Growth of Royal Power in England and France

1
Growth of Royal Power in England and France

• The High Middle Ages

2
Monarchs, Nobles and the Church

• Feudal Monarchs (kings) had limited power
• Nobles Church had as much or more power
• They collected taxes
• Had their own courts
• Fielded their own armies

3
Rulers used various means to centralize power

• Expanded royal domain
• Set up system of royal justice
• Organized a govt bureaucracy
• Developed a system of taxes
• Built a standing army
• Townspeople supported the royal rulers who could
  in turn provide protection

4
Establishing Royal Power in England

• Early Middle Ages Angles, Saxons, and Vikings
  settled in England
• 1066 Anglo-Saxon King Edward died w/o an heir
• William of Normandy claimed throne
• Battle of Hastings William conquered Harold
• William the Conquerer claimed crown on Christmas
  day, 1066

5
William the Conqueror Takes Control

• Granted fiefs to his Norman Lords
• Monitored building of castles
• Made vassals swear allegiance to him
• Always had the last word
• 1086 The Domesday Book census listing every
  castle, field, and pigpen in England
• Helped build an efficient system of tax collection

6
Increasing Royal Authority

• Created the Royal Exchequer, treasury, to collect
  taxes, fees, fines
• 1154 Henry II became king sent out justices
  to enforce and interpret laws their decisions
  became English Common Law, or law that was common
  for all people
• Juries group of men sworn to speak the truth
  determined which cases would be brought to trial
• Later the trial jury was founded

7
Clash with Thomas Becket

• Henry II claimed to have the power to try clergy
  in royal courts
• Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury (once a
  close friend of Henry) opposed the king
• 1170 Henrys knights murdered Becket
• Becket became a martyr and a saint