Feudalism played a crucial role in shaping medieval European societies by linking military elites and consolidating power under kings. Through marriage alliances and control over serf-stocked manors, kings expanded their territories and centralized authority.
The growth of feudal monarchy unkowingly copied other central societies, including China.
By early 14th century, the process of centralization had gone so far in France that a king could claim rights to make the church pay taxes(which caused great conflict)
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Kings could use feudalism to build upon their power.
Kings formed feudal links with other lords in other parts of France, usually through marriage alliances, and that brought more territory under their control.
produced better armies and revenues.
Kings controlled many serf- stocked manors directly, and they held most other local landlords as vassals.
Most of Chatlemagne's military e.leaders were awarded with estates.
Feudal relationshipos could be extented to cover large regions or whole kingdoms.
Greater lords provided protection from and aid to lesser lords called vassals
In Europe kings often chose urban busines or professional people to staff their bureaucracies because they would be more loyal than feudal nobles.
William the Conqueror, extended his feudal system to his new kingdom of of England in 1066.
He used some royal officials called sheriffs, to help supervise the administration of justice throughout the kingdom.
William and his succesors merged feudlism principle with a more centralized approach, including a standarized national law code issued by the royal code.
He tied the great lords of England to his royal court by bonds of loyalty.
Capetian kings sent out officials to aid in regional administration
European feaudalism allowed the development of strong central states, but it also gradually reduced local warfare.
Charlemagne's empire had a more stable version of feudalism.
Vassals owed their lords military service, and some goods or payments
Feudal relationships linked military elites,mostly landlords, who could afford the horses and iron weaponry necessary to fight.