Empire and Centrifugalism in Medieval Western Europe
I: Background
A: Rome: The Western Roman Empire dissolved over the course of the 5th century. The
tradition of strongly centralized government was rarely revived in the Middle Ages. The
Roman model guided shorter lived kingdoms and empires.
B: Ethnogenesis and Cultural Synthesis: In late antiquity and the early Middle Ages,
various groups from diverse areas came together to form new groups. Cultures mixed as
well as ethnicities. The Germans became very reliant on Roman pottery and jewelry. In
return, Romans adopted trousers instead of a toga. Roman law and administration
influenced the Germans, but they kept their social structures. Roman aristocrats remained
influential in Spain, South and Central Gaul, and Italy.
C: General Characteristics: Medieval states were weaker than Rome and Byzantium.
They lacked a strong administration for centralization. Periods of centralization depended
on the strong will of monarchs. Relationships of kings and nobles were first among
equals (primus inter pares).
II: France
A: Merovingians (AD 451-471): The Merovingians in the 6th century AD were among
one of the strongest in Western Europe. Clovis (AD 481-511) unified Gaul after the
Visigoth defeat at Vouille in AD 508. His state was weakened by dividing the land
equally amongst his sons. The Merovingians were overthrown by a strong aristocrat
named Pepin I in AD 751 with papal support.
B: The Carolingians: Charlemagne transformed the kingdom. He gained stronger internal
control and conquered the Lombards of Italy and the Turkic speaking Avars of Central
Europe. He revived Roman administration and started schools for rulers. Relations with
the pope led to the revival of emperor. Pope Leo III crowned him emperor. His strong
empire fell about in the 9th century AD. It was divided by his three grandsons in the
Treaty of Verdun in AD 843 into three parts. Powerful nobles weakened power. BY AD
919, Germany was lost as German dukes elected a German emperor.
C: Later French Dynasties: The Capetians (AD 987-1328) succeeded by elections in AD
987. They were weak by limited land and power of the nobility. The Valois dynasty came
next and increased the royal administration. They beat back the English in the Hundred
Years’ War (AD 1338-1453). Reforms led to a strong France in the early modern period.
, III: Germany
A: The Carolingians: The Carolingians founded five duchies to rule Germany. The dukes
made the offices hereditary in the weakness of the 9th century AD. Viking raids weakened
the power of the central court and delegated it to the nobles.
B: The Ottonians (AD 919-1024): By AD 919, the Carolingian kings were no more. The
Ottonians had been the dukes of Saxony. Otto I (AD 936-73) was able to hold Germany
together. Efforts to revive the Roman Empire failed due to rebellions of nobles from Italy
and Germany. Here, centrifugalism defeats centralization.
C: The Salians (AD 1024-1125) and Staufens (AD 1138-1254): The Salians of Franconia
succeeded the Ottonians as emperor and failed to centralize further. Henry IV (AD 1056-
1105) abandoned close relations with the church and fought with the papacy in the
Investiture Crisis. He loosened control of the nobles for support. Preoccupation with Italy
weakened German power. The Staufen dukes of Swabia succeeded next as emperor.
Frederick I Barbarossa (AD 1152-90) tried to curb the power of the German and Italian
dukes and papacy despite military victories. He failed to centralize the Holy Roman
Empire. From AD 1256-73, there was anarchy.
D: The Late Middle Ages: The Luxemburgs, Hapsburgs, Wittelsbachs, and Anjou
dynasties were from Eastern Europe. The first three competed for the crown of the
empire. All held it from AD 1250-1500, but the Hapsburgs dominated by the end of the
period. Germany and Italy remained prey to centrifugalism.
IV: England
A: The Saxons: In the Early Middle Ages, there were many states such as the Angles,
Saxons, and Jutes. England was unified in AD 927. Long wars against the Vikings
promoted the development of a royal administration, but the nobles remained strong.
B: Norman England: William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, took England in AD 1066.
Only Henry II (AD 1154-89) after through strength of rule and military prowess had
success. Kings centralized moderately by royal agents and revenues. AS kings became
wealthier, nobles joined the administration. Extravagant way of life required by honor
and generosity slowly impoverished them. The War of the Roses is a civil war that
weakened the monarchy. The Battle of Bosworth Field ended it in AD 1485 and replaced
the Plantagenet dynasty with the Tudors under Henry VII (AD 1485-1509). The Tudors
centralized England even more
I: Background
A: Rome: The Western Roman Empire dissolved over the course of the 5th century. The
tradition of strongly centralized government was rarely revived in the Middle Ages. The
Roman model guided shorter lived kingdoms and empires.
B: Ethnogenesis and Cultural Synthesis: In late antiquity and the early Middle Ages,
various groups from diverse areas came together to form new groups. Cultures mixed as
well as ethnicities. The Germans became very reliant on Roman pottery and jewelry. In
return, Romans adopted trousers instead of a toga. Roman law and administration
influenced the Germans, but they kept their social structures. Roman aristocrats remained
influential in Spain, South and Central Gaul, and Italy.
C: General Characteristics: Medieval states were weaker than Rome and Byzantium.
They lacked a strong administration for centralization. Periods of centralization depended
on the strong will of monarchs. Relationships of kings and nobles were first among
equals (primus inter pares).
II: France
A: Merovingians (AD 451-471): The Merovingians in the 6th century AD were among
one of the strongest in Western Europe. Clovis (AD 481-511) unified Gaul after the
Visigoth defeat at Vouille in AD 508. His state was weakened by dividing the land
equally amongst his sons. The Merovingians were overthrown by a strong aristocrat
named Pepin I in AD 751 with papal support.
B: The Carolingians: Charlemagne transformed the kingdom. He gained stronger internal
control and conquered the Lombards of Italy and the Turkic speaking Avars of Central
Europe. He revived Roman administration and started schools for rulers. Relations with
the pope led to the revival of emperor. Pope Leo III crowned him emperor. His strong
empire fell about in the 9th century AD. It was divided by his three grandsons in the
Treaty of Verdun in AD 843 into three parts. Powerful nobles weakened power. BY AD
919, Germany was lost as German dukes elected a German emperor.
C: Later French Dynasties: The Capetians (AD 987-1328) succeeded by elections in AD
987. They were weak by limited land and power of the nobility. The Valois dynasty came
next and increased the royal administration. They beat back the English in the Hundred
Years’ War (AD 1338-1453). Reforms led to a strong France in the early modern period.
, III: Germany
A: The Carolingians: The Carolingians founded five duchies to rule Germany. The dukes
made the offices hereditary in the weakness of the 9th century AD. Viking raids weakened
the power of the central court and delegated it to the nobles.
B: The Ottonians (AD 919-1024): By AD 919, the Carolingian kings were no more. The
Ottonians had been the dukes of Saxony. Otto I (AD 936-73) was able to hold Germany
together. Efforts to revive the Roman Empire failed due to rebellions of nobles from Italy
and Germany. Here, centrifugalism defeats centralization.
C: The Salians (AD 1024-1125) and Staufens (AD 1138-1254): The Salians of Franconia
succeeded the Ottonians as emperor and failed to centralize further. Henry IV (AD 1056-
1105) abandoned close relations with the church and fought with the papacy in the
Investiture Crisis. He loosened control of the nobles for support. Preoccupation with Italy
weakened German power. The Staufen dukes of Swabia succeeded next as emperor.
Frederick I Barbarossa (AD 1152-90) tried to curb the power of the German and Italian
dukes and papacy despite military victories. He failed to centralize the Holy Roman
Empire. From AD 1256-73, there was anarchy.
D: The Late Middle Ages: The Luxemburgs, Hapsburgs, Wittelsbachs, and Anjou
dynasties were from Eastern Europe. The first three competed for the crown of the
empire. All held it from AD 1250-1500, but the Hapsburgs dominated by the end of the
period. Germany and Italy remained prey to centrifugalism.
IV: England
A: The Saxons: In the Early Middle Ages, there were many states such as the Angles,
Saxons, and Jutes. England was unified in AD 927. Long wars against the Vikings
promoted the development of a royal administration, but the nobles remained strong.
B: Norman England: William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, took England in AD 1066.
Only Henry II (AD 1154-89) after through strength of rule and military prowess had
success. Kings centralized moderately by royal agents and revenues. AS kings became
wealthier, nobles joined the administration. Extravagant way of life required by honor
and generosity slowly impoverished them. The War of the Roses is a civil war that
weakened the monarchy. The Battle of Bosworth Field ended it in AD 1485 and replaced
the Plantagenet dynasty with the Tudors under Henry VII (AD 1485-1509). The Tudors
centralized England even more
