THE MEDIEVAL WORLD

Power and Society in the Middle Ages

Images of the Middle Ages ~ 1

Images of the Middle Ages ~ 2

Images from the Middle Ages

Images of the Middle Ages

Medieval Lives

Medieval Beliefs

The Feudal Society

Hierarchical Based on land distribution

King at top Tenants-in-Chief Sub-tenants Freemen Villeins, Cottars, Serfs

Military Everyone owed allegiance

and service to those above them; to protect those below them Service might include military

duty, providing fighting men or working on your lord’s land

Land could be forfeit if you did not serve your lord as required

The King ~ Gaining Power King by will of God

Primogeniture Not an absolute guarantee of success

Winning battles “Might is right” Support of powerful men – barons

Coronation Anointing – separated out from ordinary

men Crown – symbolic Oath – threefold :

Preserve the peace of the Church and Christian people

Prohibit crime and looting Maintain justice and mercy in judgments

Also duty to protect lands and borders

The King ~ Maintaining Power Once in power had to stay in power

Distribute offices and lands wisely Controlling barons and nobles

Avoid favourites Strong leadership, in war and peace Dispense justice Maintain the apparatus of power

Armed men Treasure / revenue Courts Lands Officials Secretariats

Protect realm from foreign foes Marry well

Provide male heir Cement alliances

The Church ~ 1 Moral authority Save immortal souls Roman Catholic

Pope in Rome Another “prince” in the realm?

Clergy Hierarchical

Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop, Abbot Deans Priest, monk, Friar Clerics

Educated Often dual role – Church and Government Dual allegiance?

The Church ~ 2

Large, wealthy, powerful international organisation. Landowners Educated / educators Government officials Important clergy often

from important families Clergy had special

status in society Own courts and legal

system Tithes

Monasteries Generally secluded Life of prayer

Purgatory Also teachers Helped poor Provided jobs on their land

Friaries spreading More active in the world

Both countries with great regional differences Dialect, tradition, customs could differ; even

language Made governing problematic Border lands (Marchers) dangerous areas

Welsh, Scottish borders Rebellion and unrest

France harder to govern Regions even more diverse Some semi-autonomous Many barons wealthier and stronger than king

Countries linked since 1066 Duke of Normandy = King of England

England – And France

England France