How Did Henry I Influence The English Government

However, despite these setbacks, Henry I was able to use the rise in population and resulting growth in towns as a means to rule more effectively. Henry I decided to use the surplus in lower nobility and clergy to his advantage by experimenting with the English government, more specifically the administration and legal proceedings. First, Henry I “raised from the dust” lesser nobles and clergy into specialized jobs. These individuals are then granted heiresses, land, or bishop titles for their loyalty and work. For instance, one of the special jobs that were allotted to lesser clergy was the role of the Exchequer, who would write the pipe rolls. The exchequer was in charge of keeping track of feudal dues, in other words, how much the King’s subjects owed him. This form of record …show more content…
As a result, when Henry II took control over England, the nobles relinquished their power. This action can be seen in Henry’s ability to abolish the illegal castles that had been built under Stephan, the removal of Flemish mercenaries from England, and the elimination of titles that Stephan had granted out to nobles. The loss of power is an important factor to the success of Henry II’s reign because it demonstrated to the monarch that he was once again at the top of the feudal hierarchy. Under Stephan, the power of the King disintegrated, resulting in a functioning but stagnant government. This government could not enforce its own laws and, as a result, the nobles moved to the top of the hierarchy, now free to do as they pleased. However, this meant that many nobles could not enjoy the same pleasantries and accountability that was once evident under William and Henry I. It was this realization that attracted the nobles to young Henry during his invasion, which resulted in the polarizing political pressure placed on Stephan to make Henry his