Certain powerful and influential feudal
monarchs forged the European nation-states
of today by fusing many complex forces
under their personal control.
Tudors
 Henry VII
 Henry VIII
 Elizabeth I
 the Parliament
Valois
 Charles VII
 Louis XI
 François I
 Henry II
 the Estates General
Habsburgs
 Maximilian I
 Charles V
 the Diet
 Isabella of Castile
 Ferdinand of Aragon
 Phillip II
 the Cortes
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Western European feudal monarchies begin in the 9th
century as highly decentralized states, and the king in
most instances was actual ruler of only a portion of the
realm.
The expansion of the royal domain at the expense of
lesser nobles resulted from the marriages of the king and
his family as well as success in wars.
The objective of the monarch was to enlarge the royal
domain to the limits of his horizon and his wealth to
provide for his family and not to create a nation.
In spite of this very feudal mindset, nations were created
nonetheless.
Once they perceived this result, national monarchs began
to centralize their authority and gain control over the
nobles, the Church, and the towns.
This new unity planted the seeds of a national
consciousness, and the benefits of centralized government
became apparent.
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Kings enhanced their revenue to strengthen their armies by
creating new taxes like the gabelle (salt tax) and taille (land
tax) in France.
They developed the role of royal councils, staffed with
middle-class lawyers, to outmaneuver the aristocratic
assemblies.
In Spain and France, the kings negotiated with the papacy
to allow them to appoint their own bishops, effectively
taking control over the national church.
Kings in Spain and France made effective and important
marriages that enhanced the royal domains.
 The daughter of the king of Spain married into the
Habsburg Holy Roman Empire
 France acquired Brittany
 England allied with Scotland through marriage
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With their armies, the kings conquered new territories,
Burgundy for France and Granada for Spain, or subdue
rebellions, Ireland for England.
Charles VII (1422-1461) created the first permanent
standing army in France.
The monarchs used violence and the threat of violence
against people who were seen as threats
 In England the king had the Star Chamber
 In Spain, the Inquisition
 The English kings also used justices of the peace to run
local governments.