A-level
HISTORY
7042/2A
Component 2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings,
1154–1216
Version: 1.0 Final
,A-level
HISTORY
Component 2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216
Friday 9 June 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2A.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun23/E3 7042/2A
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘The History of William Marshal’, a biography commissioned by William’s family in
the 1220s. William was a knight in Young Henry’s household in the 1170s.
Young Henry loved the life of visiting tournaments in whatever lands they were being
held; he travelled a lot and spent a lot too, wanting to conduct his life in a manner
befitting a king. So when he was almost out of money he let his father know; but his
father, hearing this, thought he was being wasteful. The King sent word to Young Henry
and his entourage, making it clear that his son’s generosity could not continue. 5
Young Henry was spending far too lavishly! Young Henry was more than a little irritated,
and there were plenty of voices around him saying he should confront his father and sort
him out – make him do what he wanted, whether he liked it or not! It is a long story, but,
in short, the Devil, ever lurking, sowed many a harsh and bitter word between father and
son till they came to an open war, which cost the lives of many worthy men. 10
Source B
From ‘Instructions for a Prince’, by Gerald of Wales, written in King John’s reign.
Although a royal clerk in the 1180s, Gerald became disillusioned when not made a
bishop.
From this detestable wickedness and the horrible crime of the murder of Thomas,
Archbishop of Canterbury, the revolving wheel of King Henry’s fortunes began to turn
downwards. The fortune of the King began to decline. His sons, now being grown up,
and frequently rising against him, and every day more and more encouraging the
affections of the nobility towards themselves, Henry never was able to remain long in any 5
settled state of happiness. For, about two years after the triumphal death of our martyr,
Young Henry went over to his father-in-law, Louis, King of France, together with his two
brothers, the Counts of Poitou and Brittany and revolted against his father, at the same
time having many accomplices amongst the great nobles. In which hopeless conflict
King Henry began to be so deeply afflicted that neither he himself, nor anyone else, could 10
ever suppose that his fortunes would rise again. For the hatred of those in the same
family is amongst the worst of human plagues.
IB/M/Jun23/7042/2A