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Nobles and the Church had as much power as
monarchs (in some cases they were more powerful)
Nobles and Church had their own courts, collected
their own taxes, and fielded their own armies
During High Middle Ages-1000 to 1300- the balance
of power started to change
Monarchs used different ways to centralize power
they expanded the royal domain and set up systems of
royal justice that weakened feudal and Church courts
› organized government bureaucracies, developed tax
systems, and built standing armies
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Monarchs also strengthened ties with people of the
middle class- these people supported royal rulers that
can impose the peace and unity that were needed
for trade
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In early Middle Ages, many groups-Angles, Saxons, and
Vikings—invaded and settled in England. Tensions arose in
this society but rulers kept their kingdoms united. Until 1066,
the Anglo-Saxon king Edward died without an heir.
Council of nobles chose Edward’s bro-in-law Harold to rule
but William (Duke of Normandy-Vikings) also claimed to
the throne. He was related to Edward and claimed that
he had promised him the throne.
William raised an army and won backing of the pope, he
then sailed across the English Channel to England
At battle of Hastings William and his Norman Knights
triumphed over Harold, and he became King Of England
on Christmas Day 1066
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He was called William the Conqueror
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In 1154 a well educated king, Henry II took the
throne
He broadened the system of royal justice by expanding
accepted customs into law
› He sent out traveling justices to enforce these royal laws
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 the decisions of the royal courts became the foundation
of English Common Law- a legal system based on custom
rulings
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Henry II also developed an early jury system
› When traveling justices visited an area local officials
collected a jury- group of men sworn to speak the truth
› These juries determined which cases should be brought to
trial and were the ancestors of today’s grand jury
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Son of Henry II, King John was a clever,
cruel, and untrustworthy ruler
› He faced three powerful enemies: King Philip II
of France, Pope Innocent III, and his own English
Nobles
› In 1205 John suffered when he lost a war with
Philip II and had to give up lands in Anjou &
Normandy
› Then he battled with Innocent III over selecting
a new bishop of Canterbury…When he rejected,
the pope excommunicated him and to save
himself and the his crown John had to accept
England as a fief of the papacy and pay a
yearly fee to Rome
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King John angered his nobles with oppressive taxes and other abuses of
power
In 1215 a group of rebellious barons cornered John and made him sign
the Magna Carta
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The barons included the legal rights of townspeople and the Church
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This document had two very important ideas 1) asserted that the nobles had
certain rights—these rights eventually extended to all English citizens 2) Magna
Carta made it clear that the monarch must obey the law
1) Due Process Law: a clause protecting freemen from arrest, imprisonment, and
other legal actions, except “by legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the
land”
2) Habeas Corpus: the principle that no person can be held in prison without first
being charged with a specific crime
King also agreed not to raise new taxes without consulting his Great
Council of lords & Clergy
By keeping the Magna Carta English rulers called on the Great Council
for advice which later formed into Parliament– a two-house body- House
of Lords & House of Commons
Eventually Parliament gained the right to approve any new taxes,
which monarchs must meet demands before voting for taxes, and in this
way it could limit the power of the monarch
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The Capetian Kings--- Nobles elected Hugh Capet to fill the French
throne
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Hugh and his heirs increased royal power by passing it from father to son
The Capetian dynasty lasted for 300 years and made the kingdom stable
Hugh added to his lands by playing rival nobles against each other
Capetians built a bureaucracy government that collected taxes and imposed
royal law over the king’s lands
Philip Augustus Extends French Power--- in 1179 Philip II became king of
France
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Instead of appointing nobles to fill gov’t positions Philip paid middle-class officials
who would owe their loyalty to him, he granted charters to many new towns and
introduced a national new tax
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Before his death he was known as the most powerful ruler in Europe
Louis IX, King and Saint--- In 1226 Louis IX became King of France
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He persecuted those who held beliefs to Church teachings, and Jews
He led French knights in two Crusades (wars against Muslims) within 30 years of his
death Church declared him as a saint
Improved government
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Sent out roving officials to check on local administrations
Expanded royal courts, outlawed private wars
To ensure justice he would hear cases himself
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Clashing With the Pope--- Louis’ grandson Philip IV
extended royal power
To raise cash he tried to collect new taxes from clergy which led
to a clash with Pope Boniface VIII
› Pope forbade Philip to tax the clergy without papal consent
› Philip threatened any clergy who wouldn’t pay and sent out
troops to seize Boniface but he escaped (he soon died)
› Throughout the years new popes were elected which led to
rivals between popes (each claimed to be the true leader of the
Church)
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Forming the Estates General--- Philip gained French
support by setting up the Estates General
› This body had representatives from all three estates: Clergy,
nobles, and townspeople
› Later French kings consulted the Estates General and it never
gained power or served as a balance to royal power