K. B. McFarlane
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Bruce McFarlane (1903–1966) was one of the 20th century's most influential historians of late medieval England. He was born on 18 October 1903 and was the only child of A. McFarlane, OBE. His father was a civil servant in the Admiralty and the young McFarlane's childhood was an unhappy one. This may have led to the deep melancholy that seemed to pervade much of his adult life. His family sent him to public school at Dulwich College
as a "day-boy." McFarlane did not particularly like the atmosphere of the public school and in 1922 he earned a scholarship to read history at Exeter College
Oxford. His tutor during these years was C. T. Atkinson. McFarlane became a fellow of Magdalen College
in 1927, where he remained for the rest of his life. Many of his colleagues and students found him difficult to approach, but for those who could break through the facade he became a great and true friend. McFarlane also found through the help of his great friend Dr. Helena Wright and her family a home and a family of sorts. In Wright's house he found that he could be himself, find refuge from the daily grind of the University, and a place of joy. McFarlane never married.
His most important contribution to the field was his revision of the understanding of late medieval feudal relationships, known as "bastard feudalism
". The old consensus, promoted primarily by Bishop Stubbs
, was that payment for service in feudal relationships had promoted greed and civil strife. McFarlane pointed out the adhesive effect of this, and other forms of patronage, as a field of common interest for the crown
and the landed
aristocracy
.
Although his scholarship and methods have had great influence on later historians, McFarlane did not publish widely in his own lifetime. The main sources for his scholarship are the book Lancastrian Kings and Lollard Knights, his Ford Lectures
from 1953 published in 1980 as The Nobility of Later Medieval England, and the essays and shorter articles published by his student G. L. Harriss
in 1981 under the title England in the Fifteenth Century. Much of his influence on historiography is the result of his Ph D students who held posts in many British universities. Although McFarlane himself would never have wished to spawn a "school of history," through his students that is - in many ways - what he did.
He left behind him a vast collection of correspondence that has been deposited in his library with Magdalen College. A number of the letters that McFarlane wrote to his friends were published privately through Magdalen College in 1997. The vast bulk of his correspondence, however, remains unpublished.
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
as a "day-boy." McFarlane did not particularly like the atmosphere of the public school and in 1922 he earned a scholarship to read history at Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
Oxford. His tutor during these years was C. T. Atkinson. McFarlane became a fellow of Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
in 1927, where he remained for the rest of his life. Many of his colleagues and students found him difficult to approach, but for those who could break through the facade he became a great and true friend. McFarlane also found through the help of his great friend Dr. Helena Wright and her family a home and a family of sorts. In Wright's house he found that he could be himself, find refuge from the daily grind of the University, and a place of joy. McFarlane never married.
His most important contribution to the field was his revision of the understanding of late medieval feudal relationships, known as "bastard feudalism
Bastard feudalism
Bastard feudalism is a term that has been used to describe feudalism in the Late Middle Ages, primarily in England. Its main characteristic is military, political, legal, or domestic service in return for money, office, and/or influence...
". The old consensus, promoted primarily by Bishop Stubbs
William Stubbs
William Stubbs was an English historian and Bishop of Oxford.The son of William Morley Stubbs, a solicitor, he was born at Knaresborough, Yorkshire, and was educated at Ripon Grammar School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated in 1848, obtaining a first-class in classics and a third in...
, was that payment for service in feudal relationships had promoted greed and civil strife. McFarlane pointed out the adhesive effect of this, and other forms of patronage, as a field of common interest for the crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
and the landed
Landed property
Landed property or landed estates is a real estate term that usually refers to a property that generates income for the owner without the owner having to do the actual work of the estate. In Europe, agrarian landed property typically consisted of a manor, several tenant farms, and some privileged...
aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
.
Although his scholarship and methods have had great influence on later historians, McFarlane did not publish widely in his own lifetime. The main sources for his scholarship are the book Lancastrian Kings and Lollard Knights, his Ford Lectures
Ford Lectures
The Ford Lectures are a prestigious series of public lectures given annually in English or British History by a distinguished historian. Known commonly as "The Ford Lectures," they are properly titled "Ford's Lectures in British History" and they are given by a scholar elected to be "Ford's...
from 1953 published in 1980 as The Nobility of Later Medieval England, and the essays and shorter articles published by his student G. L. Harriss
G. L. Harriss
Gerald Leslie Harriss is an English historian of the Late Middle Ages. His work focused on the parliamentary and administrative history of the period...
in 1981 under the title England in the Fifteenth Century. Much of his influence on historiography is the result of his Ph D students who held posts in many British universities. Although McFarlane himself would never have wished to spawn a "school of history," through his students that is - in many ways - what he did.
He left behind him a vast collection of correspondence that has been deposited in his library with Magdalen College. A number of the letters that McFarlane wrote to his friends were published privately through Magdalen College in 1997. The vast bulk of his correspondence, however, remains unpublished.