6.3 Murder Myster: Who killed Floris V?

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

How to investigate?

Step 1: Click on this link to find the sources

Use about 10 minutes to put the sources in order. You can use the following questions to guide you:

• Was Count Floris V killed for political or personal reasons?
  
• What role did the noblemen play?
  
• What role did King Edward I of England play?
  
• Did the people who killed him work together?
  
• Who tried to stop the murder?
  
• What other factors led to his death?
  

Step 2: Use the sources to answer the questions.

1. Besides the peasants, the noblemen also often referred to Count Floris V as ‘God of the commoners’. Do you think they used this name as a compliment or not? Explain your answer.

2. Can you find evidence from the sources to support Machteld’s claim that she was raped by Count Floris V?

3. Count Floris V was eventually murdered by his noblemen in 1296. Did the noblemen intend to kill Count Floris V when they kidnapped him? Use a source to explain your answer.

4. Who had the most personal motives to murder Count Floris V? Mention at least two of his motives to support your answer.

5. Who had the most political motives to murder Count Floris V? Mention at least one of his motives to support your answer. Use the sources to answer this question.

6. Would you consider the murder of Count Floris V more as a political or personal murder? Explain your answer.

7. Which of the motives mentioned in the sources do you consider the most important for Floris V’s death? Explain your answer.

8. Count Floris V made a lot of decisions. What was the biggest mistake that he made? Explain your answer.

9. The French king mourned the murder of Count Floris V. Explain why his murder was a disadvantage for the French king.

10. What did you learn from this assignment?

Finished?

Read 6.4: Cities fight for freedom 

Do assignments 4, 5, 7, 8 and 12 (try to do 12 with a classmate)