The practice of ‘exemption’ in Late-Medieval England: A study of the Military Orders’ secular liberties, c.1199—c.1307

Kennedy, Ross Stewart (2022) The practice of ‘exemption’ in Late-Medieval England: A study of the Military Orders’ secular liberties, c.1199—c.1307. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis is the first study of medieval English secular ‘exemption’ in its truest sense. It is also the first study—in 114 years—of the Knights Templars’ secular exemptions, and the first study ever of the Knights Hospitallers’ secular exemptions, in England. Hitherto, scholarship purporting to be about ‘exemption’ instead has concerned the closely related concept of libertas which, historiographically, refers to enclaves of autonomous power in which government and law were administered by private hands. This thesis defines ‘exemption’, draws the appropriate distinction from this prevailing manifestation of libertas, and reveals how conflict between theory and practice forged ‘exemption’ in the sense that one would understand today. It reveals that while ‘exemption’ was framed the same way—terminologically—as the great English liberties, it developed into what would be called an ‘exemption’ today on account of the benefactions of, and close, frequent contact with, the medieval English state; particularly as the consequences of Magna Carta placed strain on the Military Orders’ financial exemptions while the scope of their legal exemptions was drastically reduced by Henry II’s judicial reforms. In so doing, the thesis shows the Military Orders not as passive bystanders, but as active agents in the politico-legal community.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: D History General and Old World > D History (General); D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D111 Medieval History
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
• Supervisor's Name: Schenk, Dr. Jochen and Marritt, Dr. Stephen
• Date of Award: 2022
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2022-83120
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 09 Sep 2022 12:31
• Last Modified: 15 Apr 2026 13:02
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.83120
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/83120