The document provides advice on how to be a successful monarch based on lessons from past kings. It discusses the importance of strong relationships, especially with the Pope and barons. It also covers maintaining law and order through castles and punishments, leading armies into battle, controlling land and power through castles, raising money through taxes and land, and choosing a wife who can provide an heir to secure the throne. Common mistakes of past unsuccessful kings like King John are highlighted.

1. The Complete Guide to be a Successful
Monarch

2. Contents
Page 1 ~ Relationships
Page 2 ~ Keeping Law in Order
Page 3 ~ Leading the Army
Page 4 ~ Control and Power
Page 6 ~ Making Money
Page 7~ Choosing a wife

3. Relationships
To be a successful leader one has to build strong relationships with the important
figures around them. A good relationship with the Pope and Barons is
compulsory.
The Pope
Do not make the same mistake as some monarchs have made before such as
King John. King John argued with the Pope and the Pope
excommunicated him and threatened to do the same to all his soldiers. Do not
argue with the Pope as it can lead to many problems. One must not follow in the
footsteps of King John as it will lead to failure.
The Barons
To earn the Barons trust, one must reward the Barons and listen to their
advice. If one does this the Barons will be forever in one’s favour and will obey
the King. If one does not do this the outcome is reversed. The Barons will
rebel against the king and will not provide an army. King John made this
mistake and had to raise the taxes to afford an army. This was very unpopular
with the people.
Keeping Law in Order

4. To keep law in order you can build lots of castles. With the law, one’s country
has rules to follow and is run smoothly. If people disobey the rules then there are
consequences.
King Henry VIII made a rule that if someone obeyed the Pope and not
himself they would be punished. A popular punishment was to be hung, drawn and
quartered. The criminal would be hung then would be pulled open and then cut in
to 4 pieces. This happened to Richard Whiting who was accused of robbery.
The people would watch the victim being tortured until death. They came to see
a good show. The torture was seen as entertainment as well as a punishment.

5. Leading an Army
A Great King is expected to be a good soldier. The people want a leader who
can lead his army into battle. If a King managed to capture part of France
then he was seen as a hero. The people want a courageous leader who encourages
his men.
Henry VIII was a brave leader and is seen as a great King. In the battle of
Agincourt, Henry fought hard when it looked like he would lose and then he
won. This is why he is still remembered as a hero.
King John on the other hand preferred to pay his soldiers to fight and for
himself to not fight. Some people thought he was a coward and he was regarded
as a vain character. This is not the type of leader one wants to be.

6. Control and Power
Every King seeks for power. However, one should be the King for the
people and not himself. It is seen as greed if the King appears to be too
interested in his power. The leader you still have control over the people.
A way to keep power is to have lots of castles because you have control over the
land. If enemies come then you can fight back easily.
Although Henry VIII is considered as a hero he did make some mistakes. One
of them was that he sold all the monasteries which was good because he got all their
riches. Although, he sold all the land and therefore didn’t have complete control
over the land.

7. Making Money
To fund ones country you need lots of money. Some ways of doing this is by,
Raising Taxes
Selling Land
Selling Riches
By raising taxes one can get lots of money, though that is unpopular with the
people.
King John made the mistake of raising the taxes too high. The barons didn’t
provide an army for him so he needed to pay people to fight for him. To gather all
this money, he had to raise the taxes. He raised them so high that he almost had
half the gold in England which was very unpopular with the people.
Another way of getting money, is selling land. Although this is a good
source of money, it is bad because you lose lots of land and castles. This makes you
less powerful and less prepared if enemies attack.
A Wife

8. The last part of a successful reign is finding a wife. One does not want a wife that
is too powerful as she could overcome the King. Of course, you need a wife that
can give birth. Without a relative to take the thrown, someone distantly related
would have to become the new King.
Henry VIII had 6 wives. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, only gave
birth to dead babies or babies that died early in their childhood. Henry VIII
thought God was punishing him for marring Catherine who was his brother’s
widow. He then divorced her and married Anne Boleyn. Anne gave birth to
girls alone and Henry thought that a man had rule so he executed Anne.
Henry VIII had another few wives before he married Jane Seymour who
finally gave birth to a boy. Henry was then satisfied. Unfortunately
Edward, Henry’s son died in his teenage life. When Henry died it meant
that one of his relatives had to take the thrown. What Henry didn’t know was
that it didn’t have to be a man to rule.

9. By Lady Rebecca Eggeling
Year Eight A. Bennett
Certified by Queen Victoria:
Price: 20 Shillings