Relations with other countries - Introduction

Anyone investigating the events in Europe and the British Isles between 1066 and 1500 will find a situation totally different from that of today. While England had virtually the same boundaries, France was divided into rival states and Germany was a part of the Holy Roman Empire. Scotland was an independent country with its own kings while Wales was a land split between ambitious families who were often at war with each other.

Europe c. 900 A.D. Click on a name to go to the commentary.

In England, the story was one of almost continual conflict between the king and the land-owning barons whose power was gained by their ability to collect taxes and who, because of poor communications, could operate without the king always knowing what was happening until it was too late. The king needed these barons but so often they tried to take advantage of their position.

Every story of historical events can be viewed from at least two angles, often totally different. The main part of this topic on relations between England and other countries looks at the English kings and their use of military expeditions to solve some of their problems at home. Scotland, Wales and France were regular targets for English ambition while the Crusades to the Holy Land were a more distant adventure.

Short sections on these other countries will bind the English side of the story together.