The Capetians Flashcards
What was the centre of pro-Capetian historiography?
The Benedictine monastery of St Denis.
How did Suger enhance Louis VI’s image?
Portrayed Louis as being a divinely ordained monarch.
Fearing an attack from Emperor Henry V around 1124, Louis rallied the great lords of Burgundy, Aquitaine, Anjou and Flanders forcing Henry’s withdrawal.
Suger played on event and claimed Louis went to the monastery, prayed to St Denis and received the banner of St Denis that united the lords and forced Henry’s retreat.
How did Odo of Deuil enhance Louis VII’s image?
In his account of the Second Crusade, Odo portrays Louis as saintly who put God before any other duties. Louis took communion before he went to fight.
What were the problems with the royal demesne for the first few Capetians?
It was small and landlocked, limited to Paris and Orléans.
It lacked great buildings and prestige.
What were the advantages of the early royal demesne?
Land was of good quality - source of wealth.
Fostered good harvests - household and army fed.
Forest resources - meat, wood (building and fuel), fines through forest laws.
What advantages were there with Capetian longevity?
Scope for anticipatory succession - the crowning of king’s son within his lifetime (only 2 undisputed successions).
Greater chance of a male heir and less chance of minor rule because heirs crowned as adults.
Land is properly distributed.
Provide examples of stable successions.
Philip I recognised Louis VI in his lifetime.
Louis IX recognised Philip III during his lifetime (evident through his ‘Saint Louis’ Advice to His Son - outlines how to be a shrewd monarch).
What is meant by the Capetians claiming a monarchical mystique?
The church - through the striking consecration ceremony - reinforced the belief that the monarch had special qualities conferred by God.
Robert the Pious - had the ability to cure scrofula through ‘royal touch’.
How did Louis VI exploit the feudal hierarchy to suppress Hugh of Le Puiset and what was the result?
1109: Hugh ravaged the lands of Chartres with Theobald of Chartres turning towards Louis for aid.
Louis attempted to summon overlordship and summoned Hugh to court but Hugh refused.
This allowed Louis to justify his use of force and took Hugh as prisoner = Capetian overlordship established and power extended.
How was Philip II ‘Augustus’ able to extend Capetian influence during his reign?
He developed power systematically by manipulating the complex feudal relationships - he reinforced Capetian suzerainty through a bureaucracy = theoretical power become real under Philip.
Philip’s reign saw the proliferation of royal documents, why was that significant? And cite an example.
It demonstrated the monarch’s arm physically extending outwards into the territories of his vassals - Ferrand, Count of Flanders, in 1212 payed homage to Philip in writing. He accepted Philip’s supremacy and offered aid when required.
How did Philip’s bureaucratic government operate?
It relied on a small group of ‘familiares’ who were loyal men, recruited from the middling groups of society (salaried and regulated officials). They were active in vassal territories representing royal will and summoning lords to the royal court.
What specialist departments emerged under Philip?
The secretariat, justice and finance. The royal officials met 3 times a year at the House of Templars in Paris to review accounts during the 1180s and 90s.
What notable territories was Philip able to acquire?
Angevin lands of Anjou, Maine, Touraine, Brittany and Normandy.
What were the 1190 Ordinances?
They were Philip II’s reforms: the reorganisation of the royal demesne through the system of ‘baillis’ who held regular assizes and documented fines due to the king - extending justice.
