“Medieval rulers were mostly successful in overcoming the challenges posed by rebellion and/or political opposition.” Discuss with reference to two medieval rulers.

With reference to two rulers, candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the hypothesis that rulers were mostly successful in overcoming the challenges posed by rebellion and/or political opposition. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, the two rulers need not be contemporaneous and they may or may not be chosen from a different region. The focus of the answer will be on the extent to which challenges were overcome, rather than on the methods used. Therefore, candidates may consider, for example, whether rebels’/opponents’ aims were mostly thwarted, whether the defeat of opposition was temporary or longer-lasting, or whether there were political compromises, or conversely, concentration of power. Consideration of foreign opposition is valid.