Basis Of Power Essay, Research Paper

ul type=disc> Throughout Europe core of royal lands remaining in

tact over long periods, outcome King?s efforts for a single heir, failure

in assassinations and usurpations ? divisions of royal lands 0 Charlemagne

and his brother 768 and three sons Louis the Pious 843. Carefully managed ? food stocks in the winter, not

necessarily all visited, sometimes single residence emerges ? 794 onwards

Aachen Charlemagne?s domain Royal fisc fluid ? confiscation, granting o land

?The wherewithal to reward followers? ? area Charlemagne?s land

?amplified? Einhard to 1,2000,000 sq KM 0 power radiating from central

core ?weaker at the periphery ? distance increased difficulties of

control. Power nonetheless real ? paradox early medieval

sates depended on chronic instability 0 kings made constant efforts to

expand their territory at neighbour?s expense ?If a Franks is your friend,

he?s certainly not your neighbour? ? maintenance loyalty of aristocracy

and competition Using Aquitaine as a sub kingdom ? some groups

never on Frankish side, but Septimanians liked royal support as threatened

by Spanish-Muslim neighbours.?

Charlemagne put little Louis in Aquitaine but Charles the Bald

managed from a distance, never visiting after 850s. Pippin continues Charles Martel?s strategy of

expropriating church lands, controlling key churches and installing noble

support in various sees.? Pippin

controlling bishoprics, reinforcing corporate involvement, requiring

military service of men, endowing with grants of ecclesiastical land ?

major churches also part of Carolingian power based ? bishopric lands

enabled securing of Burgundy control in 750s.? Jurisdictional immunity to monasteries needs to be

understood -? still firmly under

royal protection devolution, not disengagement ? strong flavour private

interest, church policy overall built public authority. Royal demands grew at certain times ? Louis the

Pious gifts, military service and prayers, could be conditional ? Charles

the Fat granted lands to St. Gall if commemorated his father ? loyalty and

perhaps efficiency of ecclesiastical dignitaries generally more reliable

than that of secular office-holders. Use of church v. important in expansion of the

Carolingian empire ? dual service to God and King generally more reliable

than secular office holders ? not usual on Lombardy until after

Carolingians. ?Military

service and prayers from the church, also confidence in success ? Western

Frankish Kings lost power of church to Episcopal tyranny whilst Eastern

Ottonian kept Carolingian system of churches. Dhondt argues squandering of Carolingian fisc. With

Charlemagne?s successors ? land-grants positive instrument of royal power

? concessions to rivals of disgraced made rule of distant lands manageable

? ecclesiastical alongside secular so not losses to the state or collapse

from within. Charlemagne?s huge treasure board ? proof of

authority and means of wielding it ? massive Avr loot, 793 rewards

non-defectors with gold / silver ? plunder and tribute.? As Danish kings show ? treasure not

necessarily sustainable form of power. Charlemagne?s empire ? utmost natural limits by 806

? ceased to expand, treasure hoard dispersed 814 death, yes serious

dynastic disputes but no implosion, fought off external aggressors.? Internal redistribution of wealth

alternative to external expansion ? through workings of inheritance

splitting kingdom 840 and 855 allowed expansion between Carolingian

kingdoms ? Louis the German and Charles the Bald extend realms by

exploiting infertility of one nephew?s queen and sonlessness of another ?

dip into church treasuries, granting abbacies, more vigorous management ?

extracting more from peasants ? economy of plunder to economy of

profiteering. Aristocracy did well ? participation in the spoils

of war, aggressive landlordship ? balance between aristocratic and

monarchical wealth?? Some levies,

prices for offices, if total cake expanding increased proceeds from

economic activity and thus increasingly active government. Coinage oiled the wheels of trade and tolls

contributed significantly to royal income- more coins peasants had the

more kings could extract ? fiscal as opposed to economic ? 858 Charles

plundered his own people Renovatio monetae of 864 West Frankish kingdom ?

renovation of money bought 10% to King and owners of mint, – Charles the

Bald 864 licensing of markets to control taxes etc.? Charles the Bald unable to increase

internal or external income ? fiscality of royal government, as of

landlordship, was precarious as it was limited.? Roman\ ways (taxing aristocracy alluring, faced rebellion

877) ? practical politics drew kings other directions.