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Authors: Derek Wilson
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glowed with multi-coloured light when the sun shone through. The ‘rose window’ also made its appearance at this time. This was a large, circular window, divided internally by stone tracery into panels that were filled with coloured glass. The total effect was one of awe-inspiring spaciousness, which could not but have a psychological effect on worshippers.The concepts of power and strength that many earlier churches had conveyed was replaced by those of gracefulness, radiance and intricacy. Glaziers could use the windows to illustrate stories from the Bible and the lives of the saints.
Stonemasons were given more space to perfect their art. They provided columns with elaborate capitals and introduced carved roof bosses representing animals, heraldic devices and biblical figures. Church buildings came to have an educative value – it was said that stained glass windows, carved images and wall paintings were sermons in themselves.
Henry III’s most impressive architectural project was the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey. The king visited France in 1243 and was immensely impressed by the building projects of Louis IX, who was creating churches and cathedrals in the new style in Paris and Rheims. Determined to outdo his rival monarch, Henry immediately set in hand a transformation of the abbey church at Westminster. This had been built 200 years earlier by the English king and saint, Edward the Confessor. St Edward was Henry’s favourite saint, and the king wanted to create a more impressive building to house his remains. Part of the Confessor’s church was pulled down so that building could commence in 1245. At a time when he was taxing his subjects heavily Henry lavished £45,000 on his pet project. The church was unfinished at the time of Henry’s death and later benefactors made their contributions in currently prevailing styles, but the famous church as it stands today is largely as Henry III’s architects conceived it.
The transition from massive monumentality to ethereal refinement reflected something of Henry III’s own personality.
1227–34
In fact, the young king continued to be dependent on his justiciar, Hubert de Burgh, who, by now accustomed to wielding virtually absolute authority, continued to frame policy, sometimes acting in secrecy. This created tension between king and justiciar and encouraged the opposition of a baronial faction jealous of de Burgh’s power. In 1230, after a long and difficult period of preparation, Henry crossed the Channel at the head of an army for the recovery of his Angevin inheritance. But this campaign, the last real attempt to recover Normandy for the English crown, was carried out in a half-hearted fashion and came to nothing.
When, in 1231, Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester, returned from crusade to great acclaim he became the leader of the court faction opposed to the justiciar. Henry havered in his support for first one, then the other of his advisers, but in July 1232 he had a fierce argument with de Burgh, dismissed him as justiciar and gave the job to des Roches. But the bishop was no more capable of uniting the baronage behind the throne than his predecessor had been. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Edmund Rich, accused the regime of corruption and maladministration and threatened the king with excommunication if he did not get rid of des Roches. In May 1234 Henry weakly gave in and ordered thebishop to retire to his diocese. The office of justiciar lapsed. Only now did Henry III’s personal rule truly begin.
1235–41
England now entered on a period of peace and relative stability. Henry could not afford a foreign war, and the old faction leaders were either soon dead or had made their peace with each other and the king. Henry concentrated on diplomacy in his foreign affairs. He married his sister, Isabella, to the Emperor Frederick II in 1235 and began in earnest to seek a wife for himself. He eventually chose Eleanor, the 11-year-old daughter of
Stonemasons were given more space to perfect their art. They provided columns with elaborate capitals and introduced carved roof bosses representing animals, heraldic devices and biblical figures. Church buildings came to have an educative value – it was said that stained glass windows, carved images and wall paintings were sermons in themselves.
Henry III’s most impressive architectural project was the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey. The king visited France in 1243 and was immensely impressed by the building projects of Louis IX, who was creating churches and cathedrals in the new style in Paris and Rheims. Determined to outdo his rival monarch, Henry immediately set in hand a transformation of the abbey church at Westminster. This had been built 200 years earlier by the English king and saint, Edward the Confessor. St Edward was Henry’s favourite saint, and the king wanted to create a more impressive building to house his remains. Part of the Confessor’s church was pulled down so that building could commence in 1245. At a time when he was taxing his subjects heavily Henry lavished £45,000 on his pet project. The church was unfinished at the time of Henry’s death and later benefactors made their contributions in currently prevailing styles, but the famous church as it stands today is largely as Henry III’s architects conceived it.
The transition from massive monumentality to ethereal refinement reflected something of Henry III’s own personality.
1227–34
In fact, the young king continued to be dependent on his justiciar, Hubert de Burgh, who, by now accustomed to wielding virtually absolute authority, continued to frame policy, sometimes acting in secrecy. This created tension between king and justiciar and encouraged the opposition of a baronial faction jealous of de Burgh’s power. In 1230, after a long and difficult period of preparation, Henry crossed the Channel at the head of an army for the recovery of his Angevin inheritance. But this campaign, the last real attempt to recover Normandy for the English crown, was carried out in a half-hearted fashion and came to nothing.
When, in 1231, Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester, returned from crusade to great acclaim he became the leader of the court faction opposed to the justiciar. Henry havered in his support for first one, then the other of his advisers, but in July 1232 he had a fierce argument with de Burgh, dismissed him as justiciar and gave the job to des Roches. But the bishop was no more capable of uniting the baronage behind the throne than his predecessor had been. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Edmund Rich, accused the regime of corruption and maladministration and threatened the king with excommunication if he did not get rid of des Roches. In May 1234 Henry weakly gave in and ordered thebishop to retire to his diocese. The office of justiciar lapsed. Only now did Henry III’s personal rule truly begin.
1235–41
England now entered on a period of peace and relative stability. Henry could not afford a foreign war, and the old faction leaders were either soon dead or had made their peace with each other and the king. Henry concentrated on diplomacy in his foreign affairs. He married his sister, Isabella, to the Emperor Frederick II in 1235 and began in earnest to seek a wife for himself. He eventually chose Eleanor, the 11-year-old daughter of
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