OCR Specification focus:
‘government in the absence of Richard; local government, assizes, Forest Assize, Assize of Weights and Measures; Richard and the Church..’
Richard I’s reign was shaped by his long absences on crusade and in captivity, leaving the structures and policies of government to adapt and evolve without him.
Government in Richard I’s Absence
Richard I, often called Richard the Lionheart, spent only a handful of months of his reign (1189–1199) physically in England. Much of his rule was exercised from abroad, leaving governance in the hands of appointed ministers. This reality forced the strengthening of institutional structures so that royal authority remained effective in his absence.
The king’s reliance on trusted administrators, such as William Longchamp, and later Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, was critical. They acted as justiciars and vicegerents, exercising near-regal powers in Richard’s stead. The reliance on such officials demonstrated the flexibility and adaptability of the central government system. However, it also exposed the risk of factionalism when powerful figures competed for influence during the king’s long absences.
Local Government under Richard I
The Sheriff System
The sheriffs continued to play a crucial role in local governance, responsible for law and order, financial collection, and the execution of royal writs. However, Richard’s reign saw an increasing reliance on professional administrators rather than hereditary or local magnates. This shift reflected broader Angevin tendencies towards bureaucratisation.
Sheriffs were now often subjected to audits by the Exchequer.
Their role in collecting taxation and extraordinary levies, such as those to fund Richard’s crusade and ransom, emphasised the crown’s dependence on local officials.
The Hundred and Shire Courts
Local justice was delivered through the hundred and shire courts, traditional Anglo-Saxon institutions preserved by Norman and Angevin kings. These courts dealt with disputes, maintained law and order, and ensured the enforcement of royal policy at the local level.
Hundred Court: A local court meeting every few weeks to deal with minor offences and disputes within a subdivision of the shire.
By Richard’s reign, these courts increasingly operated under the shadow of royal justices who travelled the realm, offering more direct supervision from the crown.
Assizes and the Growth of Common Law
The General Assize System
Assizes were royal ordinances delivered through travelling justices, standardising law across the realm. Richard’s reign continued the development of Common Law, a body of law applied uniformly across England. His ministers upheld the practice of sending itinerant justices to enforce royal justice.
Forest Assize
The Forest Assize represented royal authority in relation to land designated as royal forest. Forest law was harsh and preserved for the king’s hunting rights.
Royal forests were zones under special forest law, protecting the king’s hunting rights and restricting land use. This map locates and names the principal royal forests, clarifying the scale of that jurisdiction. Although dated to the early fourteenth century, it exemplifies the landscape relevant to Richard I’s forest policy. Source
It restricted land use by ordinary subjects.
Severe penalties were imposed for poaching or encroaching on royal forests.
The law symbolised the extension of royal prerogative into daily life.
Assize of Weights and Measures
This important ordinance standardised commercial practice across the kingdom.
Assize of Weights and Measures: A royal decree enforcing uniformity in weights, measures, and standards to regulate trade and prevent fraud.
By ensuring consistency, Richard’s government bolstered economic stability and royal oversight of commerce. This reflected the crown’s role not only in governance but also in shaping the economic order.
The Role of the Church in Policy and Governance
The Church was both a partner and a potential rival in governance during Richard’s reign. As Archbishop of Canterbury and Justiciar, Hubert Walter exemplified the Church’s deep integration into administrative and judicial structures.
The tomb of Hubert Walter (d. 1205) in Canterbury Cathedral commemorates the prelate who also served as chief justiciar under Richard I. His career epitomises the Church’s direct participation in royal governance. This image connects the institutional narrative to a concrete historical figure. Source
Walter organised the collection of taxes, including those to fund Richard’s ransom.
Ecclesiastical courts operated alongside royal courts, particularly in matters of canon law.
The Church’s administrative capacity provided essential support to royal government, especially in the king’s absence.
Justiciar: The chief minister of the crown, often acting with full royal authority in the king’s absence.
While Richard retained ultimate authority, his reliance on clerical officials highlighted the Church’s influence within political life. This was not without tension, as the Papacy sought to assert its own authority in England during this period.
Royal Authority and Bureaucratic Continuity
Despite Richard’s near-constant absence, the institutions of governance held firm. This reflected the strength of Angevin administrative structures:
The Exchequer maintained financial records, scrutinised sheriffs, and managed revenues.
The Chancery issued writs and charters essential for governance.
Itinerant justices ensured law enforcement and royal presence throughout the realm.
Such continuity was a testament to the resilience of central government, though its effectiveness often depended on the personal qualities of Richard’s appointees.
Key Features of Institutions and Policy
Government in Richard’s Absence: Managed by justiciars and ministers with delegated royal authority.
Local Government: Sheriffs and courts formed the backbone of administration and justice at regional levels.
Assizes: Forest Assize upheld royal hunting rights; Assize of Weights and Measures enforced economic uniformity.
The Church: Clerics such as Hubert Walter played crucial administrative and political roles.
Royal Bureaucracy: The Exchequer, Chancery, and law courts maintained the flow of governance.
These institutions not only maintained stability but also advanced the professionalisation of English government, ensuring the survival of royal authority during Richard’s long and frequent absences.
FAQ
Raising Richard’s ransom after his capture in 1192 placed immense pressure on local government structures. Sheriffs were tasked with unprecedented levels of tax collection, including the “Aid for the King’s Ransom.”
This reliance on sheriffs reinforced the importance of local officials in ensuring royal policy was carried out, even in the king’s absence. It also highlighted the role of central oversight, as the Exchequer closely audited local returns to prevent corruption.
Itinerant justices extended royal justice into the localities, ensuring uniformity of law across the realm.
They reinforced the authority of the crown when the king was absent.
They reduced reliance on local lords, strengthening centralisation.
They gathered fines and fees, contributing to royal revenue.
Their presence demonstrated that even in Richard’s long absences, the machinery of Common Law continued to evolve and expand.
Forest law was deeply unpopular because it restricted common practices like hunting, wood-gathering, and farming on land designated as royal forest.
Harsh punishments were imposed for even minor infringements.
Communities resented the extension of royal prerogative into daily life.
Resistance sometimes manifested in local disputes, fuelling broader grievances against Angevin kingship.
These tensions illustrate why the Forest Assize became a symbol of crown authority and of royal intrusion into ordinary lives.
For towns, the Assize created a level playing field by curbing fraudulent practices in markets and fairs.
Merchants had to conform to standardised weights, ensuring fairness in transactions.
It boosted trust in commercial exchanges, aiding urban economic growth.
It provided the crown with stronger oversight of trade, linking commerce to governance.
This measure demonstrated Richard’s government’s interest in securing economic stability despite his focus on warfare abroad.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Hubert Walter combined ecclesiastical authority with political power.
He acted as chief justiciar, leading the kingdom’s administration.
He organised taxation for the crusade and ransom.
He oversaw law enforcement through itinerant justices.
His dual role showed how the Church was integrated into secular government, embodying both spiritual leadership and practical governance during Richard I’s absences.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
What was the purpose of the Assize of Weights and Measures issued during the reign of Richard I?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for identifying that it was intended to standardise trade practices.
1 mark for explaining that it ensured uniformity in weights and measures across the kingdom, preventing fraud.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for identifying that it was intended to standardise trade practices.
1 mark for explaining that it ensured uniformity in weights and measures across the kingdom, preventing fraud.
Mark scheme:
Up to 2 marks for describing the role of justiciars such as Hubert Walter, who exercised near-regal powers.
Up to 2 marks for explaining the contribution of sheriffs and local officials in collecting revenue and enforcing law.
Up to 2 marks for showing how the Church, particularly through Hubert Walter as Archbishop of Canterbury, supported taxation, administration, and judicial functions.
Maximum 6 marks for clear, accurate and relevant points; partial credit for valid but undeveloped points.
