European Kings Essay

The earliest stages of European “nation building” occurred during the High Middle Ages. Unfortunately, it was a very slow process due to the European kings encountering difficulties in their attempts to increase their control over their territories and subjects. Using the French and the English monarchies as examples, we can see what difficulties they faced in trying to increase their control and what strategies they used that yield gains and losses. In England there were more instances of kings encountering difficulties in their quest to increase their control over their territories and subjects more so than the French kings. In England, William of Normandy was crowned King of England in 1066. Under his reign, he merged Anglo-Saxon and Norman

The power of the Capetian kings was limited to their territory around Paris but because they were anointed kings and represented the idea of unity inherited from Charlemagne, they had high prestige. These kings overcame the old Frankish custom of partible inheritance by anointing their successor in their own life time. Their title and property was then passed down in tact from generation to generation. This was a successful strategy that kept the power in the hands of the kings. King Philip II came to reign in 1180. Philip II conquered many lands and increased the income of the French monarchy and its power. He governed his territories by appointing royal officials to administer justice and collect royal revenues. By doing this he created the French royal bureaucracy (Spielvogel).” Philip II picked his royal officials from the ranks of knights and clerics to lessen his reliance on the Barons which allowed him more power. The Capetian kings maintained a close relationship with the Catholic Church with the only exception of the circumstance with Philip IV. Philip IV insisted on his right to tax the French Church and to judge the French clergy in civil Courts. This forced the Church to back down and grant Gallican Liberties to Philip to tax and judge the French clergy. He convened the first French Parliament to gain the approval of his subjects for his actions. In this way Philip IV effectively strengthened the French