Conspiring Against the King's Men: Corruption and Coercion in Fourteenth Century Cornwall

Description

Fourteenth century England had a corruption problem. The localities were dominated by networks of powerful landholders who through their loyal allies were able to manipulate the legal system and deploy unchecked violence against their enemies. In 1381 William de Botreaux, while fighting for the king in Portugal and his tenants William and Richard Eyr were attained of treason by their powerful local rivals. This paper looks to William’s targeting as reflective of other tactical seizures of lands belonging to knights fighting abroad at this time to examine this phenomenon. It further highlights the role of knights service to the king in aiding claimants pursuing justice through parliamentary petitions.

Period	2 Nov 2024
Held at	Medieval Loyalty Research Network
Degree of Recognition	National