Basis Of Power Essay, Research Paper
ul type=disc> Throughout Europe core of royal lands remaining in
tact over long periods, outcome King?s efforts for a single heir, failure
in assassinations and usurpations ? divisions of royal lands 0 Charlemagne
and his brother 768 and three sons Louis the Pious 843. Carefully managed ? food stocks in the winter, not
necessarily all visited, sometimes single residence emerges ? 794 onwards
Aachen Charlemagne?s domain Royal fisc fluid ? confiscation, granting o land
?The wherewithal to reward followers? ? area Charlemagne?s land
?amplified? Einhard to 1,2000,000 sq KM 0 power radiating from central
core ?weaker at the periphery ? distance increased difficulties of
control. Power nonetheless real ? paradox early medieval
sates depended on chronic instability 0 kings made constant efforts to
expand their territory at neighbour?s expense ?If a Franks is your friend,
he?s certainly not your neighbour? ? maintenance loyalty of aristocracy
and competition Using Aquitaine as a sub kingdom ? some groups
never on Frankish side, but Septimanians liked royal support as threatened
by Spanish-Muslim neighbours.?
Charlemagne put little Louis in Aquitaine but Charles the Bald
managed from a distance, never visiting after 850s. Pippin continues Charles Martel?s strategy of
expropriating church lands, controlling key churches and installing noble
support in various sees.? Pippin
controlling bishoprics, reinforcing corporate involvement, requiring
military service of men, endowing with grants of ecclesiastical land ?
major churches also part of Carolingian power based ? bishopric lands
enabled securing of Burgundy control in 750s.? Jurisdictional immunity to monasteries needs to be
understood -? still firmly under
royal protection devolution, not disengagement ? strong flavour private
interest, church policy overall built public authority. Royal demands grew at certain times ? Louis the
Pious gifts, military service and prayers, could be conditional ? Charles
the Fat granted lands to St. Gall if commemorated his father ? loyalty and
perhaps efficiency of ecclesiastical dignitaries generally more reliable
than that of secular office-holders. Use of church v. important in expansion of the
Carolingian empire ? dual service to God and King generally more reliable
than secular office holders ? not usual on Lombardy until after
Carolingians. ?Military
service and prayers from the church, also confidence in success ? Western
Frankish Kings lost power of church to Episcopal tyranny whilst Eastern
Ottonian kept Carolingian system of churches. Dhondt argues squandering of Carolingian fisc. With
Charlemagne?s successors ? land-grants positive instrument of royal power
? concessions to rivals of disgraced made rule of distant lands manageable
? ecclesiastical alongside secular so not losses to the state or collapse
from within. Charlemagne?s huge treasure board ? proof of
authority and means of wielding it ? massive Avr loot, 793 rewards
non-defectors with gold / silver ? plunder and tribute.? As Danish kings show ? treasure not
necessarily sustainable form of power. Charlemagne?s empire ? utmost natural limits by 806
? ceased to expand, treasure hoard dispersed 814 death, yes serious
dynastic disputes but no implosion, fought off external aggressors.? Internal redistribution of wealth
alternative to external expansion ? through workings of inheritance
splitting kingdom 840 and 855 allowed expansion between Carolingian
kingdoms ? Louis the German and Charles the Bald extend realms by
exploiting infertility of one nephew?s queen and sonlessness of another ?
dip into church treasuries, granting abbacies, more vigorous management ?
extracting more from peasants ? economy of plunder to economy of
profiteering. Aristocracy did well ? participation in the spoils
of war, aggressive landlordship ? balance between aristocratic and
monarchical wealth?? Some levies,
prices for offices, if total cake expanding increased proceeds from
economic activity and thus increasingly active government. Coinage oiled the wheels of trade and tolls
contributed significantly to royal income- more coins peasants had the
more kings could extract ? fiscal as opposed to economic ? 858 Charles
plundered his own people Renovatio monetae of 864 West Frankish kingdom ?
renovation of money bought 10% to King and owners of mint, – Charles the
Bald 864 licensing of markets to control taxes etc.? Charles the Bald unable to increase
internal or external income ? fiscality of royal government, as of
landlordship, was precarious as it was limited.? Roman\ ways (taxing aristocracy alluring, faced rebellion
877) ? practical politics drew kings other directions.