AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) A-level HISTORY Component 2A Royal Authority and the Angevin Kings, 1154–1216 Friday 7 June 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions Afternoon  Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes  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/Jun24/7042/2A 3 Key areas: 1. Henry II’s Early Reign (1154–1171):  Accession to the Throne: Henry II inherited a vast empire, including England, Normandy, and parts of France, and aimed to consolidate royal authority after the chaos of Stephen’s reign.  Reforms of the Legal System: Henry strengthened royal control through reforms like the establishment of common law and itinerant justices, creating a more unified legal system across his domains.  Conflict with Thomas Becket: The ongoing struggle between Henry II and Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, over the rights of the Church and royal authority escalated with Becket’s murder in 1170. The incident damaged Henry's reputation but also reinforced royal power over the Church. 2. The Angevin Empire (1174–1189):  Expansion and Control: Henry II sought to expand and manage his vast territories, focusing on maintaining control over England, Normandy, and his other French holdings.  Challenges of Empire: Henry’s authority was challenged by his sons, particularly in the Revolt of 1173–1174, where his sons (supported by France and Scotland) rebelled, but Henry ultimately quashed the rebellion and reaffirmed his power. 3. Richard I’s Reign (1189–1199):  Richard the Lionheart: Richard I spent most of his reign abroad on Crusade and in war with France. His absence from England led to a decline in royal authority domestically.  Taxation and Resources: To fund his Crusade, Richard levied heavy taxes on England, which caused resentment but was necessary for financing military campaigns.  French Conflict: Richard’s reign saw prolonged warfare with France, especially with King Philip II, as Richard sought to defend and expand his territories. 4. John’s Reign (1199–1216):  Loss of French Territories: King John’s reign saw the loss of key territories in France, including Normandy, which significantly weakened his authority and angered his barons.  Conflict with the Nobility: John’s increasing demands for money and control over the barons led to widespread discontent and rebellion. His inability to effectively manage England’s finances or military resources further undermined his authority.  Magna Carta (1215): The culmination of John’s misrule was the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, a document that limited the king’s power and established important principles of law and governance. 5. Royal Authority and Legacy:  Centralization of Power: Despite challenges, the Angevin kings strengthened the power of the monarchy, particularly through legal reforms, though the long-term legacy was one of tension between the crown and the barons.  Financial and Military Struggles: The financial burden of maintaining the empire and the military challenges faced by the Angevin kings highlighted the limits of royal authority, particularly in the face of noble opposition. IB/M/Jun24/7042/2A 7042/2A Turn over ► IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E4 4 IB/M/Jun24/7042/2A Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From the ‘History of the Dukes of Normandy and the Kings of England’ by the unknown Flemish Chronicler, ‘Anonymous of Béthune’, early 13th century. There was a very nasty streak in King John’s character. He was the most cruel of men. He often humiliated the most important men in the land because he was attracted to beautiful women, and this caused a great deal of hatred. He would never willingly tell the truth. He did his utmost to create friction between his barons, taking great delight in seeing this turn into hatred. In 1210 John attacked a magnate with whom he had quarrelled, William de Briouse. John imprisoned William’s wife, Maud de Briouse, and their son in Corfe castle, placing in their cell a sheaf of oats and some uncooked bacon. He allowed them no more food than this. Ten days after, the mother was found dead, sitting between the legs of her son. As for the son, he was also dead. The mother in her anguish had eaten both of her son’s cheeks. William de Briouse, who was in Paris at the time, died of grief shortly after he heard the news. 5 10 Source B From a letter to Archbishop Stephen Langton from Pope Innocent III, March 1213. John had recently offered peace terms to the Pope regarding his excommunication. Sometimes the perversity of the wicked passes down by succession of blood from father to son. This is clearly apparent from the fact that Henry, King of the English, for a long time persecuted the blessed Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, who defended justice and ecclesiastical liberty and was later killed by the swords of the impious King’s men. For a long time now his son John, King of England, for the same reason has been unjustly persecuting you and our beloved sons the monks of Canterbury and many others, driving you to live pitiably in exile deprived of your entire property. We, therefore, kindled with a zeal for ecclesiastical liberty, charge and strictly command you that, if the King should violate the peace which has been restored between him and the English Church by apostolic provision, neither you nor any others should anoint or crown any of his heirs. This action preserves the orders of the Apostolic See. 5 10 3 Source C From a chronicle compiled by the St Alban’s monk, Wendover. Wendover lived through John’s reign but wrote afterwards. Wendover describes events after rebel barons took control of London, May 1215. King John, when he saw that he was deserted by almost all, so that out of his many followers he scarcely retained seven knights, was much alarmed lest the barons would attack his castles and take them without difficulty, as they would find no obstacle to their so doing. So he deceitfully pretended to make peace for a time with the barons and sent William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, with other trustworthy messengers, to them, and told the barons that, for the sake of peace, the King would willingly grant them the laws and liberties they required. The King also sent word to the barons by the same messengers, to appoint a fitting day and place to meet and carry all these matters into effect. The King’s messengers then came in all haste to London, and reported to the barons all that had been deceitfully told to them; they in their great joy appointed the fifteenth of June for the King to meet them. 5 10 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the reign of King John. [30 marks] Turn over for Section B IB/M/Jun24/7042/2A Turn over ► 6 IB/M/Jun24/7042/2A Section B Answer two questions. 0 2 To what extent did Henry II rely upon the support of the English Church to establish his royal authority in the years 1154 to 1166?