1. Feudalism

2.  Feudalism: A highly decentralized political
system in which public powers of minting,
justice, taxation and defense were vested
in the hands of a private lord.
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

3.  Fief: contract in which someone granted
something of value to someone else in return
for a service
◦ Land grant implied subordination
 Vassal
 Lord
 Homage
 Most developed and lasted the longest in
France
◦ 10th and 11th centuries-minimal feudal pyramids
◦ 12th & 13th powerful lords insisted on pyramid
structure
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

5.  England
◦ Battle of Hastings 1066
 William the Conqueror (1066-1100)
◦ Normans—extensive grants of English land
◦ King
 Only the king could coin money
 National land tax
 Summon population to arms
 All landholders owed loyalty to crown
 Henry I (1100-1135)
◦ Created the Exchequer
◦ Appointed sheriffs to supervise counties
◦ Traveling circuit judges and to check power of landowners
and sheriffs
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

7.  England
◦ Henry II (1154-1189)
 Grandson of Henry I
 Ruled Normandy; Anjou; Aquitane & England
 Expanded use of juries to determine facts in civil (not
criminal) cases
 Conflict with the Church
 Two sons-Richard I (Lionheart) & John
◦ Richard I (1189-1199)
 Spent only 6 months in England
◦ John (1199-1216)
 taxes and fines to recover lost lands in France
 1214 military expedition to France failed
 1215 Nobility forced John to sign the Magna Carta
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

11.  Henry III (1216-1272)
◦ Perfected legal system “English Common Law”
◦ Taxed both Nobles and commoners in proportion to
their income
 Edward I (1272-1307)
◦ Parliament
 assembly of nobles, knights and townsmen
 Announce tax levies, explain need for new taxes
 Hear judicial cases involving higher nobility
 Review local administration
 Hear complaints
 Announce new laws
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

14.  France
◦ Capetian Dynasty
 Produced uninterrupted line of sons for 300 years
 Long-lived
 Direct rule over Paris and surrounding area
 Rich agriculture
 Protectors of popes
 Patronized University of Paris (Sorbonne)
◦ Louis VI (the Fat) (1108-1137)
 Consolidated control over land around Paris
◦ Louis VII (1137-1180)
 Incited rebellions by Henry II’s sons against their
father
 Kept Henry II from increasing power in France
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

16.  France
◦ Philip II (1179-1223)
 Claimed homage from John in return for lands in France (which John
already owned as son of Henry)
 Confiscated lands
 Appointed royal officials with judicial, military and administrative
authority (no separation of powers)
◦ Louis VIII (1223-1226)
 strengthened French administrative control into lands seized from John
◦ Louis IX (Saint Louis) (1226-1270)
 increased French control of lands in France
 Engaged in last crusades
◦ Philip IV (1285-1314)
 Wars against Flanders and England
 Raised taxes on commoners but not nobility who were exempt from
paying direct taxes to crown
 Estates General
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

17.  Germany
◦ Territories
 Switzerland
 Eastern France
 Belgium & Netherlands
 Northern Italy
◦ Relied heavily on cooperation with Church
 Church leaders frequently members of royal family appointed by
emperor
◦ Henry IV & Henry V (1056-1125)
 Conflicts with Dukes of Saxony & Pope Gregory VII
◦ Civil war
◦ Investiture
 Enabled German princes to rule “principalities” with larger
independence than existed in France or England
 New Emperors must be elected from among the Princes and
approved by the Pope
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?

18.  Germany
◦ Frederick Barbarossa (1152-1190)
 Holy Roman Empire: descending from Rome and
blessed by God
 Compromised with Princes of Lombard League
and Pope
◦ Agreement for Henry VI to succeed him
◦ Henry marry Norman Princess of Sicily
◦ Henry became king of Sicily when wife’s brother died
What was the relationship between Feudalism
and the rise of national monarchies?