New Sources of Political Order
The Beginnings of the HRE
• East Francia
– Prominence of dukes
• Drang nach Osten
– New lands, source of wealth
• Silver mines: Otto I
– Use of mercenaries
• Church officials as a source
of royal support
• Otto I crowned by John XII
in 962: Official beginning of
Holy Roman Empire
• Kings/Emperors:
–
–
–
–
Conrad I (911-919)
Henry the Fowler (919-936)
Otto I (936-973)
Otto II (973-983)
• Marriage to Theophano,
Byzantine princess
– Otto III (982-1000)
– Henry II (1002-1024)
• Expansion of ecclesiastical fiefs
– Conrad II (1024-1039)
• ministeriales
– Henry III (1039-1056)
• “Imperium” takes on new
meaning
German Empire: from the study guide
Terms:
• Henry the Fowler
• Ottonian kings, especially Otto I
"the Great"
• translatio imperii
• Ottonian Renaissance
– Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim
• Salian dynasty
• Ministeriales
Questions:
• What exactly is meant by the term
"Germany" at the beginning of
this period?
• What was the nature of the
relationship that German
monarchs developed with the
church (and with church officials),
and why and how did this develop?
• What was the guiding myth for the
Germanic empire? How and when
did the term "empire" come to
develop a new meaning, and what
is the significance of the change?
• What were some of the Ottonians’
accomplishments in enhancing the
German empire’s intellectual life?
How in particular did artworks of
this time reinforce the monarchy's
image of itself ?
German Empire: Maps
The Accession of Henry II
• Henry II, who eventually
succeeded to the throne
despite rival claimants,
was later canonized as a
saint. His own father,
Henry, had rebelled
against Otto III. How
does Thietmar establish
the legitimacy of Henry's
election in his text?
Capetian France
• Initial weakness
• Control over royal
domain
• Principle of hereditary
rather than elective
monarchy
• Strategic marriages
– Eleanor of Aquitaine to
Louis VII
Kings:
• Hugh Capet (987-996)
• Robert II (996-1031)
• Henry I (1031-1060)
• Philip I (1060-1108)
• Louis VI “the Fat”
(1108-1137)
• Louis VII (1137-1180)
Anglo-Normal Realm
• Alfred the Great’s AngloSaxon monarchy
–
–
–
–
–
–
Declared king over English
Law code
Revival of learning
Navy
Conversion of Vikings
Shires and hundreds:
administrative units
• Alfred (871-899)
• Edgar (959-975)
• Canute (1016-1035)
– Emperor of the Northern Seas
• Edward the Confessor (10421066)
Question:
• What were some of Alfred
the Great's accomplishments
in enhancing England's
intellectual life?
The Norman Conquest: from the study
guide
Questions:
• What course of action did William
I pursue when he took over the
English crown, and why did he
choose as he did?
• How did William's handling of the
land affect the future of England?
Terms:
• Canute
• Battle of Hastings; William of
Normandy; Harold Godwinson
• Exchequer
Questions on Sources:
• For plate 5.5, how do the
respective positions and body
language of the two men
communicate their relationship,
according to the sponsor of the
tapestry?
• For source 5.13, this is hardly
compelling reading, yet as a source
for the period it is pure gold. What
does this excerpt tell you about the
kinds of individuals that held
property, and the kinds of property
they held? What does it tell you
about financial obligations among
these individuals?
William the Conqueror
• Method of infeudation
– Scattered fiefs
– Virtually no subinfeudation
– Significant royal demesne
• Relationship with church
– “Agreement” with pope
– Control over clerical
appointments
– Donations of land
• Treatment of conquered
Anglo-Saxons
– Norman French replaced
Old English
– Elites completely displaced
– Domesday Book: form of
control
• Succession:
– William II (1087-1100)
– Henry I (1100-1135)
– Stephen (1135-1154): period
of anarchy, civil war
Medieval Spain
Questions:
• What was the status of
Christians and Jews in
Spain prior to the
Reconquista?
• For source 5.10, how does
the bishop justify violent
actions to the assembled
army? Be precise in
discerning the language
and the biblical support
that he uses to characterize
the struggle ahead.
Terms:
• al-Andalus
• dhimmis
• Reconquista
• convicencia
– Contrast: Song of Roland,
Song of the Cid
• Averroes
Medieval Italy
Questions:
• What factors contributed to
growth in the Italian
communes?
– Proto-capitalist rural economy
• What were the consequences
of the Norman conquest of
Sicily?
• What was the corpus iuris civilis
and why was it important?
– Rediscovery in late 11th century
• Relationship of northern
Italian cities to Holy Roman
Emperors
• Contrast between northern,
southern Italy
• Significance of Papal States
– Pope’s appointment of Robert
Guiscard as papal vassal
• Rulers of Sicily:
– Roger “the Great Count”
– Roger II