campaigns.
Administrative Reform: Walter's Justice System
One of Walter's most significant achievements was reforming the justice system:
- He established a system where four knights in each hundred (a local administrative division within counties) were chosen to deal with legal matters in their areas
- This created a more organised approach to local justice while maintaining royal control
- The system made justice more accessible to ordinary people across England
Walter also demonstrated remarkable administrative skill in raising the enormous sum needed for Richard's ransom - approximately 150,000 marks, equivalent to several years' worth of royal income. He achieved this through a combination of increased taxation, selling royal lands and offices, and demanding contributions from churches and monasteries, all while avoiding the kind of rebellions that might have erupted under less tactful leadership.
England remained stable and well-governed during Walter's tenure, proving that the justiciar system could work effectively when the right person was in charge and when they maintained proper relationships with the noble class.
Assessment of Richard's rule in England
Richard's reign presents an interesting paradox - despite being physically absent for most of his kingship, England remained relatively stable and prosperous during this period. This was partly due to the strong administrative foundations laid by his father Henry II, but it also demonstrated the effectiveness of the justiciar system when properly managed.
The period shows both the strengths and weaknesses of mediaeval monarchy. On one hand, royal government could function without the king's physical presence, indicating how well-developed the administrative system had become. On the other hand, the king's absence created opportunities for rebellion and internal conflict, as seen with John's repeated attempts to seize power.
The contrast between Longchamp's failure and Walter's success illustrates the crucial importance of political skills in mediaeval government - technical competence wasn't enough if a ruler couldn't maintain the cooperation of the powerful noble class who formed the backbone of royal administration.
Key Points to Remember:
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Richard I spent only 6 months in England during his 10-year reign, showing how crusading and continental warfare took precedence over domestic government
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The justiciar system allowed England to function effectively without the king, demonstrating the sophisticated nature of late 12th-century royal administration
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William Longchamp failed as justiciar because he alienated the English barons through arrogance and exclusion from decision-making
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Prince John repeatedly attempted to exploit Richard's absence to advance his own claims to power, creating ongoing instability
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Hubert Walter succeeded by working cooperatively with the barons and implementing practical reforms like improved local justice systems