The Growth of Royal Power in Europe – Three Case Studies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------I. The Big Question
a. How did Kings gain control over Lords and the Church?
II. England – William the Conqueror
a. During the Early Middle Ages, various Germanic raiders
(Vikings) invaded and settled in Briton (England).
b. Eventually, a descendant of the Vikings, William of
Normandy, goes to war to win a crown in Briton.
c. At the Battle of Hastings, he defeats the King of Briton and
becomes the new King of England.
III. English Monarchs attempt control
a. Major tools used for control
1. King keeps majority of the land.
2. Every vassal in the kingdom must swear direct
allegiance to the King.
3. They took a census of the population to help with
taxation.
4. A legal system based on custom and court rulings
called common law was created.
b. Losing control
1. The Reign of King John
a. Lost a war with France, losing French lands.
b. Was excommunicated by the Pope
c. Had to sign the Magna Carta
2. Magna Carta
a. Asserted that nobles had rights that the king
couldn’t violate.
b. The King could not tax without the approval of the
nobles.
c. Limited royal power while maintaining rights of
nobles and middle class
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------I. The Capetian Family of France
A. The Capetian family was chosen to rule France in 987
probably because they were so weak.
B. Slowly, however, they made themselves powerful.
1. They made the crown hereditary.
2. They created an effective government bureaucracy
helped make up for their lack of lands and military power.
3. They gained the backing of the growing towns and new
middle class.
C. Philip Augustus
1. Increased Royal held lands in France
2. Paid middle class people to do government jobs rather
than nobles.
3. Organized taxes and created a standing army
(important)
D. In the end, French monarchs have a great deal of power.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------I. The Holy Roman Empire
A. The Kings of Germany once saved the Pope, just as
Charlemagne had done. Being the heirs of the land owned by
Charlemagne, they felt they were the rightful heirs to the
Roman throne.
B. Pope Gregory VII, one of the greatest popes of all time and
Emperor Henry IV came into a great struggle over investiture.
1. This was the authority to create bishops.
C. In the end, the Pope excommunicated Henry IV, who, having
only basic support from his nobles, feared rebellion.
D. Henry ended up giving in to the Pope.
E. In later years, the issue would be settled with the Concordat
of Worms.