Paul Halsall
Class 17: The Western Monarchies: England, France, Spain
Assigned Reading:
I. Introduction - Change in "Feudalism" A. Feudalism grew up as response to attacks and collapse of central power. -from c. 1050, and earlier, the attacks stopped. -Feudalism was by then an established pattern. -Like all patterns it under went change. B. Commerce -Growth of Commerce - by merchants -Especially in Northern France and Flanders - heartland of classical feudalism. -Money C. Powerful lordships - change military demands -Normandy, Flanders, England + Crusades -40 days service not enough -Military leaders begin to pay soldiers - and commute military service to money -= called scutage in England. D. Chivalry Code of Feudalism develops as Aristocratic culture Chivalry + Romance Also Aristocrats remain a rich class in society. But their role changes. Increasingly they are a class within a country, rather than small scale rulers of counties, duchies etc. II. England A. 1066 - The Conquest 1086 - Domesday Book B. Henry I -the Exchequer - An efficient way of looking after money. -Household - still followed kings around C. Plantagenets -Henry II 1154-1186 -All of England, Ireland and Half of France -Law develops in England - Royal Judges apply feudal law to kings advantage. But are fair Get right amount of money -Kings control over vacant fiefs. -Courts are a source of power. Kings law sticks better. -Use of Writs - Beginnings of Common Law. D. John -Pushes it too far -Magna Carta - Idea of Due process (for barons. -Anglicization of Aristocracy. -The `Men of the Realm' E. 1265 - Simon de Montfort vs.,. Henry III - Parliament. III. France A. Capetians B. Ile de France C. Defending rights in the Ile de France - Louis VII IV. The Next Stage - Philip Augustus -Normandy & Languedoc -Laws V. Christian Kingship and St. Louis A. St. Louis Crusades Justice Relationship with Church B. Joinville 1. What is Joinville's account of Louis IX's relationship to his people? 2. What made Louis so virtuous in the eyes of his contemporaries? 3. How did Louis deal with the clergy? 4. What was the importance of Justice to Louis's power?
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© Paul Halsall, 1996.
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