Overmighty subject

Overmighty subject

Overmighty subject (or overmighty baron) is a term associated with bastard feudalism. It denotes a royal subject in late medieval England who, through financial, military and/or personal influence, wielded powers on a par with, or beyond those of, the king himself.

Prime examples are Thomas of Lancaster, John of Gaunt and Warwick the Kingmaker. The term is somewhat discredited today, since it rests on the assumption that the nobles were constantly vying for power with the king, whereas a strong monarchy was in fact in the interest of most peers.

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • United Kingdom — a kingdom in NW Europe, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: formerly comprising Great Britain and Ireland 1801 1922. 58,610,182; 94,242 sq. mi. (244,100 sq. km). Cap.: London. Abbr.: U.K. Official name, United Kingdom of Great… …   Universalium

  • Germany — /jerr meuh nee/, n. a republic in central Europe: after World War II divided into four zones, British, French, U.S., and Soviet, and in 1949 into East Germany and West Germany; East and West Germany were reunited in 1990. 84,068,216; 137,852 sq.… …   Universalium

  • common law — 1. the system of law originating in England, as distinct from the civil or Roman law and the canon or ecclesiastical law. 2. the unwritten law, esp. of England, based on custom or court decision, as distinct from statute law. 3. the law… …   Universalium

  • French Wars of Religion — Part of European wars of religion Depiction of the St. Bartholomew s Day massacre by François Duboi …   Wikipedia

  • House demolition — This article is about the demolition of houses for military or punitive civil purposes. For the demolition of buildings in general, see demolition. Demolition of a house in Iraq containing a weapons cache House demolition is primarily a military… …   Wikipedia

  • Barmakids — ▪ ʿAbbāsid viziers Introduction also called  Barmecides,  Arabic  Al barāmika, or Al barmak,         priestly family of Iranian origin, from the city of Balkh in Khorāsān, who achieved prominence in the 8th century as scribes and viziers to the… …   Universalium

  • Himmler, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich — 1900–1945    After HITLER, Himmler is probably the most notorious of the leaders of the Third Reich. In the popular imagination he is indeed generally held responsible for the execution of all the terror and repression which the Reich visited on… …   Who’s Who in World War Two

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”